Safety Data Case Studies
The Roadway Safety Data Program is working with state and local agencies to develop case studies around roadway safety data collection, management, and analysis issues. These case studies help illuminate both the challenges encountered by agencies on data issues and the solutions they are implementing to address the challenges.
Year | Title | State |
---|---|---|
2023 |
||
2023 |
Incorporating Safety in to Project Purpose and Need This case study documents formal guidance developed by three State DOTs and outlines noteworthy practices for incorporating safety as a project need:
Each section presents an overview of each agency’s process, its applicability to safety, and a project example that illustrates the guidance in practice. This case study is part of a series developed as part of the Safety and NEPA Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices. |
Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania |
2023 |
Colorado's I-25 South Gap Environmental Assessment This case study presents how the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was able to incorporate safety as part of the NEPA process to rapidly address a major transportation need for the State. CDOT produced a Safety Assessment Report (SAR) that investigated the magnitude of historical safety problems on the corridor through the use of State-specific safety performance functions (SPFs) to determine the Level of Service of Safety (LOSS). The I-25 South Gap Environmental Assessment touches on several themes noted in FHWA’s Integrating Road Safety into NEPA Analysis: A Practitioner’s Primer : Considering Safety Prior to NEPA, Public and Stakeholder Engagement, Safety in Purpose and Need, and Safety in Mitigation. This case study is part of a series developed as part of the Safety and NEPA Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices. |
Colorado |
2023 |
Kentucky's Second Street Corridor (US 60) Complete Street and Road Diet Project The City of Frankfort, Kentucky’s Second Street Corridor project is an example of how local governments and State departments of transportation (DOTs) can address safety needs during NEPA process. This case study touches on several themes noted in FHWA’s Integrating Road Safety into NEPA Analysis: A Practitioner’s Primer : Considering Safety Prior to NEPA, Stakeholder and Public Engagement, Safety and Environmental Justice, Safety and Environmental Stewardship, and Future Opportunities for Complete Streets. This case study is part of a series developed as part of the Safety and NEPA Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices. |
Kentucky |
2023 |
North Dakota's US 85 Expansion Environmental Impact Statement This case study presents how the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) was able to proactively address emerging system needs through the NEPA process and incorporate safety and minimize environmental impacts. NDDOT used the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) software as part of the alternatives analysis to document and evaluate the safety effects of proposed design decisions. The US Highway 85 (US 85) expansion project touches on several themes noted in FHWA’s Integrating Road Safety into NEPA Analysis: A Practitioner’s Primer : Stakeholder and Public Engagement, Safety in Purpose and Need, Highway Safety Manual Applications, and Safety and Environmental Stewardship. This case study is part of a series developed as part of the Safety and NEPA Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices. |
North Dakota |
2022 |
||
2022 |
Alabama's West South Boulevard Redesign Safety Assessment |
Alabama |
2022 |
This case study highlights a noteworthy example by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) as the State focuses on the quality of its linear referencing system (LRS). ADOT developed a framework for identifying critical issues with its LRS, such as gaps and overlaps in feature records. This process allows ADOT to trace systemic issues and correct them programmatically. This case study also explores how ADOT is advancing the State’s LRS to improve safety data integration and support advanced use cases in data management and analysis. |
Arizona |
2022 | California's High Injury Network and Planning for Zero As part of California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan implementation process, a diverse group of stakeholders developed recommendations for statewide guidance on High Injury Networks (HINs)HINs are a result of network screening, consisting of a continuous street corridors and intersections with a history of severe crashes of similar type. California’s promotion and use of HINs demonstrates how strategic planning can be used to support local governments as they implement safety planning policy and targeted projects to improve the built environment. Examples from the communities of Fremont, Berkeley, and San Francisco, show how HINs can be an effective tool for safety planning at agencies of all sizes and capabilities. |
California |
2022 |
Connecticut's Transportation Enterprise Data |
Connecticut |
2022 | Deriving and Visualizing MIRE Data for Safety Analysis: DC's Cross-Sectional Data This case study documents how the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) takes a unique and innovative approach to roadway data collection and integration to address the Agency’s diverse needs. DDOT uses cross-sectional data to derive Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) Fundamental Data Elements (FDEs) from existing data and reduce data collection costs. By collecting data to represent the full cross-section of the road, DDOT is able to conduct robust DDSA in support of the District’s multimodal safety initiatives, including Vision Zero and long-range planning. This case study also examines DDOT’s pilot initiatives to enhance its existing data with innovative data management and visualization approaches. |
