Background

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the objective to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads through the implementation of highway safety improvement projects. The HSIP, similar to other Federal-aid programs, is a federally-funded, state administered program. The FHWA establishes the HSIP requirements via 23 CFR 924, and the States develop and administer a program to best meet their needs.

Executive Summary

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the purpose to achieve a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act, Congress authorized approximately $2.4 billion per year for States to achieve this goal through the implementation of highway safety improvement projects, which is nearly double the amount that was authorized under the previous legislative act.

HSIP 2015 National Summary Report

Disclaimer/Quality Assurance

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S.

References

[1] FHWA, Highway Safety Improvement Program Manual, 6.1 (January 2010), available at: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/highway-safety-improvement-program-manual.

Attachment 2: Other Project Listing Categories

Funding Categories

HSIP (Section 148)
HRRR Special Rule
Penalty Funds – Section 154
Penalty Funds – Section 164 RHCP Funds (used for HSIP purposes)
Other Federal-aid Funds (i.e., STBG, NHPP)
State and Local Funds

Relevant SHSP Emphasis Area

Pedestrian
Bicycle
Motorcycles Roadway/lane departure
Intersections/interchanges
Head-on and across-median crashes
Work zones
Other

Attachment 1: Highway Safety Improvement Categories

Highway Safety Improvement Project Categories
(Source: HSIS Safety Improvements Database)

While a single project may consist of multiple project types, each project should be assigned to only one category and sub-category combination. The category/sub-category chosen should align with the primary purpose of the project.

Protection of Data from Discovery & Admission into Evidence

Section 148(h)(4) of title 23 provides that data compiled or collected for the preparation of the HSIP Report "...shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in an action for damages arising from any occurrence at a location identified or addressed in [such] reports..." This information may also be protected under 23 U.S.C. 409 (discovery and admission as evidence of certain reports and surveys).

Compliance Assessment

The HSIP and Safety Performance Measure Final Rules^[4] introduced several new requirements relating to the SHSP update cycle, Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) fundamental data elements, and serious injury definition. In addition, FHWA established a strategic initiative for every State to conduct an HSIP program assessment at least once every 5 years.

Effectiveness of Improvements

Under 23 U.S.C. 148(c)(2)(F)(i), States must establish an evaluation process to analyze and assess results achieved by highway safety improvement projects. States should report evaluation results from individual project locations, the effectiveness of groupings or similar types of highway safety improvement projects (e.g., particular countermeasures), and the effectiveness of the program as a whole. States typically look back at least 3 years for project and program evaluations. For example, States would look back to projects completed in 2013 for the 2017 report.

Progress in Achieving Safety Outcomes and Performance Targets

States should describe the progress made toward achieving safety outcomes and performance targets. This includes an overview of general highway safety trends, documentation of safety performance targets, and the application of special rules.

General Highway Safety Trends

States must present and describe information showing the annual highway safety trends in the State for at least the last 5 years for the following performance measures: