COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CDOT)

FY 2008 QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEWS FOR

WORK ZONE TRAFFIC CONTROL

(TRAFFIC CONTROL REVIEWS)

**INTRODUCTION:**

CDOT places a high priority on the safety of workers and the traveling
public in the management of its construction and maintenance programs.
Minimizing traffic congestion and adverse impacts on the local community
are also important considerations. To support these objectives, work
zone traffic control is an integral element in the management of
Department programs. Work zone management in turn is comprised of
several distinct elements. These include:

• establishment of overall goals and objectives

• development of standards and specifications

• provisions for project-specific traffic control plans

• providing staff training and development

• Contractor/industry outreach

• maintaining an accident reporting and analysis system

• maintaining an ongoing traffic control quality assurance program

23 CFR 630.1010(e) requires that CDOT annually review randomly selected
projects throughout its jurisdiction for the purpose of assessing the
effectiveness of its procedures.

The CDOT Quality Assurance program will be utilized for all temporary
traffic control on CDOT roadways and projects--construction,
maintenance, and permits. The statewide work zone review program, also
known as the Traffic Control Review (TCR) program, was initiated in July
2004 in response to management concerns for the quality of temporary
traffic control, and to comply with FHWA requirements.

The purpose of the program is to gather information to evaluate the
overall quality and effectiveness of work zone traffic control
throughout the Department, to identify areas where improvement is
needed, and to facilitate open discussion of traffic control issues.
Regions are expected to use the review results to address and correct
both project-specific and Region-wide issues.

The responsibility for administration of these requirements will rest
with the Project Development Branch and the Safety and Traffic
Engineering Branch.

**DESCRIPTION OF REVIEW PROCEDURE:**

The work zone review procedure involves an on-site review of a sample of
projects in each Region. The standard procedure for the reviews is
described in the sections that follow.

1\. **[Review scheduling]{.underline}** - Reviews will be conducted
statewide each year. Each Region will be scheduled separately. Two
review days will be scheduled in each Region. In addition, time will be
allotted at night to conduct reviews at a limited number of sites to
observe nighttime operations. Following completion of each review, a
debriefing meeting will be held with Region staff to provide a
preliminary discussion of the results. Depending on the schedule, this
meeting may be held the same day as the reviews or the following day.

2\. **[Sample size and selection]{.underline}** - The reviews will
include a number of projects in each Region. The goal is to inspect at
least five (5) projects and activities per Region, which may encompass
traffic control for a full range of activities from minor utility
repairs to full-scale construction. The construction sample will be
selected in advance by the Review Team, based on several factors. At
least one project will include nighttime operations and at least one
CDOT Maintenance operation will be reviewed. Factors considered include
geographic location to economize on travel time and distance, type of
work, and Contractor. The intent is to select a range of characteristics
that provide a representative sample of work active at that time.
Adjustments are made to the initial list to account for actual work
status on individual projects. Maintenance work activities are typically
not scheduled far in advance. Therefore, each Region will compile a list
of maintenance work scheduled for the week of the reviews. The Review
Team then selects the sites to be inspected. Advance notice will be
given for Traffic Control Reviews, including drive-through and office
reviews, but due to the short-term nature of their scheduling, not for
the maintenance activities.

3\. **[Review Team makeup]{.underline}** -- The Review Teams will
typically consist of five to six members. A Project Development Area
Engineer, a Staff Traffic Engineer, an FHWA Operations Engineer, the
FHWA Traffic Engineer, and the Region Traffic Engineer (or designee)
will form the nucleus of the Team.

4\. **[Review process]{.underline}** - Reviews will consist of a
drive-through of each project with information and comments recorded on
the standard form, and an overall quality rating assigned to each
project or maintenance operation. In addition, an office review will be
performed on one project in each Region. The office review will include
review of the Methods of Handling Traffic (MHTs) and other traffic
control related documentation. The office review will also include a
review of the Project Safety Management Plan (PSMP) by the Region Safety
Officer. The standard form will record descriptive information about the
project or maintenance operation and the temporary traffic controls
observed. Features are listed in ten broad categories: traffic control
management, method of handling traffic, worksite traffic control
supervisor, flaggers, construction/maintenance signing, traffic control
devices, pavement markings, miscellaneous items, traffic impacts and
work zone area and inspector safety. In addition to check-offs on the
form, narrative comments will be added to describe individual features
observed. These will typically include points of concern and areas that
need improvement, as well as features or treatments viewed as positive.
Following completion of the review and entry of data and comments, an
overall score will be assigned to each project. The review will consist
of driving through the project in each direction, generally on each of
the main approaches. In addition, one or more minor approaches, such as
intersecting roadways or major driveways, will also be examined. The
Review Team's vehicle may stop from time to time to observe specific
features in more detail, as traffic conditions and space permit.
However, nearly all observations are completed from inside the vehicle.
Depending on the nature and complexity of the project, multiple trips
through the project may be required to obtain the needed details. On
simple projects, a single drive-through in one direction may suffice.
The objective is to obtain adequate information to characterize the
project. On projects with multiple work sites, one or more sites may be
omitted. Because the focus of the program is on obtaining a
representative sample for quality assurance purposes, rather than
detailed project management, this is a reasonable compromise. In every
case, the project description will clearly indicate the portions of the
project reviewed, if not reviewed in its entirety.

