Proposed Work Zone Regulations to Improve Safety, Mobility

The combination of heavier traffic volumes occurring on road networks with more work zones increases the impacts of those work zones on both congestion and safety. To address these impacts, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is developing a final rule on work zone safety and mobility to update the National Work Zone Safety Program established in 1995. An Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was submitted to the Federal Register on February 6, 2002. After analyzing the comments received, FHWA submitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 7, 2003. Comments on the proposed rule are due September 4, 2003, with publication of the final rule expected by spring 2004. The proposed changes include:

• Work Zone Mobility and Safety Policy-States are required to develop and adopt a policy that supports the consideration of the mobility and safety impacts of roadwork accomplished with Federal-aid highway funding.
• Work Zone Impacts Analysis-Agencies would be required to perform a work zone impact analysis for Federal-aid highway projects.
• Transportation Management Plans (TMP)-While TMPs are required for all Federal-aid projects, the extent of the TMP depends upon the results of the work zone impact analysis.