1 FOCUS STATE INITIATIVE Work Zone Communications and Outreach Workshop April 19-20, 2005 Regina McElroy and Roemer Alfelor Office of Transportation Operations Federal Highway Administration

2 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

3 Why Focus State Initiative? Tipping point Lead States Focused Efforts

4 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

5 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

6 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

7 Goals 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.

8 Role 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!

9 Relevance 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

10 Workshop 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

11 Logistics Lunch Breaks Rest Rooms Phone/ Hotel Others

12 Introduction Name, Agency and Title General expectations from the workshop State DOT: Description of Specific Upcoming Construction Project and Need for Outreach Strategy