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FOCUS STATE INITIATIVEFOCUS STATE INITIATIVE

Work Zone Communications Work Zone Communications and Outreach Workshopand Outreach Workshop

April 19-20, 2005April 19-20, 2005

Regina McElroy and Roemer AlfelorRegina McElroy and Roemer AlfelorOffice of Transportation OperationsOffice of Transportation OperationsFederal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

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What are Focus State Initiatives? What are Focus State Initiatives?

• Resulted from the FHWA 2004 Spring Business Meeting

• Proposed by Division Administrators

• Major Focus Areas:– Safety– Mobility and Productivity: Congestion– Mobility and Productivity: Infrastructure– Global Connectivity– Environment– National Homeland Security– Organizational Excellence

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Why Focus State Initiative? Why Focus State Initiative?

• Tipping point

• Lead States

• Focused Efforts

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Work Zone Focus State Initiative Work Zone Focus State Initiative

• Focus Area: Communications and Outreach

• Goal: Making Work Zones Work Better

• WZ Mobility and Safety Program Elements:– Decision Making Framework (e.g. “The Rule”)– Tool Box– Training/Technical Assistance– Outreach

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Why WZ Communication/Outreach? Why WZ Communication/Outreach?

• Supports the WZ decision-making framework

• Identified in WZ Self-Assessment

• Opportunity exists -- “Low hanging fruit”

• High improvement at low cost

• Strategies deployable in short time

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WZ Focus State Initiative Process WZ Focus State Initiative Process

• Get commitment from Division Administrators

• Identify State participants

• Conduct Initiative (e.g. Workshop)

• Obtain good ideas

• Develop action plan

• Provide technical assistance

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Goals of the WorkshopGoals of the Workshop

• Overall: Raise awareness and advance state of the practice

• Present existing strategies for communications and outreach

• Identify barriers to effective communications

• Outcome: Develop outreach strategy and action plan

• Post-workshop: State and FHWA to work together to implement plan.

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Role of Communications/OutreachRole of Communications/Outreach

• Provide information to the public so they can make travel decisions

• Promote safety and reduce congestion/delay in work zones

• Decrease public dissatisfaction with work zones

• Help make work zones work better!

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Relevance to Final RuleRelevance to Final Rule

• Policy-Driven Focus• Systems level approach

– Planning– Design– Implementation– Performance Assessment

• Transportation management strategies– Transportation Management Plans– Traffic Control Plan– Public Information and Outreach Plan

• Partner-Driven Approach• Flexible, Scalable and Adaptable

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Workshop AgendaWorkshop Agenda

• Presentation: WZ Self-Assessment

• Group Discussion: Barriers to Communications

• Presentations: Existing Practices

• Breakout Session: Overcoming Barriers

• Breakout Session: Develop Strategy and Action Plan

• Presentations: State Strategy and Action Plan

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LogisticsLogistics

• Lunch• Breaks• Rest Rooms• Phone/E-mail• Hotel• Others

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IntroductionIntroduction

• Name, Agency and Title

• General expectations from the workshop

• State DOT: Description of Specific Upcoming Construction Project and Need for Outreach Strategy