HomeMy WebLinkAboutGEORGIA OPEN ROADS POLICY: QUICK CLEARANCE FOR SAFETY AND MOBILITY ENDORSEMENT RESOLUTION "EORGIAQ C O�y ������ GEORMA
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GEORGIA OPEN ROADS POLICY: QUICK CLEARANCE FOR SAFETY AND
MOBILITY
ENDORSEMENT RESOLUTION
AUGUSTA FIRE DEPARTMENT
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AUGUSTA
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WHEREAS, the Georgia Open Roads Policy, signed in 2011 by the Georgia Department of Public
Safety (DPS),the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and the Governor of Georgia is It
the policy that suggests a new benchmark and standard for traffic incident response on Georgia
roadways; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Open Roads Policy states, in pertinent part, that public safety remains
the highest priority during a traffic incident and that public safety agencies and traffic incident
responders shall re-open the roadway as soon as possible on an urgent basis; and
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WHEREAS, GDOT and the Traffic Incident Management Enhancement (TIME) Task Force
recently developed the 2011 Georgia Traffic Incident Management Guidelines as the
recommended state-of-practice for traffic incident response, management, and clearance for
Georgia roadways, and that these Guidelines complement the Georgia Open Roads Policy.
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NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Augusta Fire Department agrees that clearing the
travel portion of a roadway is a high priority and that roadways will not be closed or restricted
any longer than is absolutely necessary; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the Augusta Fire Department will promote and advocate,
where appropriate, the Quick Clearance principles and practices recommended by the 2011
Georgia Traffic Incident Management Guidelines, before, during, and after a traffic incident;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Augusta Fire Department is committed to participating in
continuous collaboration with other state and local agencies concerning intra- and inter-
disciplinary matters relevant to traffic incident management and quick clearance, including but
not limited to training, research, evaluation, and education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Augusta Fire Department hereby endorses and now
becomes an Official Party to the Georgia Open Roads Policy.
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AUGUSTA FIRE DEPARTMENT
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Christopher E. James ire Chief—Augusta Fire Department )l TE :,,,,,,„/ ,1,�/;0i� Off''iii e,
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STATE OF GEORGIA
OPEN ROADS POLICY
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whenever a roottwom or travel tone is down'or partially
i,fara°ked by o traffic Incident,heargia raw ffiorcemegat.
Transportation raid ocal Public Safety agencies shall
r°urea the roadway ay as soon as possible IN A N URGENT
MANNER%Solely of the!analis:and responders arnders is the
blithestlrrtoritfr and must Fre preser i.ht
This agreement by and between the Georgia Department of Public Safety1 (DPS) the
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and other State, county and local agencies o
or political subdivisions as identified by their signatures below, establishes a policy for DPS
and GDOT personnel to expedite the removal of vehicles, cargo and debris in order to
restore, in an URGENT MANNER, the safe and orderly flow of traffic following a traffic
incident on Georgia's roadways. This policy establishes a suggested benchmark for all
Georgia traffic incident response agencies to adopt.
' The Georgia Department of Public Safety(UPS) oversees the day-to-dayoperation of the Georgia rn
State Patrol (GSP), capitol Police and the Motor carrier Compliance Division (MCC)). All DPS
references in this policy specifically include GSP and MCC ,
Whereas: Public safety is the highest priority and must be maintained, especially if injuries or hazardous materials
are involved. The quality of life in the State of Georgia is heavily dependent upon the free movement of people,
vehicles and commerce. DPS and GDOT share the responsibility for achieving and maintaining the degree of order
necessary to make this free movement possible. Both agencies have the responsibility to do whatever is reasonable
to reduce the risk to responders and secondary traffic incidents and reduce delays associated with incidents,
crashes,roadway maintenance,construction and enforcement.
Whereas: The coordination,communication and cooperation between DPS and GDOT and the incident responders
of other State, county and local agencies or political subdivisions is necessary so as to clear traffic incidents quickly
while promoting the safety of responders and the motoring public.
Whereas: it is understood that damage to vehicles and/or cargo may occur as a result of clearing the roadway on
an urgent basis. While reasonable attempts to avoid such damage shall be taken, the highest priority is restoring
traffic to normal conditions. Incident caused congestion has an enormous cost to society. This cost is significantly
greater than the salvage value of an already damaged vehicle and its cargo.
The following operating standards are based on the philosophy that our roadways will not be closed or restricted
any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Be it resolved: Roadways will be cleared of wrecked vehicles,spilled cargo and debris as soon as it is safe to do so.
The highest priority is restoring traffic to normal conditions. Reasonable attempts will be made to avoid additional
damage to vehicles and/or cargo in the process of clearing the roadway. .
Department of Public Safety Responsibilities
DPS Troopers who respond to the scene of traffic incidents will make clearing the travel portion of the roadway a
high priority. When an investigation is required, it will be conducted in the most expedient manner considering the
severity of the traffic incident. Non-critical portions of the investigation may be delayed until lighter traffic
conditions allow completion of those tasks associated with the investigation. DPS will close only those lanes o
absolutely necessary to conduct the investigation safely. oti
DPS will coordinate with GDOT representatives to set up appropriate traffic control, establish alternate routes,
expedite the safe movement of traffic trapped at the scene,and restore the roadway to normal as soon as possible. n
Whenever practical, traffic incidents on controlled access highway will be relocated to off-ramps,frontage roads, o
accident investigation sites or other safe areas for completion of investigations to reduce the delays associated with
motorists slowing to "gawk"or"rubber neck." Wreckers will be requested as soon as it is evident that they will be
needed to clear the roadway. DPS will review and update its wrecker authorization programs to include provisions v
that responding wrecker operators have met recognized competency levels and that the equipment is of a
appropriate size,capacity and design capable of providing quick clearance of roadway incidents. a,
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In accordance with DPS Policy 7.05.3.8.18-20, DPS will ensure that all of its authorized wrecker operators have
met the currently required competency levels and that the equipment is of appropriate size, capacity and design
capable of providing quick clearance of roadway incidents. Periodically BPS in cooperation with GDOT will evaluate
and update both wrecker operator and equipment standards.
