June 23, 2016

EDC Exchange for Local and Tribal Agencies

Work zones are responsible for over 130 injuries, one fatality, and 10 percent of all congestion each day.  One option for addressing these issues is to implement Smarter Work Zones (SWZs).  SWZs utilize innovative strategies to better coordinate construction projects and/or deploy innovative technology applications to dynamically manage and minimize work zone safety and mobility impacts.  SWZ techniques can improve safety and mobility for travelers, reduce schedule delays due to conflicts between projects, reduce overall operating costs to agencies, and increase the satisfaction of the traveling public, business owners, nearby residences, and politicians. 

Examples of ways in which local and tribal agencies can benefit from SWZs include:

• Developing a process to better track when and where all projects that impact travel in a region are occurring, regardless of whether they are due to work by the local agency, utility company, or private developer;
• Implementing work zone intelligent transportation systems (ITS) such as those that monitor and disseminate travel times along routes approaching work zones, allowing motorists to better choose alternate routes.

FHWA has collected and developed a number of example policies, practices, and tools to help agencies implement SWZs.  This EDC Exchange will present success stories from local agencies using SWZ project coordination and technology application strategies to improve safety and mobility in and around work zones within their jurisdictions.  It will also include discussions on planning and implementing SWZ within your region.  This Exchange will be of interest to local and tribal agencies involved with or interested in implementing SWZ.

EDC Smarter Work Zones Agenda (PDF)

Please join FHWA, the Idaho Local Technical Assistance Program Center and the Idaho Department of Transportation for a presentation on Smarter Work Zones via a live webinar on June 23, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern Time.  The following are locations for your participation:

DISTRICT 1: 600 W. Prairie Coeur d´Alene, ID 83815-8764
DISTRICT 2: 2600 Frontage Road Lewiston, ID 83501-0837
DISTRICT 3: (ITD HQ) 3311 W. State St. Boise, ID 83703
DISTRICT 4: 216 South Date Street Shoshone, ID 83352-0820
DISTRICT 5: 5151 South 5th Pocatello, ID 83205-4700
DISTRICT 6: 206 North Yellowstone Highway Rigby, ID 83442-0097

To register email Lorie Cover at lcover@lhtac.org and indicate the location you plan on attending.