Tribal, Local, & Rural Road Safety

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Local Road Safety Plans

Problem

While local agencies support safety initiatives, they have limited experience and few resources for conducting system-wide, data-driven crash analysis.

Noteworthy Solution

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) pioneered new methodologies to supplement their traditional hot-spot/high-crash location analysis based on crash frequency using a systemic analysis based on crash potential. These methodologies were first described in MnDOT's 2008 Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). North Dakota DOT (NDDOT) adapted the Minnesota process to fit North Dakota's needs and developed a Local Road Safety Program (2013-2015). The system-wide crash analysis processes can be applied to other local agencies if their crash analysis experience and resources are limited.

This practice is from the FHWA publication "Noteworthy Practices Manual - For Local Agencies Implementing Federal-Aid Highway Safety Improvement Program Projects." Download a PDF of the entire manual or view the HTML version.

Support for Road Safety Assessments

Problem

There is a limited number of safety professionals within local agencies to analyze and address complex road safety issues.

Noteworthy Solution

Local road authorities submitted requests to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for assistance in evaluating road safety issues. IDOT's Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) provided funding and technical assistance from in-house safety specialists to conduct a large number of Road Safety Assessments (RSAs) along local road systems. The final product was a prioritized list of key findings and recommendations.

Local Agency Safety Program

Problem

Local agencies often do not have the resources/expertise to conduct in-depth crash analyses and/or identify traffic safety solutions.

Noteworthy Solution

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 (Tampa Bay region) has developed the Local Agency Safety Program to assist local agencies without the resources to identify, develop, and implement safety improvements on local roadways as part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) process.

The Local Agency Safety Program includes:

A yearly traffic safety summit
Access to Safety Ambassadors
A Local Agency Traffic Safety Academy (LATSA)
Project delivery assistance

Implementing New Technology

Problem

Local agencies may have limited expertise with new/innovative safety countermeasures. This limits the agencys ability to address key crash factors.

Noteworthy Solution

In 2012, Thurston County in Washington State conducted a data-driven safety analysis to identify and prioritize potential safety projects that would be eligible for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds.

In late 2013, Thurston County determined that wet/icy pavement contributed to 47% of crashes and identified high friction surface treatment (HFST)a new and innovative technology proven effective at reducing crashes, particularly on wet pavementsas a solution. However, Thurston County had no prior experience with HFST and neither the Washington State Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) nor the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) could answer Thurston Countys questions about local implementation (installation costs, materials, and ongoing maintenance issues). To resolve the unanswered HFST inquiries, Thurston County worked with LTAP and FHWA to coordinate a peer exchange and pilot project.

Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Advisory Committee

Problem

Despite a notable percentage of fatalities occurring on local roads, there is low county, city, and local agency participation in the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

Noteworthy Solution

In 2014, California formed a local HSIP Advisory Committee to increase local agency participation in California's HSIP and to support the states goal to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on California public roads. The Advisory Committee provides California's local HSIP and other safety programs with safety guidance on California's local roadways. Committee members include the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) - Division of Local Assistance, U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Local Technical Assistance Program, and local agencies throughout California.

Safety Training for Local Agencies

Problem

Local agencies find it difficult to identify and develop safety projects for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding since very few of their staff are trained in safety analysis.

Noteworthy Solution

State and federal entities acknowledge that some local agencies have limited staff and their responsibilities cover a broad range of work that often monopolizes their time. They frequently are unable to take the necessary training to understand or apply traffic safety methods. In response, agencies have developed tools to help guide local practitioners through the HSIP safety analysis process. Federal and state agencies have developed the following resources to provide local agencies with safety analysis training and tools:

U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Improving Safety on Rural Local and Tribal Roads - Safety Toolkit (2014)
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Traffic Safety Fundamentals Handbook (2015)
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) training course using the New Jersey Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Manual (2016)

Strategic Highway Safety Plan Involvement

Problem

Local agencies implement few Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)-funded safety projects because project funding applications are seen as too complex and difficult.

Noteworthy Solution

To increase local participation in the HSIP process, the Minnesota and North Dakota DOTs developed Local Road Safety Plans (LRSPs) for each of the state counties (Refer to Case Study 10 for detailed information). To expedite project development, they provided local agencies with the HSIP project forms and required data for projects identified in the two state safety plans (approximately 14,000 specific actions at individual locations in Minnesota [Leuer, 2016, pers. comm.] and 3,000 actions in North Dakota [Kuntz, 2016, pers. comm.]).

The purpose of the Manual is, "to provide documentation and guidance to NHDOT staff and other safety stakeholders involved with implementing the HSIP in New Hampshire." The Manual was developed by an HSIP Committee directed by NHDOT staff and includes representatives from NHDOT, U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), local state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and regional development commissions.

HSIP Application Guidance Document

Problem

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding application process is a barrier for local agency staff due to the information required, a lack of prior experience with the process, limited resources, and competition for limited funds.

Noteworthy Solution

A funding process that considers the constrained resources of local public agencies and simplifies the funding applications is critical to enabling local agencies access to HSIP funds. One solution is to provide guidance to local agencies to help them successfully complete the application. The New Hampshire Department of Transportations (NHDOT) HSIP Manual and Guidance (2013) document is a good example of this approach.

The purpose of the Manual is, to provide documentation and guidance to NHDOT staff and other safety stakeholders involved with implementing the HSIP in New Hampshire. The Manual was developed by an HSIP Committee directed by NHDOT staff and includes representatives from NHDOT, U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), local state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and regional development commissions.

Crash Mapping Analysis Tool

Problem

A lack of accessible/user-friendly data prevents local agencies from participating in statewide safety planning efforts.

Noteworthy Solution

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) developed the Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT) to increase the accessibility and user-friendly features of its crash data. MnDOT's Division of State Aid for Local Transportation partnered with the Minnesota Local Road Research Board and the Minnesota County Engineers Association to develop the analysis tool. MnCMAT is a web-based application that provides 10 years of crash data for public roads in Minnesota. Individual crashes are spatially located along public roadways and up to 67 pieces of information are provided for each crash.

Strategic Highway Safety Plan Involvement

Problem

A local agency has not participated in statewide safety planning efforts. The agency would like to participate but is unsure how to begin.

Noteworthy Solution

A state DOT's collaboration with local agencies who have successfully implemented safety measures is critical to planning efforts. Frequently, local agencies are not sufficiently engaged during project identification and development to effectively implement the recommended measures. This case study shows how North Dakota DOT (NDDOT) and New Jersey DOT (NJDOT) are addressing this issue by including commitments in their Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

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