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

The Work Zone Management Capability Maturity Framework (WZ CMF) has been used by 20 State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) around the country to assess their work zone management capabilities, provide a benchmark for capability improvement, and suggest practical and achievable action items to advance capabilities across six separate but interdependent dimensions: business processes, systems and technology, performance measurement, culture, organization and workforce, and collaboration.

The WZ CMF also has significant benefits for Work Zone Process Review efforts. Process Reviews necessitate a comprehensive evaluation of work zone management-related policies and procedures to:

• Verify that the agency remains compliant with existing regulations pertaining to work zone safety and mobility management;
• Assess the effectiveness of improvements made in work zone safety and mobility management procedures since the prior process review cycle; and
• Establish goals for further improvements to work zone management procedures, the results of which can then be tracked in future process review cycles.

The WZ CMF can be used as a tool during Process Reviews as part of the aforementioned comprehensive evaluation of work zone management-related policies and procedures, and can help agencies quickly identify where their attention would yield the biggest return. To date, many agencies have been able to strengthen their Process Review efforts by utilizing the WZ CMF, and will benefit from the continuous improvement cycle facilitated by the CMF during future Process Reviews.

Webinar attendees will learn more about the WZ CMF and how it can be utilized during Process Review efforts. Participants will also hear from State DOT representatives who will share their experience with the WZ CMF and discuss how the CMF was instrumental in strengthening agency capabilities, and how they plan to use the Framework moving forward.