District of Columbia |
2022 | Data Governance to Data-Driven Safety Analysis: Florida's SAFE STRIDES 2 Zero This case study documents how the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT’s) multi-year data governance effort has enabled the Agency to embark upon a robust program of safety data collection, integration, and analysis. The State Traffic Roadway and Intersection Data Evaluation System (STRIDES) 2 Zero (S2Z) program and the System Analysis and Forecast Evaluation (SAFE) subprogram represent a comprehensive safety management approach. The S2Z program aligns traffic safety and operations data applications to standardize FDOT’s approach to data-driven safety analysis. The SAFE subprogram overhauls FDOT’s network screening process to enable predictive methods. This programmatic enhancement supports project selection, improves program effectiveness, and helps reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Florida’s roads. |
Florida |
2022 | Florida DOT's Roadmap for Collecting Model Inventory of Roadway Elements This case study presents an effort by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as it navigated the process of capturing Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) Fundamental Data Elements (FDEs) for all public roads. The purpose is to provide a potential roadmap for other States as they prepare their safety data inventories to meet the 2026 deadline and support safety programs intended to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. FDOT’s safety data program is an example of how multiple data approaches and collaboration across DOT offices can be organized into a comprehensive program. |
Florida |
2022 |
Massachusetts Safety Data Visualization efforts |
Massachusetts |
2022 |
Minnesota DOT's I-35 Planning Study |
Minnesota |
2022 | Ohio DOT's Intersection Inventory This case study presents an effort by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to 1) develop a digital inventory of intersection locations on all public roads in the State, and 2) collect Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) Fundamental Data Elements (FDEs) at those intersections to support statewide safety screening and analysis. The intersection inventory will serve several important purposes for ODOT, including meeting Federal data requirements and substantially improving data analysis capabilities. ODOT’s data integration with existing and future data analysis systems and work with FHWA’s Applications of Enterprise Geographic Information Systems for Transportation (AEGIST) pooled fund study will expand intersection safety analysis capabilities throughout the agency. |
Ohio |
2022 |
Texas DOT's I-37 Interstate Access Justification |
Texas |
2022 | VTrans' Approach to a Complete Intersection Inventory This case study presents the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s (VTrans’) approach to develop a statewide intersection inventory representing the State’s entire public road network. This involved a combination of automated and manual collection that helped VTrans represent these complex operational features, as well as partnerships between the State and its regional planning commissions. Linear referencing serves as the foundation for the intersection inventory, and Vermont’s data collection framework will allow VTrans to maintain quality data over time. In addition to meeting federal data requirements, Vermont’s intersection data initiative will support safety performance function development and systemic safety analysis. |
Vermont |
2021 |
||
2021 | Indiana Department of Transportation – Indiana's State Road 37 Improvement Project This case study presents an interchange alternatives analysis from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). The analysis supported a multi-agency planning and engineering effort that involved INDOT, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, Hamilton County, Town of Fishers, and City of Noblesville. |
Indiana |
2021 | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – Kentucky's Network Screening Process The purpose of this case study is to describe Kentucky's network screening methodology for all State-owned roads, as well as local roads classified as a collector street or above. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's (KYTC) Highway Safety Improvement Program requires a data-driven process to identify sites with a potential safety need and prioritize projects. |
Kentucky |
2021 | Acadiana Planning Commission: Data Governance - Louisiana’s Local Government Partnerships The Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) covering the Lafayette, Louisiana urbanized area. Although Lafayette proper is highly urban, the MPO in total covers a seven-parish area in southern Louisiana that also includes low density rural communities. |
Louisiana |
2021 |
Michigan’s US 31 at I-94 Interchange Alternatives Analysis |
Michigan |
2021 | Data Management & Spatial Integration: Missouri's Transportation Management This case study documents how the Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT's) Transportation Planning Division (TPD) coordinates with the Information Systems unit (the agency's information technology unit), and the State's Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC) to form a leadership group that supports the State's data management and integration activities. The State's Transportation Management System (TMS) stores all transportation-related data maintained by the agency. |
Missouri |
2021 | South Carolina Department of Transportation – South Carolina's SC 61 Rural Road Safety Project The purpose of this case study is to present an example application of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Highway Safety Manual (HSM) to support a rural road corridor analysis. |
