In the early 1990's Caltrans prepared a report for the Federal Highway Administration on the need for an established process to prepare Transportation Management Plans for projects in California. The report was the catalyst for the development and implementation of Caltrans' TMP Guidelines. Caltrans policy requires that Transportation Management Plans are prepared by the 12 state districts for all construction, maintenance, encroachment permit, planned emergency restoration, locally or specially-funded, or other activities on the state highway system. The objective is to minimize motorist delays when implementing projects or performing other activities on the State highway and freeway systems. This is accomplished without compromising public or worker safety, or the quality of the work being performed. As a result of this new policy, the districts have been preparing TMPs for various projects of all types and sizes. However, the districts have been limited by staffing and budget as to the extent of study and monitoring activities that they have been able to commit to this endeavor. The results that we have seen so far do not provide adequate background for detailed TMP processes that would lead towards using the most effective TMP strategies to minimize inconvenience to the traveling public.

Develop and implement a process to analyze the effectiveness of TMPs. Use this process to select TMP strategies that provide the most efficient use of Agency dollars while minimizing the delay to the traveling public. Analysis of strategies should encompass large as well as small-scale highway activities, rural as well as urban areas. This research should focus on key strategies including, but not limited to, use of work zone enforcement, changeable message signs, highway advisory radio, full freeway versus night closures, short-term daily vs. extended closures, freeway service patrol, public information, and k-rail placement

#1: Survey recent literature and work performed to-date by state agencies or other entities on the development and effectiveness of TMP strategies. #2: Collect information on (a) TMP policies and practices already in effect from state transportation agencies and on (b) results from monitoring TMP strategies that may be available. #3: Define (a) the types of projects including project size / cost, (b) types of conditions, (c) locations, and (d) TMP strategies to be evaluated as described above under Study Objectives. #4: Develop and evaluate performance measures that could be used to determine the effectiveness of TMP strategies for the parameters defined in step #3. #5: Select the specific corridors and highway activities to be used during the course of the study. #6: Prepare an interim report summarizing the work to date and presenting a plan to conduct the field studies. The plan is subject to approval by the project review panel to be selected. #7: Conduct the approved field study plan during the 2006 construction season. #8: Prepare a final report including proposed guidelines for developing and implementing TMPs. The report will include a matrix of all the strategies ranked according to their effectiveness

We anticipate a total contribution of of $375,000. Caltrans contribution is $ 200,000 and we anticipate a total contribution of $25,000 from minimum seven other States or Partners