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The acclaimed Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety Conference managed by the ARTBA – Transportation Development Foundation was held March 9-13 in Orlando, Florida, in conjunction with World of Asphalt! This joint event connected transportation leaders with people at all levels of government and private industry to discuss challenges and cutting edge solutions to help improve the safe and efficient movement of traffic under many different roadway conditions. Below is the outline of conference sessions. Many presentations are also listed.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
3:00 pm
Opening Session: Welcome and Conference Overview
Officials from the American Road &Transportation Builders Association provided an industry update on work zone safety as it relates to significant new federal funding for transportation infrastructure.
Speaker:
- Brad Sant, The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
Work Zone Safety 2009 and Beyond
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
3:30 pm
Work Zone Safety: Federal Perspective
Joe Toole recently took over the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Safety as the Associate Administrator. In this session, Joe talked about the challenges, practices and regulations that affect our industry now and in the future.
Speaker:
- Joe Toole, FHWA
Work Zone Safety and Mobility: A Federal Perspective
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
4:00 pm
Work Zone Training Grant Program
Morris oversaw the FHWA Work Zone Training Grant Programs designed to address safety needs for roadway work zones. Morris provided an overview of the many free and discounted training programs and materials available through this exceptional program.
Speaker:
- Morris Oliver, FHWA
FHWA Work Zone Program
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video
5:00 pm
NIOSH Blind Spot Research
Runovers and Backovers are the leading cause of death for roadway construction workers. Surprisingly, well over half of the Runovers occur when workers are struck by construction vehicles and equipment. This session provided information on the latest research, technologies and strategies to reduce many causes of roadway construction worker deaths.
Speaker:
- Dave Fosbroke, NIOSH
Blind Areas Around Construction Equipment
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video
6:00 pm
ARTBA-TDF Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Awards Presentation and Reception Roadway Work Zone Awareness Awards Reception
Sponsored by Corman Construction and CH2MHill
The Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Awards Program is a competition designed by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association – Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) to honor outstanding efforts to reduce roadway work zone construction accidents, injuries and fatalities. During the Awards Reception we presented awards to our 2009 winners!
Speaker:
- Brad Sant, ARTBA
2009 Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Awards
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
8:00 am
Track 1: Roadway Safety Training Program–Train-the-Trainer
The Roadway Safety Training Program has been presented and refined by leading industry organizations for over eight years. Most recently, FHWA through its Work Zone Safety Grants Program, provided additional resources to expand the ground-breaking program with new modules on temporary traffic control, detailed night work instruction, expanded information on preventing run-overs and backovers, and much, much more! This session provided the latest information and instructions on how to use the program, and a free copy of the newest edition completed in March 2009!
Speakers:
- Don Elisburg, NAPA
- Walter Jones, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund
- Emmett Russell, Operating Engineers
- Rod Wolford, FOF Communications.
Track 2: Utility Work Zones
This unique session contained a series of presentations applicable to short-term and utility work zones, from a computer program to assist in selecting traffic control–to abbreviated traffic control design–to legal liabilities for those who do not follow the regulations.
Speakers:
- Tappan Datta, Wayne State University
Temporary Traffic Control Selection - Scott Wolf, Dicke Safety
Temporary Work Zone Safety: Anatomy of a Crash Safety and Liability Issues
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - LuAnn Theiss, Texas Transportation Institute (TTI)
Reduced Traffic Control Requirements for Utility Operations
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 3: Work Zone Speed Management
This session discussed speed management issues including short-term operations, methods of improving motorist compliance, and automated enforcement technologies.
Speakers:
- Melisa Finley, TTI
Innovative Devices for Implementing Short Term Work Zone Speed Limits (WZSLs)
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - Brian Zimmerman, Michigan Department of Transportation
Work Zone Speed Management
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - Affiliated Computer Services
Automated Enforcement
10:30 am
Track 1: New Work Zone Standards
Industry leaders and regulators in Washington, DC were busy in 2008 and 2009 developing new standards and regulations aimed at improving work zone safety. From the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), efforts are underway to change the rules.