5\. **[Quality rating]{.underline}** - The final step in the review
process is assignment of an overall quality rating that defines traffic
control effectiveness at the time of the review. This rating is based on
the resulting score on the Traffic Control Review form and Team
consensus on the overall effectiveness of the traffic control. The
percentage rating scale is shown in Figure 1. Fractional ratings will
not be used for project ratings. Project Ratings will be averaged to
formulate Region and Statewide ratings. Maintenance operations will be
reported separately.

6\. **[Review follow-up]{.underline}** - Following each Region review, a
debriefing meeting will be held to discuss results. Debriefing meetings
may be conducted by conference call and should include all Review Team
members, the Region Traffic Engineer, and the Region Program Engineer.
Maintenance and project personnel should also attend the debriefing if
their schedules permit. Copies of the review forms will typically be
transmitted to the Region Program, Resident, and Project Engineers one
to two weeks after the review to allow time to correct any errors in the
form and clarify comments as necessary. While the completed forms will
not be available for several days, Region participants are expected to
take adequate notes during reviews to permit timely follow-up on points
requiring field changes. Since Project Personnel are expected to be
familiar with their project plans and specifications and the applicable
standards and other traffic control requirements, disagreements with the
Review Team's comments should be raised and resolved at the time of the
de-briefing. If a project receives an overall rating of 80% or below,
the Project Engineer is required to immediately address all
deficiencies, and schedule a follow-up review with the Region Traffic
Engineer within one week of the initial review.

Following completion of each annual review, two separate reports are
prepared. The first is addressed to the Region Transportation Director
and provides an overall summary of the Regional reviews, including
construction and maintenance work. The second report is submitted to the
FHWA in fulfillment of requirements for the federal-aid highway program.
It summarizes the statewide quality ratings, and provides an overview of
specific strengths and weaknesses. The reports will independently
summarize the results for the construction and maintenance program
areas. Quality ratings scores are tabulated program-wide, and for each
Region individually. Results will be compared year to year to permit
tracking of program progress. Results of the annual reviews form the
basis for identifying needed changes and improvements to ensure
continuous improvement in program results. Regional staff personnel are
expected to make changes as appropriate in the Regional design process
and in maintenance procedures, as well as in individual project
management. The results may also indicate the need to conduct training.
Staff Branches will use the results to identify and support needed
improvements in standards, specifications, and procedures, as well as
other program needs. Results will also be used to provide executive
management an overview of progress in meeting Department goals and
objectives for work zone traffic control.

Anticipated Program Results:

[1**. Establishment of Program Goals**]{.underline} - Once sufficient
data is compiled from annual reviews, it will become possible to
establish performance goals for work zone traffic control on Department
projects. A goal of an average quality rating of 85% is being
established for each Region to attain this year, with no individual
projects rated below 80%.

Combined with information from review program results identifying
specific strengths and weaknesses, resources can be directed to resolve
specific concerns needed to improve performance.

[Figure 1]{.underline}

**TRAFFIC CONTROL REVIEW (TCR) RATING SYSTEM**

95-100% Excellent design and implementation of MHT: a) minimum TCR form
score of 95% and, b) controls provide adequate driver guidance for
virtually all situations. No significant deficiencies encountered, and
comments were limited to fine-tuning or other minor adjustment. All
traffic control devices are in good condition, appropriate for the
actual situation, and properly placed.

85-94% Good design and implementation of MHT: a) minimum TCR form score
of 85% and, b) controls provide adequate driver input for most
situations likely to be encountered. Some minor deficiencies may be
present, such as less than optimum choice, condition or placement of
individual device.

80-84% Design and implementation of MHT is generally acceptable: a)
minimum TCR form score of 80% and, b) there may be a number of specific
points that can be improved or refined, and occasional points that may
be only marginally effective.

70-79% Design and implementation of MHT is only marginally effective. a)
minimum TCR form score of 70% and, b) many specific points need
refinement or adjustment, or a number of individual points are
marginally effective. Although drivers familiar with the work zone can
be expected to traverse it safely, unfamiliar drivers may experience
difficulty, especially during adverse conditions, such as heavy traffic,
rain, or darkness.

[\<]{.underline}69% Although some traffic controls have been provided,
they are not adequate to provide guidance through the work zone. Drivers
familiar with the site may not experience difficulty during favorable
conditions, but unfamiliar drivers will probably have problems in
traversing the site during all conditions, and even familiar drivers may
experience difficulty during adverse conditions.