Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
MINK 2015 9/24/15
1
Safety Circuit Riders: Where are they, what do they do?
David Veneziano Safety Circuit Rider
Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program September 24, 2015
2015 MINK Conference
Overview • What is a safety circuit rider? • Why are they needed? • Who has safety circuit riders? • What does a safety circuit rider do?
– Activity details • Benefits • Challenges • Conclusions
History • LTAPs tasked to:
– Compile and maintain a mailing list – Publish a quarterly newsletter – Provide technical materials – Provide an information service – Conduct and arrange minimum of 10
training seminars/year – Perform a self evaluation
• Iowa added another task…
History cont’d • The Iowa Safety Circuit Rider
– ISU/CTRE (now InTrans) liaison with local agencies
– Provide training for local agency staff – Training provided at agency sites – 100% funded by LTAP via different sources
MINK 2015 9/24/15
2
History cont’d
• Iowa Safety Circuit Rider history – The Iowa SCR dates back to 1989
• “Present programs on safety analysis, signing inventory and analysis, and workzone safety…”
– 1989 - 1996 - Ed Bigelow – 1997 - Michael Jorgensen – 1998 – 2013 – Tom McDonald – 2015 – present – David Veneziano
What is a Safety Circuit Rider?
• Circuit rider defined as someone who travels throughout a given territory to provide services
• Safety Circuit Rider (SCR) focus is on safety – Provides safety-related information, training, and
support to agencies responsible for local roadway safety
– Can include technical assistance, training, and technology transfer
Why are they needed? • Most local agencies lack resources/
technical expertise to properly identify, diagnose, and treat safety problems – Operate with smaller staffs and more limited
resources – Some lack staff with formal training or
expertise in safety
Why are they needed?
• Access to a SCR enhances available resources – E.g., safety related knowledge and tools,
training needs, etc. • Goal is to reduce the frequency and
severity of roadway crashes through agency support
MINK 2015 9/24/15
3
What Makes a Good Circuit Rider?
• Skills may vary depending on the need – Knowledge in engineering, operations, local
gov’t, budgeting, etc. – Credibility with local road and other agencies – Good interpersonal and written
communication skills – Active in professional associations – Comfortable with public speaking – Relationship builder – Flexibility
Who has safety circuit riders?
So. Plains TTAP
No. Plains TTAP
Plus Puerto Rico
Who has safety circuit riders? • SCRs come and go
– In 2008-2009, 11 additional states had SCRs – Number varies depending on funding, state focus
on safety initiatives, etc. • Today, 18 LTAP/TTAPs have SCRs
– Located throughout the U.S. – Perform a number of different functions including
training, support, research, etc. • Some are contractors, some are LTAP staff
What does a safety circuit rider do?
• A number of different activities – Serve local agencies as an on-call resource
• Training, workshops, outreach, knowledge resource, research, etc.
– Champion safety at the local road level • Safety audits/assessments, countermeasure
identification, etc. – Be active in associations, attend meetings,
etc.
MINK 2015 9/24/15
4
SCR Activities
• Specific training – this can run the gamut ‒ ADA/Accessibility
Requirements ‒ Crash Investigation/
Reconstruction ‒ Equipment and Worker Safety ‒ Flagger Training ‒ Intersection Safety ‒ Low-Cost Safety Solutions ‒ Older Road User Issues ‒ Pavement Markings ‒ Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety ‒ Risk Management/Tort Liability
‒ Road Safety Audits/Assessments
‒ Road Safety Fundamentals ‒ Roadside Safety ‒ Safety-related Software ‒ Traffic Calming ‒ Traffic Engineering
Fundamentals ‒ Traffic Signal Basics ‒ Traffic Signing/MUTCD ‒ Walkable Communities ‒ Work Zone Safety
SCR Activities
• Provide on-site, on-call training as requested
• Plan, develop, and facilitate safety-related conferences
• Lead Road Safety Audits/Assessments • Provide presentations at various
association meetings; APWA, ICEA, etc.
SCR Activities • Develop and present workshops on new
issues as needed • Perform and contribute to various research
efforts • Provide technical advice and assistance
upon request • Participate in local safety initiatives/
activities
SCR Activities • Provide low-cost training
– City and county staff – On-site, on-call
• Flagger training • Signs and pavement markings • Work zone safety • Roadside safety
MINK 2015 9/24/15
5
SCR Activities • Plan, develop and facilitate workshops and
conferences – Local Road Safety Workshops
• Statewide workshops to provide current information for improving safety on local agencies' roads and streets
• Coordinate agenda development, speakers and content, materials, on-site activities
– Workzone Safety Workshops • Statewide DOT-led workshops on workzone traffic control
and safety training • Coordination and event evaluation/report
SCR Activities • Develop and present specialized
workshops on new/emerging and existing issues and topics – Traffic Control for Incident Management –
training for law enforcement on traffic control for incidents
– MUTCD Signing Review – provide overview on signing, requirements, compliance dates, etc.
