Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
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Sample Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)

Regulation & Policy > Final Rule > Examples > TMP Examples

Sample Transportation Management Plans and Templates

This FHWA-developed guide consists of samples, templates, and tips to help transportation agencies develop and implement their own TMPs. The TMP samples and templates presented in the guide represent two projects with different levels of impacts: Template 1 and Sample 1 represent projects with minor-to-moderate level of impacts; Template 2 and Sample 2 represent projects with moderate-to-major level of impacts. For each template, a sample TMP is included that was developed based on information provided by the State/agency where the project is located. The templates and samples are intended only as resources to transportation agencies and are not the only possible/acceptable format for a TMP. The links below include a link to the entire document, which includes the sample plans and templates, and links to the individual templates in editable Microsoft Word format so that agencies can fill in and tailor the templates to their projects.

  • Sample Transportation Management Plans and Templates (HTML, PDF 5.2MB)
  • TMP Template 1: Minor-to-Moderate Impacts (HTML, DOC 417KB)
  • TMP Template 2: Moderate-to-Major Impacts (HTML, DOC 517KB)

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) TMP for I-5/I-805 Widening Project

The Interstate 5/Interstate 805 Widening Project created a separate freeway bypass system from the junction of Interstates 5 and 805 to the Del Mar Heights Road Interchange in San Diego. The project, which occurred from 2002 to 2007, also included the construction of a diamond interchange at Carmel Mountain Road and the addition of auxiliary lanes to the existing main lanes.

The TMP for this project (HTML, PPT 2.8MB) included strategies for public information, motorist information, incident management, construction, demand management, and alternate routes. The TMP budget was approximately $4.6 million, which equates to 2.7% of the total project cost of approximately $170 million.

Caltrans TMP for the Bay Bridge Full Closure

The California DOT (Caltrans) began a major project to retrofit the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to current seismic design standards in summer 1998 and expects to complete the work by winter 2014. To demolish and replace one of the viaducts, Caltrans had to close the entire Bay Bridge and did so as part of an 81-hour planned full closure during Labor Day weekend 2007. In addition to normal recurring traffic congestion, Caltrans anticipated that numerous major sports and cultural events planned for the weekend would cause traffic disruptions and potential gridlock around the bridge.

Caltrans considered transportation management planning to be critical to the overall success of the full closure and begin planning efforts one year prior to the closure. Caltrans held regular coordination meetings to obtain approvals for the bridge closure from the appropriate Caltrans offices, and a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team developed the TMP in a presentation format to allow key information to be easily accessible internally to the public and to media. The TMP described the project (slides 3-13), illustrated the construction activities (slides 22-42), discussed the anticipated transportation impacts (slides 13-21 and 43-62), and described the work zone management strategies. Strategies included public information (slides 65-80), traveler information (slides 81-97), transportation and incident management (slides 98-107), construction (slides 108-110), demand management (slides 111-114), and alternate routing (slides 115-117). A TMP binder was also developed, which included detailed implementation plans for the various TMP strategies, such as the communication plan for public outreach, the long-term emergency transportation response plan, and details of additional transit services. The binder serves as a useful reference for future TMP efforts.

The TMP strategies that were implemented during the closure effectively reduced the number of trips made around the Bay area during Labor Day weekend, thereby managing congestion levels. Close to $1 million was spent on public outreach, with notifications sent statewide to both local and out of town travelers more than four months in advance. As a result of the extensive TMP planning, the full closure was a success.

Caltrans TMP for I-5 "Boat Section" Rehabilitation

On May 30, 2008, the California DOT (Caltrans) began rehabilitation work on I-5 between L and S streets in Sacramento. This stretch of I-5 has been dubbed the "Boat Section" because it is below water level. The work included replacing pavement, improving drainage, and installing new de-watering wells and monitoring equipment. The high Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 190,000 and reduced shoulders on this section of the roadway made repair work difficult. A majority of the work was constructed using a crossover to handle through traffic, while two non-diverted lanes handled merging traffic and traffic to downtown Sacramento destinations. This work was done on a 24/7 basis and the remainder of project construction was completed using standard lane closures and 55-hour weekend lane closures.

The I-5 Boat Section TMP outlines the strategies implemented to minimize impacts to the traveling public during construction, and lays out the roles and responsibilities of the project stakeholders prior to and during construction. The TMP includes sections on motorist information, incident management, construction, stakeholder coordination, corridor/network management, alternate routes, public information/public awareness, and contractor and Caltrans emergency contingency plans. Commuter traffic experienced some delays during this project, but the delays were not as bad as expected due to Caltrans' extensive public outreach efforts. For this project, traffic handling plans (i.e., a traffic control plan, or TCP) were included as part of the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates package. Under the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule, a TMP needs to include a TCP for the project.

