CT Briefing Work Zone Traffic Control Certification Program

1 CT Briefing work Zone Traffic Control Certification Program March 10, 2017 Background This initiative was started by the PennDOT/APC Safety Committee to establish a statewide policy that requires a trained individual to oversee the work Zone Traffic Control (WZTC) on an operation. Purpose The WZTC Certification Program will provide individuals with the knowledge and skills that are required to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation during lane restrictions and road closures. This will specifically ensure compliance with statewide standards with the goal of improving Traffic Control safety and consistency in work zones . Program Training There are four entities in the WZTC Certification Program and their roles are provided below: BOMO Oversees the WZTC Certification Program Develop training course materials and structure Identifies a Master Instructor o RFQ identifies on organization with 2-3 instructors Master Instructor Develop training course materials and structure Responsible for training the WZTC Instructors WZTC Instructor Responsible for training the WZTC Specialists Conducts QA evaluations (Department and PTC employees only) WZTC Specialist Trained by the WZTC Instructor Oversees the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation Implementation The Program will be implemented in two phases during lane restrictions and road closures.

2 Phase 1 Pilot Program A WZTC Specialist is required on all operations on interstate highways, limited access highways, and Pennsylvania Turnpike highways o Applies to government agencies, contractors, utilities, and all others performing work on these highways (Does not include Department Maintenance or PTC Maintenance) o Required on a project-by-project basis by the Department Compliance: 12 months from the effective date of policy Phase 2 A WZTC Specialist is required on all operations on state highways and Pennsylvania Turnpike highways o Applies to government agencies, contractors, utilities, and all others performing work on these highways Compliance: To be determined based on pilot Program evaluation Phase 3 All highways in Pennsylvania o Applies to government agencies, contractors, utilities, and all others performing work on these highways Compliance: To be added upon local government endorsement Operational Requirements The trained individual shall be required to oversee the WZTC on an operation as follows: Short-Term/Long-Term Operations Required on the operation to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC.

3 Required to be within 30 miles from the operation when the operation is not in the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal phase. Mobile Operations Required on the operation at all times. 1 work Zone Traffic Control Certification Program Publication 213 Appendix E Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Maintenance and Operations Highway Safety and Traffic Operations Division 2 1. Purpose Title 75, Chapter 61 and Title 67, Chapter 212 allows the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Department) the authority and responsibility to create and enforce regulations for work Zone Traffic Control (WZTC). The WZTC Certification Program will provide individuals with the knowledge and skills that are required to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation.

4 This will specifically ensure compliance with the Department s Temporary Traffic Control Guidelines (Publication 213), Federal Highway Administration s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission s (PTC) Standards. 2. Scope The Department s Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (BOMO) has established the WZTC Certification Program that requires a trained individual to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation. The Program will apply to federal government agencies, state government agencies , county government agencies, municipal government agencies, contractors, utilities, and others performing construction, maintenance, permit, utility, or any other type of work during lane restrictions on existing state highways and Pennsylvania Turnpike highways.

5 The WZTC Certification Program shall be the only training Program accepted as meeting the standards for qualifying individuals to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The individuals possessing a valid Certification card from approved WZTC Certification Program training courses, on or after the effective date of this policy, shall be the only individuals approved to oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation. BOMO has identified four entities in the WZTC Certification Program : BOMO Master Instructor WZTC Instructor WZTC Specialist Refer to Exhibit 1 for the WZTC Certification Program organizational structure. 3. Objective WZTC is an essential function in providing a safe environment in areas where workers and transportation system users compete for common or adjacent areas.

6 Every reasonable effort should be made to reduce the risk of injury to both the worker and the transportation system user in these areas of potential conflicting interest. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to properly train individuals who oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation. 3 4. Training Requirement The WZTC Certification Program will provide individuals with a consistent and continuous education to ensure that Department and PTC standards are followed during the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation. WZTC shall not be planned, installed, maintained, or removed on an operation unless overseen by an individual who has satisfactorily completed an approved WZTC Certification Program training course.

