Louisiana Local Road Safety Program Presented by Marie B. Walsh, Director Louisiana LTAP Tom...

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Louisiana Local Road Safety Program

Presented by

Marie B. Walsh, DirectorLouisiana LTAP

Tom Buckley, PELA Local Road Safety Program

Dean Tekell, PE, PTOE

Road Safety Improvement Workshops

The Road Safety Problem in LA

National Rankings:◦ 5th highest fatality rate

Opportunity state in 2008 and focus state in intersection crashes and roadway departures

965 fatalities in 2005158,452 crashes in 2005$5.97 billion in total costs$2,103 for every licensed driver

Source: Cost estimates are based on a study conducted by NHTSA in 2000, “The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes.”

Crash Clock

A fatality on average every 9 hours

A crash every 3 ½ minutes

The Problem at the Local Level

62,169 crashes in 2005

◦39% of the state’s total

205 fatalities in 2005

◦21% of the state’s total

Kinds of Crashes

Intersection crashes – 30,245

Roadway departures – 3,306

Head on collisions – 912

Using the 4 E’s

Engineering◦ Improved Design and Safety

Enhancements: rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, clear zones

Education◦ Public awareness and training

Enforcement◦ Working with law enforcement as a

partner to identify and solve problems

Emergency servicesLeveraging the Golden Hour

Local Road Safety Program

Designed to reduce crashes & fatalities on Louisiana’s local road system

◦ Increase community awareness

◦ Utilize data

◦ Provide funding for prioritized funds

LRSP Services

Getting Community Initiatives Started

Training and Education

Technical Assistance

Data Evaluation

Road Safety Reviews

Safety improvement alternatives

Road Safety Improvement Project funds

Other Resources

Local Road Safety Improvement Projects

A reimbursement program intended to reduce injuries and fatalities on local roads

Maximum project funding of $500,000 with either a 5% or 10% local match

Application due October 1

Application available at www.ltrc.lsu.edu/ltap

Identifying Problems and Priorities

Session I

Ask These Questions

What is happening in your community?

What are the major road safety issues?

How do you know this?

How can you prove this & make it a priority

Obtain and Evaluate Existing Information

Gather reports & complaints from the community & other agencies◦ Public works

◦ Law enforcement

◦ Emergency responders

◦ Fire departments

◦ School system

◦ Business community

Obtain Historical Crash Data

Contact local law enforcement

Contact LTAP

Use actual crash data to construct a road safety profile for your community

Conduct a RSA on a prioritized location based on data or reports

Road Safety Profile Example

Road Safety Profile Example – Local Roads

What Can Your Data Tell You?

Session II

Information in the Crash Database

Crash and fatality locations

Manner of collision

Roadway characteristics

Severity of crashes

Graphical overview of the roads with the most crashes in your area

Intersection Crash Reports

Crash number, date, & timeAlignmentPrimary contributing factorSecondary contributing factorPrimary roadIntersecting roadLocation typeManner of collisionNumber of injuries

Non-Intersection Crash Reports

Crash number, date, & timeAlignmentLocation typeManner of collisionTotal injuriesRoad nameDistance and directionRoad relation

Example

Limitations of the Data

No absolute locations without GPS

Location data limited to intersections and the roadway for non-intersection crashes

Not all local law enforcement agencies submit their data to LA DOTD

Accuracy only to the crash report itself

Low-Cost Safety Improvements

Session III

Horizontal Curve SafetyMaterial Presented from Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety, FHWA publication number FHWA-SA-07-002

Basic Treatments

Signing:

◦ Centerline

◦ Edgeline

◦ Horizontal alignment signs

◦ Curve speed signs

◦ Advisory speed plaque

◦ Chevron alignment

◦ Delineators

Enhanced Basic Treatments

Getting the motorist’s attention:

◦ Flashing beacons

◦ High retroreflective intensity & fluorescent yellow sheeting on signs

◦ Thermoplastic markings

◦ Raised pavement markers

Rumble Strips

Formed in the pavement surface by grooves or placement of strips of material above the surface

Use Roadway Rumble Strip (RRS) to alert the approaching curve

Minor Roadway Improvements

Paved shoulder treatment◦ Replacement of unstable or

narrow shoulders with paved shoulders

Shoulder drop-off elimination

Widen shoulder

Skid-resistive pavement surface treatment

Speed Displays

Dynamic message signs that use radar to measure speeds of approaching vehicles

Between $5,500 - $20,000 for trailers

Can be used to enforce school zone speed limits

Cable Barriers

Can be used on the roadside to prevent run-off-road (RoR) or in medians to prevent crossover crashes

Flexible system that dissipates impact energy by deflection

Larger, clear areas are needed to be effective

Rumble Strips

Centerline rumble strips (CLRS) to alert driver to crossing into the opposing lane

Shoulder (edgeline) rumble strips (SRS) to prevent roadway departures

Key Application PointsSession IV

Page 1

Project title

Location information

Applicant & sponsor contact information

Page 2

Project description

Identify the problem that is occurring and why

Describe your proposed countermeasure in thorough detail

Page 3

Attach supporting data

List of attempted countermeasures

Page 4

Defining the limits of the project

Roadway description

◦ Lanes

◦ Sketch of modification

◦ Types of traffic

Page 5

Roadway description continued

Nearby property identified

Right-of-way acquisition or drainage issues

Page 6

How the project will reduce crashes

Sponsor maintenance

Itemizing Costs

List of individual costs related to the project

Sources of match

Signature of the applicant

Types of Projects

Data management systems◦ Sign inventory system◦ Crash analysis software

Roadway Improvements◦ Line-of-sight improvements◦ Turn lanes◦ Sidewalks◦ Roadside hazard removal◦ Rumble strips

Signs and pavement markings

2006 Eligible Examples

Variable message boards

Sign management systems

Guardrail installation

Roundabout at hazardous intersection

Signing for parishes

Striping

2006 Ineligible Projects

6 Projects on State Roads

◦ 1 sub-division security/beautification

◦ 2 dust control and embankment improvement projects deemed maintenance issues and not eligible for funding under this program.

◦ 1 school zone

◦ 3 sidewalk construction

What Makes a Successful Project?

Usage of data and statistics to back up the need for the improvement

High impact, low cost

Ability to evaluate, maintain and follow up

Part of an overall community effort to implement local road safety

More Tips for a Successful Project

Involvement of Law Enforcement to identify or confirm high priority issues

Involvement of other stakeholders

Consideration of the 4 E’s

Recommended