Speakers:
- Travis Parsons, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund
ANSI A10.47 
Hari Kalla, FHWA
High Visibility Garments- Hari Kalla, FHWA
MUTCD Update - Danezza Quintero
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Regulatory Update
Track 2: Driver Behavior Around Moving Operations
Mobile operations on high-volume, high-speed roadways are some of the most challenging situations from a traffic management and control perspective. Recent research in Illinois sheds important insight into how motorists react as they approach and pass a moving lane closure, as well as some ways that work crews can better protect themselves and the motoring public when working in a moving
operation.
Speakers:
- Doug Steele, Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Improving the Safety of Moving Lane Closures
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint] - Melisa Finley, TTI
Driver Behavior Around Moving Operations
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 3: Pedestrians and Non-motorized Traffic in Work Zones
Proper accommodation of pedestrians and other nonmotorized traffic through and around work zones is essential in many urban work zones. This session provided the latest on traffic control requirements for this important user group. The special considerations necessary to accommodate those with disabilities were also highlighted.
Speakers:
- Brooke Ullman, TTI
Accomodation of Pedestrians in Temporary Traffic Control Areas
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - Janet Barlow, Accessible Design for the Blind
ADA Considerations: Pedestrians with Disabilities in Work Zones
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
11:30 am
Track 1: New Work Zone Standards
(continued from 10:30 a.m. session)
Track 2: Procedures for Performing Rolling Roadblocks
Rolling roadblocks are often used when it is necessary to temporarily close a roadway for a few minutes. Despite its short duration, this type of operation requires considerable preparation and skill to execute it safely and effectively. Attendees of this session got to hear how the Florida Highway Patrol planned and performed this critical type of work zone traffic control!
Speaker:
- Major Grady Carrick, Florida Highway Patrol
Procedures for Rolling Roadblocks
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 3: The Basics of Temporary Traffic Control —What Every Contractor Should Know
The rules of temporary traffic control have been in effect for decades, yet contractors, utilities, roadway owners and others continue to misapply or ignore the rules. This session set you on the right track with basic, sound information to help you understand the basics of temporary traffic control.
Speakers:
- Jim Bryden, Consultant
The Basics of Temporary Traffic Control – What Every Contractor Should Know
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Video the video - Scott Wolf, Dicke Safety
TTC Roadway Work Zone Safety: “A Way of Life”
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Thursday, March 12, 2009
8:00 am
Track 1: Managing Legal Liabilities in Work Zones
How well would your company be able to defend against allegations of improper work zone design? What documentation would you have available to prove you were in compliance with the MUTCD and Traffic Control Plan prior to the accident? How consistently are regular work zone inspections and associated documentation being maintained on all projects? Have your field supervisors been
adequately trained? This session reviewed the items every roadway contractor should consider before beginning work.
Speaker:
- Stefan Gregory, Arch Insurance Group
Managing Legal Liability in Work Zones
The Reality of Work Zone Liability
[Presentation in PDF]
Track 2: Work Zone Access & Egress
On December 4, 2008, FHWA’s rule on Temporary Traffic Control Devices (Subpart K) became effective. One aspect of this Rule requires state transportation agencies develop guidelines to improve work zone access and egress (for construction traffic) on all Federal-Aid Highway projects. This session provided an overview of the regulations as well as feedback from industry leaders as to how they believe the new rule should be carried-out.
Speakers:
- Jim Bryden, Consultant
A Discussion of FHWA’s Subpart K: Temporary Traffic Control Devices
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - Scott Schneider, Laborers; Lee Cole, Oldcastle Materials Group
Work Zone Safety
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video (Scott Schneider)
View the video (Lee Cole) - Jim Bryden, Consultant
Work Zone Access and Egress: Night Work Nuances
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint] - David Fosbroke, NIOSH
Internal Traffic Control Plans: Integration to Improve Access and Egress
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video
9:00 am
Track 1: Motion is Money – Improving Worker Productivity Through Safety
Profit margins are thinner than ever and your workforce is aging! Saying these are challenging times for your business is probably an understatement. Utilizing real case scenarios from road builders, we analyzed the essential functions of typical employees and how they are directly tied to safety, productivity and efficiency.