Michigan Department of Transportation Sample TMP

The Michigan DOT (MDOT) includes a sample TMP on page 94 of its Work Zone Safety and Mobility Manual. This TMP is for a project that consists of joint replacement, deck patching, and barrier replacement. The TMP contains an executive summary, a temporary traffic control plan, a transportation operations plan, and a public information plan. It calls for attachments on delay calculation details, maintenance of traffic plan sheets, and a vicinity map as part of the TMP (these attachments are not included with the sample in the manual).MDOT recently updated the sample TMP, changing it to a blank TMP template (HTML, PDF 159KB, DOC 133KB) that includes sample language and tips and suggestions for creating a TMP that is unique to a project. This TMP template is meant to be modified based on a project's needs.

A presentation entitled "Michigan DOT TMP Process, Content, Implementation, Lessons Learned" describes more about MDOT's TMPs.

Oregon Department of Transportation Three Levels of TMPs

As a result of the 10-year, $3 billion Oregon Transportation Investment Act (OTIA), a significant period of construction began in Oregon. To keep traffic and freight moving during this time, the Oregon DOT (ODOT) instituted a statewide traffic mobility program and is focusing on identifying and addressing mobility issues for projects prior to and during the design phase and through the development and implementation of TMPs. The goal of the TMPs is to address the traffic-related impacts of the construction projects in a cost-effective, timely manner with minimal interference to the traveling public through the effective application of traditional and innovative traffic mitigation strategies. Read more…

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Sample TMP

The Pennsylvania DOT (PennDOT) includes a sample TMP on page 399 of its Traffic Engineering and Operations Manual. This TMP was created for a project on a rural interstate highway with low traffic impacts and was drafted using information that is readily available from other sources. The sample TMP contains sections for roles and responsibilities, project description, traffic conditions (includes safety data), work zone impacts assessment, work zone impacts management strategies (to include a traffic control plan, traffic operations plan, and public information plan), TMP performance, contingency plans, and a breakout of TMP costs. It is meant to be expanded as needed depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Sample TMPs

The Rhode Island DOT (RIDOT) developed requirements for TMP preparation and submission. The TMP strategies selected for a project are based on the project's Impact Level. Projects assigned as Impact Level 1 or 2 are considered significant projects. Projects assigned a Level 3 are considered to have moderate impacts, and projects assigned a Level 4 are considered to have low impacts. To assist designers in preparing TMPs for projects, RIDOT has developed a set of four TMP Templates and four Sample TMPs, one for each Work Zone Impact Level. Read more…

Virginia Department of Transportation Sample TMPs

The Virginia DOT (VDOT)developed a document, entitled "Examples of Temporary Traffic Control Plans" (PDF 4.6MB), that contains both example Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Plans and example TMPs for previously developed projects. The document includes sample TMPs for Type B and Type C projects. VDOT defines Type B projects as those with a moderate level of construction activity and with the primary traffic impact limited to the roadway containing the work zone. TMPs for these projects require a TTC plan and should include a public communications plan if traffic volumes exceed the minimum number of vehicles/hour/lane or delay times established by the Regional Traffic Engineer for lane closure periods, and a transportation operations plan if the work zone is greater than ½ mile in length and/or with reduced-width travel lanes. Type C projects are significant projects, which VDOT defines as projects anticipated to cause sustained work zone impacts greater than what is considered tolerable based on policy or engineering judgment. TMPs for these projects require a TTC plan, a public communications plan, and a transportation operations plan.

Type B TMP - Spring Run Construction Area

The Spring Run Construction Area TMP (page 34 of the document) begins with the recommended traffic management strategy for the project, which includes closing the road and establishing an off-site detour. It then describes the assessment of the construction impacts, an assessment of the off-site detour strategy, and the required collaboration needed to ensure the off-site detour is successful. It also describes the proposed road closures and estimated impacts, special signing and the associated temporary traffic control layout, transportation operations strategies, and public communication strategies. The TMP concludes with additional information, such as posted speeds on the detour route, peak hour turning movements, results of project traffic and crash data analysis, and other detour routes that were evaluated and rejected.

Type C TMP - Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project TMP (page 45 of the document) is for construction of the new I-95/I-495/Telegraph Rd interchange at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (WWB), which was expected to create substantial traffic impacts, especially during the early phases of construction when I-95 would be reduced from eight to six lanes. The TMP includes efforts to mitigate these impacts, such as the use of traffic management technology, proactive reviews, public outreach, and enforcement. The TMP states that managing the transportation network during WWB construction will require looking not only in proximity to the project limits, but regionally since the variable speed limit system and other traffic management strategies will likely impact other nearby construction projects. Therefore, TMPs will be developed for other major construction projects in the region, and all TMPs combined will create a regional transportation management strategy that should allow construction to be completed as quickly as possible, maintain work zone safety, minimize and manage necessary traffic impacts, and maximize mobility to motorists.

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