South Carolina |
2021 | Western Federal Lands Highway Division: Yale-Kilgore Road Safety and Traffic Assessment This case study presents a safety analysis by the Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) Highway Safety Team. The WFLHD used the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) software as part of the design process for the rehabilitation of Yale-Kilgore Road. |
Western Federal Lands |
2021 |
WIS 75 Intersection Screening & Project Development Process |
Wisconsin |
2020 |
||
2020 |
New York DOT's Data Integration in CLEAR New York State's Safety Management Tool |
New York |
2020 |
Ohio DOT's Data Governance: Ohio's People, Processes, and Technology |
Ohio |
2017 |
||
2017 | Southeast Michigan Council of Governments: Innovative Traffic Data Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures and Automating AADT Estimation This case study highlights two noteworthy practices at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments regarding short-duration traffic count validation procedures and an automated annual average daily traffic estimation process. |
Michigan |
2017 | New York State DOT's Engagement of Local Agencies in Traffic Volume Collection and Random Sampling Procedures This case study highlights two noteworthy practices at the New York State Department of Transportation regarding traffic data collection agreements with local agencies and random sampling procedures to select short-duration traffic count locations |
New York |
2017 | Asset Management in Oregon Case Study The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for managing and maintaining its roadway assets. Managed assets include barriers, traffic signals, lighting, pavement markings, and signs. ODOT has developed an innovative inventory of its assets and evaluates asset condition in order to efficiently manage maintenance efforts. |
Oregon |
2017 |
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's Innovative Traffic Data Sharing Practices |
Pennsylvania |
2017 |
Virginia DOT's Innovative Procedures in Traffic Volume Estimation |
Virginia |
2016 |
||
2016 | Alabama's Safety Planning Tools for MPOs Roadway Safety Data and Analysis The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) led the effort to develop ALSAFE, a spreadsheet-based safety tool that can be used for short- and long-range transportation safety planning. ALDOT developed ALSAFE to serve as a safety planning tool for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). |
Alabama |
2016 | Arizona Importing Local and Tribal Data For Safety Analysis The Arizona DOT is importing Local and Tribal data for safety. A joint pilot project with FHWA encouraged ADOT to create a new process allowing business users to import the data from local agencies, export combined State and local/tribal data, and load data into AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ for analysis. |
Arizona |
2016 | Colorado's Implementation of Level of Service of Safety The objective of this case study is to illustrate how Colorado uses GIS to spatially integrate roadway data with crash data, develop SPFs, visualize data, and implement the Level of Service of Safety (LOSS) method to assess a roadway's safety performance. |
Colorado |
2016 | Systemic Safety Analysis in Illinois The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) published the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual Illinois User Guide with Illinois Calibration Factor and Default Values in 2014. Also in 2014, IDOT published the Systemic Safety Improvements: Analysis, Guidelines and Procedures Guidebook. |
Illinois |
2016 | Roadway Safety Data Governance in Illinois The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has implemented an enterprise data governance approach for managing data collection, storage, distribution, and use throughout the organization. The Illinois Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (ITRCC) works to advance IDOT safety analysis activities, which includes identifying severe crash locations and segments, prioritizing locations for treatment, and performing systemic safety analyses. |
Illinois |
2016 | Iowa's Real-Time Data Integration of Snowplow Information and Roadway Safety Iowa has been in the forefront of using GIS finding new and innovative ways to improve safety. The case study highlights a GIS-based tracking system tied to the snow removal operation. |
Iowa |
2016 |
Maryland's Data Linkage and Analysis to Support Decision making |
Maryland |
2016 | North Carolina's State-Specific CMFs North Carolina is one of a small number of States that have actively pursued developing their own crash modification factor (CMF) "short list" for countermeasures that are deployed throughout the State. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wanted to develop a list of CMFs to use in benefit cost analyses across the State. |
North Carolina |
2016 |
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Integrating Safety into the Planning Process at the MPO Level |
Pennsylvania |
2016 | Pennsylvania's State-Specific SPFs and CMFs Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) used Part C of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) to develop State-specific safety performance functions (SPFs). PennDOT believes that pre-selecting applicable CMFS, and developing State-specific and regionally calibrated SPFs offers the best approach for addressing the State's unique features and for dealing with the inherent differences among areas within the State. |
Pennsylvania |
2016 | South Carolina Safety Data Improvements Through Electronic Crash System Deployment The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) implemented the South Carolina Collision and Ticket Tracking System (SCCATTS), a long-term initiative to improve law enforcement data quality. SCCATTS supports decision making with quality data and efficient data sharing among stakeholders |