BPS Trooper on scene will not unnecessarily delay reopening a roadway in order to allow a commercial vehicle
company to dispatch its own equipment to off-load hazardous cargo or to recover a vehicle or load during peak
traffic hours or if the incident is creating a traffic hazard. DPS and GDOT will cooperate in planning and
implementing roadway clearance operations in the most safe and expeditious manner.
DPS,along with GDOT, will research,evaluate,and educate troopers in the most advanced technologies,equipment
and approved methods for the documentation and investigation of traffic incidents or incident scenes. BPS, using
these techniques, will prioritize the investigative tasks and reopen the travel lanes as soon as those tasks that must
be conducted without traffic flowing are completed.
Georgia Department of Transportation Responsibilities
GDOT, when requested by DPS or other law enforcement or emergency agency, will respond and deploy resources
to major traffic incidents 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Each GDOT District will develop and implement
notification and response procedures to meet the goal of providing initial traffic control within 30 minutes of
notification during normal working hours and 60 minutes after hours and on weekends2.
GDOT, in coordination with DPS, will upgrade scene safety by providing arrow boards, advanced warning signs,
cones and scene traffic controls;determine appropriate detour routes;and discuss incident clearance strategies.
GDOT will provide fully compliant temporary work zone traffic controls at major traffic incidents in which roadway
clearance is expected to exceed 24 hours to ensure a safe incident scene for all responders and the motoring public.
GDOT, in cooperation with DPS, will determine and deploy the necessary heavy equipment and manpower to
reopen the roadway if clearance of the travel lanes is being or could be expected to be delayed, or if the task is
beyond the capabilities of the wrecker service on scene. If cargo or spilled loads (non-hazardous) ore involved,
GDOT will make every effort to assist in the relocation of the materials in the shortest possible time,using whatever
equipment necessary. All such materials or any wreckage relocated by GDOT will be moved as short a distance as
possible to eliminate the roadway blockage or hazard to traffic.
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GDOT personnel will document all hours and equipment used for traffic control, roadway clearance and debris
removal in order to seek reimbursement from the responsible party. GDOT will place cones or traffic control n
devices at the scene should any damaged vehicles or cargo remain adjacent to the travel lanes on the shoulder for A,
removal at a later time.
GDOT and DPS will continually work together to ensure that the needs of motorists on our highways are being met o
in the most professional,safe,and efficient manner.
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2 Response times may be longer in remote rural areas where limited GDOT resources currently exist.
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Responsibilities of Other State,County and Local Agencies or Political Subdivisions
As other State, County and local agencies or political subdivisions endorse the open roads policy, individual
signature pages that detail specific agency responsibilities will be attached as an appendix to this policy. Other
State, County and local agencies or political subdivisions identified by their signatures (excluding DPS and GDOT)
will not interfere with or impede BPS or GDOT in the performance and execution of responsibilities DPS and GDOT
as set forth above. As is necessary and determined by either DPS or GDOT, these other State, county and local
agencies or political subdivisions will coordinate, cooperate and communicate with DPS and GDOT in the
performance and execution of the responsibilities of DPS and GDOT as set forth above. These other State, county
and local agencies or political subdivisions will develop and implement notification and response procedures to
meet the goal of providing initial traffic control within 30 minutes of notification during normal working hours and
60 minutes after hours and on weekends.
These other State, county and local agencies or political subdivisions will train their respective, management,
operational and response personnel in the responsibilities, procedures and intention of this Open Roads Policy
agreement.
Therefore,it is agreed that:
Traffic incidents will be cleared from Georgia roadways as soon as possible. It is the goal of all traffic incident
response agencies that all traffic incidents be cleared from the travel portion of the roadway within 90 minutes3.
DPS and GDOT will evaluate and continually update and modify their operating policies, procedures, rules and
standards to assure they are consistent with this Open Roads Policy agreement.
DPS and GDOT will ensure that all management, operational and response personnel are aware
of and adhere to the responsibilities, procedures and intention of this Open Roads Policy
agreement.
The other State, County and local agencies or political subdivisions as identified by their signatures in the appendix
will assist DPS and GDOT when necessary with the performance and execution of their responsibilities as set forth in
the Open Roads Policyagreement.
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It is further agreed that:
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Both BPS,GDOT, and other State County and local agencies as identified by their signature in the appendix, will o
encourage and enlist other state,county and local agencies or political subdivisions to endorse and become party to
this Open Roads Policy of the State of Georgia. 0
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3 Response times may be longer in remote rural areas where limited GDOT resources currently exist.
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In witness whereof,each party hereto has caused this document to be executed in its name and on its behalf by the
duly authorized Chief Executives of these state agencies.
GEORGIA DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION GEORGIA DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
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Vance Smith Colonel Bill Hitchens
GDOT Commissioner DPS Commissioner
Date: /"-- I if Date: 6
ENDORSED,AGREED and EXECUTED THIS DAY of ,2011.
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Governor,State of Georgia
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