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Guidelines for Work Zone Intrusion Countermeasures

Table of Contents

  1. RUMBLE STRIPS
  2. CHANNELIZING DEVICE SPACING REDUCTION
  3. FLAGGER STATION ENHANCED SETUPS
  4. WORK ZONE SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS
  5. POLICE ENFORCEMENT
  6. VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS
  7. DRONE RADAR

5. POLICE ENFORCEMENT

Visible police enforcement in work zones is effective in terms of reducing traffic speed, controlling erratic driver behavior, and generally resulting in safer, smoother flow through work zones. EI 93-30 established procedures for providing police presence in work zones, both on a paid (dedicated) and unpaid (cooperative) basis. While full-time police presence in every work zone is not a reasonable expectation, an increased driver expectancy for encountering police in work zones can be achieved. This increased expectancy is expected to improve safety in work zones.

Use Guidelines

A visible police presence should be established on a regular basis on all Department work sites, with the highest priority given to work zones meeting the following criteria.

  • Night work — per criteria in EI 95-003.
  • Freeways and expressways when workers are exposed to traffic.
  • Other high-speed roadways when workers are exposed to traffic.
  • Other work sites where traffic conditions present a high risk for workers and the traveling public.

Police presence is to be provided through a combination of dedicated and cooperative enforcement:

Dedicated Enforcement

— The attached table summarizes NYSDSP dedicated enforcement since 1996. Obviously, there is a wide disparity between Regions. MOUs for dedicated enforcement are to be added as necessary to establish visible police presence at major work sites meeting the above criteria.

Cooperative Enforcement

— NYSDSP has agreed to enhance cooperative enforcement measures at Department work sites. Other police agencies have also provided support in the past, and are expected to continue. Each Region will establish a Regional mechanism to coordinate cooperative enforcement. This procedure will coordinate Department contact at the local level with NYSDSP and local police agencies to discuss the level of support available. Procedures will be established to ensure that requests for enforcement from EICs and Transportation Maintenance Division supervisors are relayed to the proper police contact, and that the requested support is actually provided. Region-wide coordination will be in place to ensure effectiveness.

Work Zone Stop/Check Program

— The Main Office will develop an understanding with NYSDSP to encourage troopers on patrol to routinely stop for a few minutes whenever they encounter a DOT work zone, and check out the traffic conditions at the site. This small effort will not divert officers from other duties, but will increase police visibility in work zones, especially for short duration and isolated work zones. Each Regional police enforcement coordinator is expected to relay a similar request to appropriate local agencies such as Sheriff’s Departments and large municipal police agencies.

Completion Dates

  • July 1 — MOUs under development with NYSDSP or other agencies to provide dedicated enforcement where needed.
  • July 1 — Regional police coordinator designated and procedures established for cooperative enforcement. Initial contacts made with local police agencies.

Reporting Requirements

  • Dedicated enforcement — summary of anticipated use for 1999 construction season — agencies, number of projects, total $.
  • Cooperative enforcement — summary of Regional procedure, coordinator assigned and contracts established.
  • Work zone stop/check program — summary of contacts established and brief summary of work site impacts.
DEDICATED STATE POLICE USAGE — NYSDSP — 1996-1999
Region Actual $1000
(1) Police Exp.		 No. Contracts (2) $1000/Contract Rate (3) Actual Contract
Payments,
$M (4)		 Rate-$1000/$M
1 956 59 5.0 297 3.2
2 37 39 0.3 133 0.3
3 272 60 1.4 247 1.1
4 873 43 6.2 238 3.7
5 374 80 1.4 441 0.8
6 158 33 1.5 137 1.2
7 0 35 0 131 0
8 376 77 1.5* 558 0.7*
9 30 43 0.2 194 0.2
10 985 72 4.2* 894 1.1*
11 0 53 0** 906 0**
Total 4062 592 2.1 4196 1.0

(1) CY 96, 97, 98, first quarter of 99

(2) Peak no. of active contracts, Avg. for 1996, 97, 98

(3) Rate = Actual $1000/3.25 x No. of Contracts

(4) Total of FY 96, 97, 98, $M — Actual Contract Payments

* Regions 8 & 10 also have agreements in place with Local Police Agencies

**Region 11 has recently implemented a program with NYCPD

This document was contributed by the New York State Department of Transportation. If you have any questions, please contact Charles Riedel.

Last verified: 7/28/1999