16. Abstract
The objective of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the highway safety improvement projects implemented under the Rural Safety Innovation Program – Delta Region Transportation Development Program (RSIP-DRTDP) toward reducing fatalities and injuries on rural roads. Many of the safety improvement projects implemented as part of the RSIP-DRTDP were able to achieve the overall goal of USDOT's Rural Safety Initiative to improve safety on rural highways by decreasing loss of lives and injuries. In Mississippi, the installation of centerline rumble strips on rural two-lane roads where shoulder rumble strips were already present resulted in a decrease in target crashes. In Louisiana, improved signing and pavement markings at rural stop-controlled intersections effectively reduced total and fatal and all injury (FI) intersection and intersection-related crashes. In Arkansas, the safety evaluation of cable median barrier installed on rural interstates was able to demonstrate the beneficial effects on all crash types and severities, and in particular, fatal and serious (FS) injury crashes. For the remaining RSIP projects evaluated, the safety effects of the treatment combinations could not be reliably quantified at this time due to insufficient data. Finally, the lessons learned in developing a sign inventory system and installing dynamic message signs and closed-circuit video, respectively, will benefit other agencies interested in similar programs. The knowledge gained from the evaluation of the RSIP-DRTDP projects can benefit other highway agencies when making funding decisions concerning future safety improvement projects and programs.