SCR Activities • Lead road safety audits/assessments
– Receive agency requests – Compile and review crash data to identify
locations or patterns of concern – Assemble review team – Conduct field visits – Develop and document suggested improvements to address issues observed
Images: Tom Stoner
SCR Activities • Provide presentations at various meetings, such
as: – Low cost safety solutions – Minimum retroreflectivity standards – Overview of Roadside Design Guide – MUTCD changes – Mitigation for safety concerns on low volume,
unpaved rural roads – Specific research project findings/results – What Safety Circuit Riders do…
MINK 2015 9/24/15
6
SCR Activities • Identify and conduct research to meet the needs of
local road agencies – Low Volume Road Pavement Marking Removal – Traffic Sign Effectiveness, Installation, and Removal Guidance – Development of Iowa Road Safety Audit or Assessment (RSA)
Guidelines – Best Practices for Low-Cost Safety Improvements on Iowa’s
Local Roads – Analysis of Safety Benefits for Shielding of Bridge Piers – Evaluation of Rumble Stripes on Low-Volume Rural Roads in
Iowa
SCR Activities • Provide technical assistance and advice on
request – Local agency staff do not always have the time to
track down safety-related information – Serve as on-call resource to do the legwork and
obtain information of interest – Provide advice on prospective countermeasures and
treatments to address issues
SCR Activities
• Participate in local safety initiatives – Multidisciplinary Safety Teams – Statewide Traffic Records Coordinating
Committee – High 5 Rural Traffic Safety Project
SCR Activities • Presentations to local elected officials,
road officials and staff on their roles in highway safety
• Assistance in applying for funds • Assistance with retroreflectivity
management • Assistance in development of local road
safety plans
MINK 2015 9/24/15
7
Measures of Effectiveness
• How do we know if the SCR is effective? – Evaluation and feedback from training and
workshop sessions – Surveys of agency needs and training
preferences – Impacts of efforts on safety
• E.g. – crash reductions following implementation of safety audit/assessment recommendations
Starting an SCR Program
• Critical – must be demand and support for the service
• Demand – Need for safety-related technical assistance
and training – Frequent safety-related requests to LTAP/
TTAP center – Generated by public in response to real or
perceived safety problems
Starting an SCR Program cont’d • Support
– Financial – staffing (full or part time), travel, training materials, equipment, etc.
– Institutional - from the State DOT and other partners (counties, law enforcement, etc.)
– LTAP– internal recognition of need for a dedicated position
Benefits
• Dedicated contact focused on safety – Foster safety at the local level – Assist in identifying and addressing issues
• On-call resource – available when needed for training, workshops, information, etc.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination – bring together the four E’s
MINK 2015 9/24/15
8
Challenges • Funding – when money is short, training is
the first thing cut – Buy in and relationships developed can be lost
• Local agency turnover – constant need to promote SCR as a resource – Not everyone knows about the program
• Staying up to date on changing technologies, countermeasures, etc. – Requires attentiveness to new and emerging
trends, treatments, etc.
Challenges cont’d • Time needed to develop training materials • Do not perform duties of agencies or
consultants – Can make recommendations, but cannot help
agencies implement recommendations • Scheduling and logistics
– Workshops and trainings can vary seasonally
Funding • Sources can vary depending on state • Iowa SCR funding:
– Iowa Department of Transportation • Funding, programs, research
– Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau • Funding, staff assistance and support
– Federal Highway Administration • Funding, resources and materials
Conclusions • SCRs are focused on providing safety-
related information, training and support to local agencies
• Address local agency needs for safety expertise
• Requires a variety of skills ranging from engineering background to comfort with presentations
MINK 2015 9/24/15
9
Conclusions cont’d • SCRs conduct a variety of activities
– Serve local agencies through training, outreach, knowledge resource, etc.
– Conduct research focused on addressing local issues and needs
• Effectiveness of position measured by evaluations and feedback, agency surveys, etc.
• Demand, need and funding must be present to start and sustain a program
Conclusions cont’d • Benefits of SCRs include a focused safety
resource for local agencies, flexibility to meet training needs and collaboration
• Challenges include funding, effectively promoting the SCR as a resource, and remaining up-to-date on emerging issues, countermeasures, etc.
Questions?
David Veneziano Safety Circuit Rider
Iowa LTAP 515-294-5480