Speaker:
- Gary Clevenger, CNA Insurance
Motion is Money
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 2: Work Zone Access & Egress Conference
(continued from 8:00 a.m. session)
10:30 am
Track 1: Crash Reduction Strategies in Work Zones
How can crash risks be reduced and/or managed in work zones? Attendees of this session heard from leading experts on the size of the work zone crash problem, the various techniques and strategies that can help reduce crashes (intelligent transportation systems, transportation management plans, monitoring and analysis of work zone performance data), and an example of how one agency examines work zone crashes to improve its operations.
Speakers:
- Jerry Ullman, TTI
Crashes and Accidents in Work Zones: Extent and Characteristics
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint] - Tracy Scriba, FHWA
Crash Reduction Strategies for Work Zones
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint] - Brian Zimmerman, MI-DOT
Crash Reduction Strategies in Work Zones
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 2: Barrier Workshop — Concrete, Steel or Plastic?
There are many types of barrier that are used regularly in work zones: plastic, concrete, steel, portable, moveable, etc. When can and should these barriers be used? Which redirect and which simply delineate traffic? During this session leading manufacturers of various types of barrier
discussed the pros and cons in using each type.
Speakers:
- Jim Bryden, Consultant
Temporary Traffic Barrier: A Brief Introduction
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint] - Michael Dreznes, Barrier Systems
Portable Steel Barriers vs Portable Concrete Barriers
[Presentation in PDF]
View the video - Matt Fidler, Yodock
View the video
2:00 pm
Track 1: Improving Pavement Markings in Work Zones
How do you provide clear direction in work zones when cars are redirected from their anticipated lanes, road surfaces are uneven, and inclement weather can obscure pavement markings? This session provided insight in to processes and products that can help you solve your pavement marking dilemmas.
Speaker:
- Charlie Doyle, Potters Industries
Improving Pavement Markings in Work Zones
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
Track 2: Solving the Challenge: Access and Egress Case Studies
While most roadway contractors and DOTs struggle regularly with the problem of safely moving construction equipment in and out of traffic into the work space of a construction zone, some
organizations have come up with clever ideas to do this safely and efficiently. In this session, safety and management officials shared their innovative solutions to this age-old problem.
Speakers:
- Steve Hubbard and Mike Grey, Lance Construction
Access and Egress Into the Work Zone
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video (Steve Hubbard)
3:00 pm
Track 1: Low Cost Safety Solutions
In a poor economy, roadway owners and contractors are looking for ways to improve work zone safety without spending a lot of money to do so. In this workshop we shared ideas and products that can improve work zone safety without costing a lot of cash.
Speaker:
- Charlie Dann, Transpo Industries
View the video
Track 2: “Don’t Follow-Me”
In this continuing session of the Access and Egress Conference, attendees got to hear examples from two state DOTs about ways they have tried to improve the safety of both work crews and the motoring public around work zone access and egress points. Both traditional and innovative techniques using intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology were discussed.
Speakers:
- Michael Paylor, Maryland Department of Transportation
Work Area Safe Entry/Exit for Work Vehicles: “DON’T FOLLOW ME”
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video - Marv Sohlo, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Intelligent Work Zones in Minnesota
[Presentation in PDF | PowerPoint]
View the video
4:00 pm
- Jerry Ullman, TTI; Lisa McCluskey, ARTBA
Clearinghouse Update - Don Elisburg, NAPA; Scott Schneider, LHSFNA; Brad Sant, ARTBA
Conference Reflections
Last modified: 6/26/2009