7 BOMO requires a database of individuals that have successfully complete an approved WZTC Certification Program training course. The database will include: Name Certification Number Certification Issuance Date Certification Expiration Date Certification Status Company Company Address Email Address Phone Number Course Title Course Start Date Course Location Instructor s Name Instructor s Certification If any of the personal contact information of the trained individual changes throughout the Certification period, the individual shall notify BOMO immediately. Information that will be made available to the public shall include: Name Certification Number Certification Issuance Date Certification Expiration Date Certification Status Company Individuals will receive a Certification card upon successful completion of a training course.

8 The Certification card will be issued by BOMO directly to the individual that completed a training course. The individual shall have possession of the Certification card at all times while performing job duties. All WZTC Certification Program communication with BOMO shall be through the email resource account: 4 Exhibit 1: WZTC Certification Program Organizational Structure Bureau of Maintenance and Operations (Refer to Section 5) Maintain resources, documentation, and communication Develop the WZTC Certification Program training materials and training structure Master Instructor (Refer to Section 5) WZTC Instructor (Refer to Section 5) WZTC Specialist (Refer to Section 5) Administer WZTC Specialist Courses to train individuals as WZTC Specialists Administer WZTC Instructor Courses to train individuals as WZTC Instructors Oversee the WZTC on an operation Review QA Evaluations Conduct QA Evaluations Maintain documentation and communication Oversee the WZTC on an operation Maintain documentation and communication Identify the Master Instructor Administrative Training Quality Assurance Field work Entity 5 5.

9 Roles and Responsibilities The Bureau of Maintenance and Operations has identified four entities in the WZTC Certification Program : BOMO Master Instructor WZTC Instructor WZTC Specialist Exhibit 2 provides an overview of each entities roles and responsibilities. Exhibit 2: WZTC Certification Program Roles and Responsibilities Overview Bureau of Maintenance and Operations Master Instructor WZTC Instructor WZTC Specialist Oversee the WZTC Certification Program Maintain the WZTC Certification Program webpage Maintain the WZTC Certification Program email resource account Maintain documentation of WZTC Instructors, WZTC Specialists, and WZTC Quality Assurance (QA) evaluations in the WZTC Certification Program database Issue WZTC Instructor and WZTC Specialist Certification cards Revoke WZTC Instructor and WZTC Specialist certifications cards Carry documentation as a WZTC Instructor Inform BOMO of any changes to personal contact information Communicate with BOMO through the WZTC Certification Program email resource account Carry documentation as a WZTC Specialist Inform BOMO of any changes to personal contact information Communicate with BOMO through the WZTC Certification Program email resource account Identify a Master Instructor work with the Master Instructor to develop the WZTC Certification Program training materials and structure Notify the Master Instructor and WZTC Instructors of updates to course materials Review the

10 Applications of individuals applying to become WZTC Instructors to ensure qualifications work with BOMO to develop the WZTC Certification Program training materials and structure Administer WZTC Instructor courses Coordinate with BOMO to schedule WZTC Instructor courses Provide each individual attending the WZTC Specialist course with the course materials Administer WZTC Specialist courses Schedule WZTC Specialist courses Inform BOMO of scheduled WZTC Specialist courses Review the applications of individuals applying to become WZTC Specialists to ensure qualifications Provide each individual attending the WZTC Specialist course with the course materials Submit the class file of students who successfully pass WZTC Specialist courses to BOMO s email resource account. Maintain a class file on each WZTC Specialist course administered for a duration of four years Review QA evaluations o PTC will be included during review of Pennsylvania Turnpike QA evaluations Conduct QA evaluations o Department WZTC Instructors will conduct QA evaluations on state highways o PTC WZTC Instructors will conduct QA evaluations on Pennsylvania Turnpike highways Oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation Oversee the planning, installation, maintenance, and removal of WZTC on an operation Administrative Training Quality Assurance Field work Entity 6 6.