Evaluating Strategies for Work Zone Transportation Management Plans

This report focuses on the field evaluation portion of the project NCHRP 03-111: Effectiveness of Work Zone TMP Strategies, which had two objectives. First, provide information on strategies for work zone practitioners in the form of a guidebook (published as NCHRP Research Report 945). Second, conduct field evaluations of three selected TMP strategies: truck lane restrictions, ramp metering, and reversible lanes. This report presents findings from the second objective. A field evaluation of the effectiveness of work zone truck lane restrictions (trucks use left lane) was conducted at three work zone sites. Results showed that truck use of the left lane for all sites combined increased by 234.96% while decreasing by 59.36% in the right lane. Average passenger car and truck speeds showed mixed results with increases and decreases at each test site. However, across the three study sites, the overall average truck speeds reduced by approximately 3 mph (5%) with the truck lane restrictions. The effectiveness of ramp metering was evaluated at two work zone sites in the first full-scale deployment of work zone ramp metering in the United States. Two ramp metering scenarios were implemented—fixed- and variable-cycle lengths. The evaluation found ramp metering had a positive effect on the following: vehicle speeds on the mainline and vehicle travel times. Ramp metering did not consistently affect vehicle headways at the merging areas of ramps and the mainline. The effectiveness of using reversible lanes as a work zone strategy was evaluated at three sites. Findings showed that vehicle speeds on the mainline were generally maintained across all test sites. On average, travel time improved across all sites ranged between 5.6% and 15%. Key to a successful reversible lane operation is understanding the traffic flow pattern, daily and weekday and knowing when to change over the lanes. Operation must be flexible enough to adjust to changes in demand.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/181231.aspx
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309682787
• Authors:
  • Boodlal, Leverson
  • Garimella, Dileep
  • Chiang, Kevin
  • Schrock, Steven D
  • Fitzsimmons, Eric J
• Publication Date: 2020

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 225p
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Web-Only Document
  • Issue Number: 276
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ramp metering; Reversible traffic lanes; Truck lanes; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control; Work zones
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01754155
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309682787
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCHRP Project 03-111
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 2 2020 1:06PM