Integrating Safety Into The Transportation Planning Process Integrating

Integrating Safety Into The Transportation Planning Process

Integrating Safety and Planning What MDOT Is Doing: l l Investment Planning & Program Development Project Analysis TMS/Safety Management System Long Range Safety Goal

Investment Planning and Program Development l l l Annual and multi-year investment strategy to meet our goals Safety is always our first concern MDOT’s Safety Program has a Goal

Investment Planning and Program Development l Goal of MDOT’s Safety Program is: To serve the public’s transportation needs through application of comprehensive highway traffic engineering technology; participating in all phases of the department’s effort to reduce traffic crashes and injuries, vehicle delay, fuel consumption, pollution, and operating costs by increasing safety, efficiency, and capacity of the state highway trunkline system.

Investment Planning and Program Development l MDOT’s safety efforts are divided into five general programs; investing $50 million annually – – – l Safety Improvements Signing Traffic Signals Pavement Marking Guardrails Each program has performance goals and measures

Project Level Analysis l l Build safety into all Capital Projects Each project, as it is scoped and developed is reviewed for safety considerations Where improvements are necessary, they are incorporated into the project. Safety specialists in Lansing and MDOT Regions

TMS/Safety Management System l l l One of the six components of the Transportation Management System (TMS) computer application Decision support tool for analyzing vehicular crashes and the roads on which they occur Provides for identification, analysis, and implementation of engineering improvements at high crash locations

TMS/Safety Management System l l l Allows for effective management of federal dollars used for safety projects Users can access crash data and road features Perform route based, time of return, and peer group analyses

TMS/Safety Management System l l SMS is important in developing effective programs that promote traffic safety In conjunction with OHSP and law enforcement programs include: – – – Click It or Ticket Drive Michigan Safely Don’t be Road Kill

TMS/Safety Management System l Crash Reporting Information System (CRIS) – – Similar crash information as SMS Produces standardized reports for customer use

Other Safety Efforts l Road. Soft – – l Crash analyses module and road data Primary source of crash information for most Michigan counties and local agencies Safety Programs of other MDOT Divisions: – MULTI-MODAL - Rail Safety Section and Local Grade Crossing Program

State Long Range Plan Safety Goal The Safety Goal Is. . . Promote the safety and security of the transportation system for users and passengers, pedestrians, and motorized and non -motorized vehicles. smallm@michigan. gov

Safety Objectives l l Continually reduce the crash rate and severity Participate in education efforts and public information campaigns Work with service providers, local communities, and enforcement offices to improve user safety Identify and address the needs of aging drivers and pedestrians

Safety Conscious Planning Metropolitan Planning Processes

Metropolitan Planning The Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century requires that the metropolitan planning process shall provide for consideration of projects and strategies that will increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users. .

Safety Conscious Planning A proactive approach to the prevention of accidents and unsafe transportation conditions by establishing inherently safe transportation networks. SCP achieves road safety improvements through small, but measurable changes, targeted at the whole network.

Safety Conscious Planning The short-term objective is to integrate safety considerations into the transportation planning processes at all levels, such as the Transportation Improvement Plans developed by the Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Safety Conscious Planning As a long term objective, the consideration of safety objectives will be incorporated into the 20 year plans that the MPO's are required to prepare and periodically update. 18

Safety Conscious Planning Benefits: l Increased awareness of safety within the community l Saving l. A lives, reducing injuries and crashes more comprehensive community Safety plan l Improved ability to predict outcomes and update initiatives l Decrease in overall transportation expenses 19

SCP - Phase I Each MPO is developing a safety profile and will hold a safety forum as a starting point for integrating safety conscious planning into the metropolitan planning process.

Crash Summary/Profile l The ability to collect and analyze traffic crash data is critical to understanding potential transportation issues. l Data tables and maps showing critical components of traffic crash information is available at state, county and local levels. 21

Traffic Safety Forum Organize a meeting with key traffic safety partners within your community and review how safety can provide the following benefits: l. Increased l. Save awareness of safety within the community lives, reduce injuries and crashes l. Create a more comprehensive community Safety plan l. Improve the ability to analyze data and predict outcomes l. Decrease overall transportation expenses 22

Crash Summary - Data Table Example 23

SCP – Phase II Identification of the best method for areawide integration l Attend at a 1 day training seminar on the systematic and organized approach to safety conscious planning. l Member agency workshops to identify goals and performance measures. l Development of the process and a timetable for integrating the goals and performance measures into the project identification and selection process.

Next Step: Determine how to integrate SCP into the overall transportation plan. l Adopt SCP language in transportation related documents. Create a communication plan explaining why SCP is important and how the community will benefit from SCP. l l Develop a method to identify priority projects and issues Provide a feedback mechanism to gauge the effect and effectiveness of SCP and to identify improvement opportunities l l Review current and future projects to determine if safety has been incorporated into the overall plan 25

Implementation Identify Target Locations Conduct Safety Study Conduct a Benefit Cost Analysis Develop Project Funding Strategy Design and Construct Improvements Conduct Post Improvement Evaluation Study Evaluate safety and economic benefits of the improvements. 26

The Key Partnerships between various organizations that have an interest in safety are critical to providing our constituents with a safe, manageable and efficient roadway system. 27

Conclusion For safety to be an integral part of our efforts it must be incorporated into our programs LONG RANGE PLANNING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Final Thought Safety First !