South Carolina |
2016 |
Tennessee's Horizontal Curve Database |
Tennessee |
2016 | Utah's and Kentucky's Innovative Use of GIS-Based Tools The objective of this case study is to illustrate Kentucky and Utah DOTs effective use of usRAP and UPlan, respectively. Both programs include data collection, and analysis methods that facilitate highway safety improvements. |
Utah, Kentucky |
2016 | Washington State and Tribal Data Sharing Partnership The Washington State Department of Transportation successfully partners with tribes to share data and tools helping to improve safety at the local level. |
Washington |
2015 |
||
2015 | Michigan Department of Transportation Safety Data Processes and Governance Practices The purpose of this case study is to summarize how the MDOT incorporates a data governance structure into their standard business operations and how it has helped them to improve their safety data systems and processes. |
Michigan |
2015 |
New Hampshire's Intersection Inventory |
New Hampshire |
2015 |
New Hampshire DOT's Safety Data Systems and Processes |
New Hampshire |
2015 |
Utah DOT's Safety Data Processes and Governance Practices |
Utah |
2015 |
Developing and Using State Specific Safety Performance Functions (SPFS) In Virginia Roadway Safety and Analysis |
Virginia |
2014 |
||
2014 | Roadway Safety Data and Analysis Case Study: Safety Analysis in Project Development in Louisiana The purpose of this case study is to describe the success experienced by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) using safety data and safety analysis techniques in a broad range of project development practices in maintenance, design exceptions, environmental reviews, work zone construction and operations, and local roadway owner coordination. |
Louisiana |
2014 | Michigan Roadsoft – Integration of State and Local Safety Data Case Study The program provides roadway asset management, field data collection, maintenance management, and safety analysis tools to local agencies. Each local agency maintains its own data in a local copy of Roadsoft and shares that information with the State upon request. |
Michigan |
2014 | Ohio Location Based Response System – Integration of State and Local Safety Data Case Study The program provides consistent location referencing for all public roadways. ODOT maintains the statewide roadway inventory database and integrates data owned and supplied by the local agencies. |
Ohio |
2014 | Tennessee Roadway Information System This case study outlines a centralized, State-led data collection effort for safety data and analysis. The Tennessee Roadway Information Management System (TRIMS) is a single integrated system that includes State and local roadways, structures, pavement, traffic, photo logs, and crash data. |
Tennessee |
2014 | Roadway Safety Data and Analysis Case Study – Collection and Use of Roadway Asset Data in Utah The data collection effort performed by UDOT was a first-of-its-kind, surveying the entire state roadway network and obtaining a wide set of data elements. LiDAR (a term that combines "light" and "radar") was used by the selected vendor to collect a variety of asset data. The LiDAR technology creates a three dimensional model of the assets scanned along the roadway, and is performed in a single pass at highway speeds. |
Utah |
2014 |
Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads – Integration of State and Local Safety Data Case Study |
Wisconsin |
2010 |
||
2010 | Using Predictive Methods for Alternative Selection in Florida With the publication of the HSM, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) initiated a pilot project to investigate the differences in project cost based on FDOT Plans Preparation Manual standards compared to Green Book standards to use as a tool for decision making and alternative selection during the project development process, with specific emphasis on the evaluation of safety costs utilizing the HSM predictive method. |
Florida |
2010 | Using Predictive Methods for a Corridor Study in Idaho The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) contracted with a consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of existing Idaho State Highway 8 (Idaho 8) corridor conditions. The review identified deficiencies related to traffic operations, roadway geometry and cross section, access control, and safety with an overall purpose to identify and prioritize operational improvements over a 10-year period. FHWA's IHSDM was used to evaluate existing traffic, roadway geometry, and predict crashes using these and the corridor's recent crash history. |
Idaho |
2010 |
Development of Safety Performance Functions for Network Screening in Illinois |
Illinois |
2010 | HSM Implementation Plans – New Hampshire DOT Experience The New Hampshire DOT (NHDOT) developed a roadmap of the State's current HSM integration status and implementation strategy for a region wide implementation. The roadmap highlights the activities initiated before the release of the HSM, current efforts, and upcoming activities. NHDOT also developed an implementation plan that was approved by executive leadership. (Year 2010) |
New Hampshire |
2010 | Implementing a New Roadway Safety Management Process with AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ in Ohio Ohio is one of the States leading the way in the integration of AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ into state safety programs. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is using AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ to assist with all steps of their safety management system, including: network screening, diagnosis, countermeasure selection, economic appraisal, prioritization, and countermeasure evaluation. |
Ohio |