Utilizing the Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework to Improve Work Zone Management Capabilities and Process Review Efforts

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Utilizing the Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework to Improve Work Zone Management Capabilities and Process Review Efforts

FHWA Work Zone Management Program

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Webinar Presenters

• Jawad Paracha – FHWA Office of Operations
  • Work Zone Management Program Manger
• Jerry Ullman – Texas A&M Transportation Institute
  • Senior Research Engineer, Work Zone and Dynamic Signs
• Bill Oldenburg – New Hampshire Department of Transportation
  • Assistant Director of Project Development

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Webinar Agenda

• Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework (WZ CMF) Background and Overview
• Using the WZ CMF to Improve Process Reviews
• New Hampshire DOT Experience with WZ CMF
• Work Zone CMF Workshop Deployment and Trends
• Future Opportunities and Resources

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Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework Concept and Process

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Capability Maturity Frameworks

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CMF Products

• Agency or regional findings related to capability
• Capability assessment by dimension
• Suggested actions for improvement

Consensus-based Assessment

Current Capability

Prioritized Actions for Improvement

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CMF Outcomes

• Jumpstarts the improvement process
  • Focus is on immediate weaknesses
  • Helps prioritize key organizational changes that can have major impact
• Provide justification for actions
  • Actions are based on sound rationale and a consistent assessment of capability
• Improve consistency and collaboration

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Program Area Frameworks

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tsmoframeworktool/available_frameworks/

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Work Zone Management CMF

• Assesses the institutional capacity of an agency or a region to effectively manage the safety and mobility impacts that result from work zones
• Involves agency personnel from multiple divisions, field offices, and other stakeholders (law enforcement, contractors, other public-sector agencies, etc.)
• Goal is to identify a set of prioritized actions for improvement that address institutional barriers for effective work zone management

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WZM Dimensions

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Levels of WZM Capabilities

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Online Tool

• Available at: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tsmoframeworktool/tool/wzm/
• Full Assessment or a quick 1-Minute Assessment
• Answers saved for access from same computer
• Questions, answers, results, and actions can all be printed

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Incorporating the Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework into Process Reviews

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Using the WZ CMF to Initiate a Process Review

• Conduct a WZ CMF to assess current capabilities and identify any uncertainties about capabilities
• Identify information/data that are needed to improve understanding of capabilities
• Use process review to gather needed information and data
• Use WZ CMF action item list to tailor process review recommendations and roadmap for future process reviews

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Using the WZ CMF as a Process Review is Being Completed

• Use the WZ CMF to verify whether the focus areas of the current process review targeted the dimensions/areas with improvement needs
• Align selected actions from WZ CMF with conclusions and next steps of process review
• Establish roadmap and goals for next process review(s)

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New Hampshire Department of Transportation Experience

Bill Oldenburg – Assistant Director of Project Development

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NHDOT Experience

• Workshop Motivation
  • Offer an objective outside view of our procedures.
  • Allow us to review our procedures against the requirements.
  • Allow us to development opportunities for improvement.
  • Allow us to prioritize our future bi-annual Process Reviews.
• Workshop Outcomes
  • Update our Procedures
  • Develop Guidance on which Projects are Reviewed
  • Develop Designer Guidance Documents

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NHDOT Experience

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NHDOT 2018 Process Review

1. Update Work Zone Mobility Policy (Policy)
2. Update Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy and Implementation Guidelines. (Manual)

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NHDOT 2018 Process Review

1. Revisit, review, and update significance exemption list (Item #1),
2. Update checklist of projects that must be brought before Work Zone Traffic Control Committee for a determination of significance. (Continued effort from our 2016 Self–Assessment)(Item #2),
3. Review traffic control plan review processes currently in place in other agency units, such as Districts, Utilities, and LPAs. (Item #3),
4. Develop guidance on developing presentations for Work Zone Traffic Control Committee significance determination meetings. (Item #4),
5. Develop guidance for designers on reasonable accommodation for pedestrians in work zones. (Continued effort from our 2016 Self–Assessment)(Item #5),

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NHDOT Experience

2018 Process Review

✓ Business Processes
✓ Organization and Workforce
✓ Collaboration

2020 Process Review:

✓ Performance Measurement

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NHDOT Contact

Bill Oldenburg
Assistant Director of Project Development
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
William.Oldenburg@dot.nh.gov
(603) 271-1486

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Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework Workshop Deployment

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Workshops Conducted to Date

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Average CMF Scores

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Lowest Rated Questions

• Performance Measurement
  • How well does your agency quantify WZM performance?
  • How are WZM performance measures used by your agency?
• Culture
  • What type of agency WZM outreach and reporting exists?

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Lowest Rated Questions (Continued)

• Organization and Workforce
  • How well are WZM knowledge, skills, and abilities developed amongst staff within the agency?
  • How well is institutionalized WZM knowledge in various parts of the agency captured and shared?
• Systems and Technology
  • How well does your agency assess and adopt new technology, procedures, and strategies to help meet WZM needs?

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Highest Rated Questions

• Collaboration
  • How does the agency utilize law enforcement for WZM needs?
  • How does the agency consider private-sector input (e.g., contractors, affected businesses) when addressing WZM needs?
  • How does the agency incorporate other stakeholders (general public, schools, business, emergency medical services, etc.) into the WZM process?

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Highest Rated Questions

• Culture
  • How is WZM innovation encouraged within the agency?
• Business Processes
  • How well does your agency develop, implement, and evaluate transportation management plans (TMPs)?
• Systems and Technology
  • How does your agency apply existing technology already in place to address WZM needs?

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Commonly Selected Action Items

• Performance Measurement
  • Identify outcome measures relative to mobility, safety, customer satisfaction, and/or work productivity/efficiency that are specified or implied in agency's work zone safety and mobility policy.
  • Identify available data sources and data collection methods needed to develop measures of interest to the agency.
  • Determine number of projects to include in assessment and select projects for which measures will be computed.
• Culture
  • Create a WZM steering committee of key agency champions and WZM core staff.

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Commonly Selected Action Items (Continued)

• Organization and Workforce
  • Assemble basic WZM training and capability-building activities available within agency and region.
  • Identify organizational units within agency where critical WZM knowledge and skills are required.
  • Develop a formal and ongoing training program on WZM that is offered and supported by the agency.
  • Develop a process for collecting and synthesizing de-briefing notes from major projects at a central location and share key lessons learned with staff in appropriate units.
  • Regularly assess compiled lessons learned and determine which should be incorporated as best practices into agency standards, manuals, guidance, etc.

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Contact Information

If you are interested in learning more about the WZ CMF, improving process review efforts using the WZ CMF, or hosting a WZ CMF + Process Review workshop:

Jawad Paracha
FHWA Office of Operations
Work Zone Management Program
Jawad.Paracha@dot.gov

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Thank You!

Questions?