Effectiveness of Temporary Rumble Strips in Work Zones

Temporary rumble strips, including short-term temporary rumble strips and long-term temporary rumble strips, are used by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to help reduce vehicle speeds in work zones and to alert drivers they are approaching a work zone. This research study investigated the effectiveness of temporary rumble strips used by MoDOT and other state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). The research methodology included a review of existing literature, synthesis of MoDOT and other DOT practices, field observations of driver behavior and installation of temporary rumble strips, collection and analysis of speed data, and economic analysis. A synthesis of existing DOT practices found differences in levels of implementation and standards for temporary rumble strips among DOTs. Field observations of driver behavior noted minimal erratic driver behavior. Overall, the study found that temporary rumble strips can be an effective tool to lower vehicle speeds and reduce crashes and can lead to high benefit-cost ratios. Modifications to existing MoDOT practices may potentially reduce cost, increase installation efficiency, enhance worker safety, and improve performance of temporary rumble strips.

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Report number: cmr 22-004
Published: February 2022
Project number: TR202209
Authors: Henry Brown, Praveen Edara, Carlos Sun, Sungyop Kim, Jill Bernard Bracy, Qingzhong Zeng, Ho Jun Baek, and Gladwell Ndungu

Performing organization: Missouri Center for Transportation Innovation (MCTI)

Development of a Surface Transportation Impact Factor for Winter Severity Indices

The state of Missouri is diverse in terms of winter weather patterns, population distribution and traffic patterns.  Winter weather ranges from severe ice storms to high accumulation snow events to typical events with mixed precipitation types and amounts with a wide range of impacts across the state.  Missouri has areas ranging from sparsely populated rural to congested urban areas.  With this diversity in mind and the data-driven culture of the department, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Winter Severity Index process developed in this research effort provides a tool to accurately compare response practices, winter weather management, and performance across the various diverse regions of Missouri. 

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Report number: cmr 22-003
Published: February 2022
Project number: TR202014
Authors: Andrew Boeckmann, R. Andrew Yeskoo, and Paul Axtell Ryan Thomas, Richard Bennett, Diar Hassan, Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, and Praveen Edara

Performing organization: Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions