Flagger & Uniformed Officer Use in NH Work Zones

Flagger & Unif
Use in NH W

• FH
• 23
• Re
• Sig

formed Officer
Work Zones

HWA Mandate
3 CFR Part 630, subpart K.
eq. Effective Date 12/05/08
gned 06/05/09

FHWA Rule 6
Uniformed Law En

“Each agency, in partn
shall develop a polic
of uniformed law en
Aid highway projects

630.1106(c)
nforcement Policy

nership with FHWA,
cy addressing the use
nforcement on Federal-
s.”

Features of th
Guide

– Apply to all NHDOT
– Encourage early com

NHDOT, municipalit
enforcement.
– Provide consistency
– Provide consistency
use.
– Formalize MWZA pr
– Address flagger & o

he Policy and
elines

projects.
mmunication between
ties, and law

y in cost estimating.
y in flagger & officer

rocess.
officer training.

Jurisdiction
Respon

• NH Town Ordinanc

– Some towns require
activity that may im

– Pursuant to RSA 10

n? Liability?
nsibility?

ces:

e police details for any
mpact traffic.
05:9???

Jurisdiction
Respon

• RSA 105:9.III.a says…
– “The chief of police
to assign police deta
meetings or function
may potentially invo
problems.”
– Examples of public m
listed in 105:9 includ
or carnival.

n? Liability?
nsibility?

…
shall have the authority
ails to attend any public
n which he determines
olve traffic related

meetings or functions
de public dance, circus,

Jurisdiction
Respon

•Who has authority within

•Depends on:

– Who’s managing or d
town, private)

– Class of road (I, II, II

n? Liability?
nsibility?

a Construction Zone?

doing the work (state,
II, IV, V, VI) – RSA 229:5

Jurisdiction
Respon

•RSA 228:37 says…
– “The [NHDOT] comm
regulate or restrict t
of class I, II, or clas
thereon when the pu
necessity so requires
perform work on any
bridge by posting no
such section of high
such bridge, and ma
detours, and …

n? Liability?
nsibility?

missioner may close,
traffic over any section
ss III highway or bridge
ublic welfare or
s, or in order to
y such highway or
otices at each end of
hway or at each end of
ay establish and mark

Jurisdiction
Respon

•RSA 228:37 cont’d says
– “… no town shall be
for damages or injur
in part by the use of
bridge when such no

•Other relevant RSA’s:

n? Liability?
nsibility?

s…
e liable to any person
ries caused in whole or
f such highway or
otices are posted.”

228:21, 236:1, 230:78

Jurisdiction
Respon

If NHDOT is overseeing work o
compact road or a clas
municipal agreement del
to the NHDOT will need t
should be included in tha
control authority and inte

n? Liability?
nsibility?

on a class IV urban
ss V town road, a separate
legating the town’s authority
to be written and language
at agreement to address traffic
entions.

Flagger & Police
MWZA and Early Co

The
Municipal
Work Zone
Agreement
(MWZA)

e Use Guidelines

oordination Guidance

Flagger & Police
MWZA and Early Coo

“A Municipal Wor
(MWZA) outlining
Transportation’s author
controlling traffic within
signed by each munici
NHDOT Flagger an
Guidelines prior to con

proj

NHDOT Flagger and Uniformed

e Use Guidelines
ordination Guidance

rk Zone Agreement
g the Department of
rity and responsibility for
n the work zone is to be
ipality as detailed in the
nd Uniformed Officer
nstruction of applicable
ject.”

ed Officer Use in Work Zones Policy

Flagger & Police
MWZA and Early Coo

NHDOT shall ask police,
officials for input:

• Accident history
• Commuter traffic
• Seasonal traffic v
• Special town eve

e Use Guidelines
ordination Guidance
, fire, and other town

c patterns
volume increase/decreases
ents

Flagger & Police
MWZA and Early Coo

Near end of design pha
construction, NHDOT s
officials again to comm
proposed traffic contro

• Take into account tow
• Spell out NHDOT’s in

flaggers and/or unifo

Don’t be afraid to requ
address concerns! Pr

e Use Guidelines
ordination Guidance

ase and prior to
shall meet with town
municate the NHDOT’s
ol plan.

wn’s earlier input.
ntentions regarding use of
ormed officers.

uest a meeting to
re-construction!

NHDOT

• Improve communicati

– Open work zone safety di
– Encourage feedback.
– Get signed copy of MWZA

documents.
– Follow-up with town prior

• Be upfront and clear about
officers, or temp. traffic con

T Goal:

ion with municipalities:

ialogue with municipality.

A, include in contract

r to bid.

NHDOT expectations to use flaggers,
ntrol devices.

Flagger & Police

A. Traffic Control O

• Flaggers shall be
extent possible f
control operatio

e Use Guidelines

Operations:

e used to the greatest
for dynamic traffic
ons.

Flagger & Police

A. Traffic Control Op

• Dynamic traffic co
that can be continuo
changing work zone
(i.e. flagging operat

Example: Alternat

e Use Guidelines

perations (cont’d):

ontrol = Traffic control
ously adjusted to meet
e needs and traffic demands
tions)

ting One-Way Traffic

Flagger & Police

A. Traffic Control Op

Examples of dynamic
where officers ma

• Complex signalized inters
• Rolling Roadblocks

e Use Guidelines

perations (cont’d):

traffic control situations
ay be used:

sections.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence:

“The use of flaggers or u
presence should on
is an added safety r
road users due to s
aggressive driving b
traffic crash/inciden
other features such
geometrics.”

e Use Guidelines

uniformed officers for
nly be used when there
risk to the workers and
speeding, other
behaviors, and/or high
nt rates attributed to
h as poor highway

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d.)

• Uniformed office

On roads with posted s
greater AND an averag
volume of 15,000 vpd o

• If:

Workers are unprote

Or there are increas

e Use Guidelines

):

ers may be used:

speeds of 45 mph or
ge daily traffic (ADT)
or greater.

ected and close to traffic.
sed safety risks to the road users.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d.):

• Flaggers may be us

– On roads with posted
an ADT volume < 15

• To:

– Alert and slow traffic
signals and hand-sign
in Chapter 6E of the

e Use Guidelines

:

sed:

d speed of < 45 mph or
5,000 vpd.

c with the use of hand
naling devices as described
MUTCD.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d.)

• If all work is behin
nor flaggers are ty

e Use Guidelines

):

nd barrier, neither officers
ypically necessary.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d.

• Police vehicles sho
nighttime operatio
excessive use – lig
actually detract fro
the traffic control d

e Use Guidelines

.):

ould be considered for
ons – be mindful of
ghts at night might
om the positive guidance
devices provide.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d)

• Officers may be u
volume roads if a
needs to be addr

• Examples:

•Work zone with
•Vehicles travelin

e Use Guidelines

):

used on low speed, low
a specific safety issue
ressed.

h high rate of crashes.
ng at excessive speeds.

Flagger & Police

B. Presence (cont’d)

• Officer use shoul
after other measu
determined to be

• Examples:

•MUTCD requir
•Centerline con
•Portable rumb
•Automated sp

e Use Guidelines

):

ld be considered only
ures have been
e ineffective.

red signs and delineation.
nes
ble strips
peed signs

Flagger & Police

C. Enforcement:

• Can only be done b

• May be used in wo
speed and/or other
behaviors are likely
of the workers and

e Use Guidelines

by uniformed officers.
ork zones where excessive
r aggressive driving
y to jeopardize the safety
d other road users.