RSF 157, CMV Work Zone Technology Pilot Project

Abstract RSF 157, CMV Work Zone Technology Pilot Project 4/1/2025 – 03/31/2028 Work zone safety has become an increasingly critical issue for federal and state transportation agencies to tackle in recent years. FMCSA recently commenced a Work Zone Safety Campaign, in which the agency promotes work zone safety awareness, noting that “large trucks are over represented in work zone crashes, making up nearly one-third of fatal work zone crashes” nationwide.1 The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet also conducts work zone safety campaigns and provides resources to parties interested in helping promote its message to motorists.2 Unfortunately, work zone crashes remain stubbornly high in Kentucky. Table 1 shows Kentucky State Police crash data for Kentucky, which also includes crash data reported by local law enforcement agencies around the state. The chart shows the total number of collisions and collisions with injuries, fatalities, and property damage in 2021-2023; it also shows total injuries and fatalities. In each year there were more than 1,000 work zone crashes, and CMVs were involved in more than 20 percent of those work zones crashes. Sadly, there were 33 fatalities in Kentucky work zones during this timeframe. This project includes the following performance objectives: • Conduct an analysis of CMV-involved crashes in Kentucky work zones • Evaluate emerging work zone safety technologies that include but are not limited to connected variable message boards, sensor-based traffic data collection technology, crowdsource-based traffic data collection technology, data services, etc. • Gather information about which navigation/routing applications are used by CMV operators in Kentucky • Identify a contractor/vendor who can provide sensor-based and/or crowd-source-based technology that collects data about work zone traffic conditions and transmits data to connected roadside traffic control devices and third-party developers • Identify developer/vendor whose application can consume the work zone technology’s traffic data and transmit alerts to CMV operators via a navigation/routing application as the CMV approaches the oncoming work zone • Ensure technology hardware and software adheres to established Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) standards • Develop construction specifications and technical requirements for selected pilot project technologies utilized at each pilot project location • Identify two pilot project locations, with each one based on the following criteria: (1) Urban Interstate/Parkway Rehab and (2) Rural Interstate/Parkway • Collect traffic data from pilot work zone locations • Survey drivers who utilize notification devices • Collect traffic data and evaluate CMV-related crash rates and crash outcomes in pilot locations and compare them to non-pilot work zone locations with similar attributes • Conduct additional analysis utilizing safety performance functions for all three pilot locations • Develop 5-7 recommendations/guidance for CMV work zone notifications in future construction projects