Incorporating Safety into the Transportation Planning Process 62 nd Illinois Traffic Engineering and Safety Conference October 23, 2013

Traffic safety is one of the most important characteristics of transportation system performance. Therefore, one would expect that safety is well integrated into all aspects of an agency’s planning and decision-making processes. However, in many instances, such is not the case. A comprehensive and effective consideration of safety in transportation-planning would result in traffic safety improvements for the region. Traffic Safety

CUUATS Integration of Safety into the Planning Process The purpose of this presentation is to provide overall direction on how safety is integrated into the CUUATS transportation-planning process.

CUUATS’ Safety Approach Integrate safety into all aspects of the transportation planning process. Identify safety as a major LRTP goal and be committed to safety. Define specific objectives & performance measures & strategies to achieve safety goals. As an MPO, assist local member agencies addressing their highway safety problems & needs.

CUUATS’ Safety Approach Use current technologies (e.g., GIS) to provide timely & accurate information, especially in the areas of data collection and analysis. Develop community-based traffic safety programs. Create a safety committee. This committee helps to ensure the timeliness, accuracy, and linkage of data and help to avoid duplication of efforts. Develop a comprehensive safety program that includes a range of strategies & actions & involves different agencies & groups.

CUUATS Transportation Planning Process (Safety) LRTP Mission LRTP Goals LRTP Objectives Performance Measures Data Analysis Crash Analysis, Network Screening, etc. Geometric Features IDOT Crash Records Traffic Counts Proposed Strategies TIP Preferred Scenario Long Term Safety Recommendations Engineering Education Enforcement EMS Evaluation HSIP Implementation Planning Operations

Long Range Transportation Plan 2035: Mission Statement LRTP 2035 Mission: –To provide a safe, efficient, and economical transportation system that makes the best use of existing infrastructure, optimizes mobility, promotes environmental sensitivity, sustainability, accessibility, economic development, and enhances quality of life for all users.

Long Range Transportation Plan 2035: Goals SAFETEA-LU/MAP-21 Planning Factor #2 –Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users Goal 3: –Transportation modes and facilities in the urbanized area will be safe for all users

Long Range Transportation Plan 2035: Objectives & Performance Measures Objective: –Reduce the total number of crashes in Champaign- Urbana by 5% by 2014 Performance Measure: –Total Crashes per 100M VMT Objective: –Reduce the total number of fatalities and severe injuries in Champaign-Urbana by 25% between 2009 and 2014 Performance Measures: –Total Fatalities per 100M VMT –Total Severe Injuries per 100M VMT

Long Range Transportation Plan 2035: Objectives & Performance Measures Objective: –Reduce the total number of crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians in Champaign-Urbana by 15% by 2014 Performance Measures: –Total Pedestrian Crashes –Total Bicycle Crashes

Suggestions for deciding about performance measures Review safety-related performance measures used by similar agencies in the U.S. Prepare a list of typical safety-related performance measures that reflect the goals & objectives defined in your planning effort. Discuss the proposed performance measures with those in the agency responsible for collecting the data to ensure feasibility of collection and data accuracy.

Data Analysis Effective data analysis relies on the availability and use of accurate/reliable data. Data analysis is also important for identifying “hot spots” for traffic safety.

CUUATS Crash Data Analysis Process

Tools for Data Analysis Inventory the types of safety analysis tools that exist in the state or metropolitan area’s safety- related agencies. Develop a long term and coordinated data- collection and safety analysis strategy for the metropolitan area. Use crash reduction factors and their associated reductions in crashes & fatalities for different types of safety improvements.

Total Crashes per 100 MVMT Year Daily VMT (Thousands) Yearly VMT (100 Millions) Crashes per 100M VMT Champaign -Urbana Illinois , , , , , LTRP 2035 Objective: Reduce the total number of crashes in Champaign- Urbana by 5% by Performance Measure: Total crashes per 100 M VMT Data Analysis: The total number of crashes decreased 10.3% from 2,264 in 2009 to 2,030 in 2011 and crash rates declined 8.3% in the same period. The VMT in the region decreased 2.2% between 2009 and Performance Measure Results: Positive rating due to the 8.3 % reduction in total crashes per 100 M VMT since This is 3.3% higher than the target of 5% decrease in crashes in the urbanized area by VMT and Total Crash Rates in Champaign-Urbana Total Crashes per 100 Million VMT

Fatalities per 100 Million VMT LRTP 2035 Objective: Reduce the number of fatalities in Champaign-Urbana by 25% between 2009 and Performance Measure: Total fatalities per 100 M VMT. Data Analysis: Number of fatalities in the urbanized area dropped from 8 in 2008 to 4 in 2009 but increase back to 6 in Performance Measure Results: Negative rating for year 2011 because the fatalities per 100 M VMT increased from 0.45 in 2009 to 0.69 in Traffic Fatalities in Champaign-Urbana Traffic Fatalities per 100 Million VMT

Fatal Crash Locations in Champaign-Urbana

Corridor Analysis RoadwayCrashes Fatalitie s Total Injuries A-Injury Crashes B-Injury Crashes C-Injury Crashes East-West Corridor Bradley Ave University Ave1, Springfield Ave Kirby Ave/Florida Ave Windsor Rd North-South Corridor Mattis Ave Prospect Ave1, Neil St Lincoln Ave Cunningham Ave/Vine St High Cross Road/IL Total8,008142, Crashes along Major Corridors in Champaign-Urbana

University Avenue Crash Statistics

Fatal and Severe Crashes along Major Corridors

Tools for Data Analysis For non-infrastructure or non-traffic operations strategies, such as safety education, marketing campaigns, & emergency management services, work closely with safety partner organizations to determine a methodology for assessing the effectiveness of such strategies. This might include targeted before and after studies on selected programs.

Evaluation Most safety-related evaluation efforts use one of three methods: 1.Listing the evaluation criteria and show how the alternatives compare 2.Assigning weights or scores to the evaluation factors 3.Conducting cost-benefit analysis

HSIP Application County Road 1 SAFETY ISSUEPROPOSED MITIGATION The absence of paved shoulders and rumble strips on roadways may increase the risk of run-off the road crashes. Purchase right-of-way in order to provide wider shoulders along roadway. Install shoulder rumble strips throughout corridor. The presence of steep ditches close to the edge of the pavement may increase the risk of vehicle overturns. Provide and widen shoulder along roadway with gentle slopes and increase separation of ditches from the edge of the roadway. High speeds on the roadway may increase the risk of side swipe and animal crashes. Improve roadway signing and enhanced pavement markings, including raised reflective markings and centerline rumble strips. Vehicles traveling at high speeds on County Road 1 may not be expecting upcoming intersections, and sharp horizontal curves increasing the risk of angle crashes. Reduce approach speeds at intersections by effectively reducing the lane width (narrowing intersections). Improve warning signs along corridor. Provide chevrons along the curves. Proposed Mitigation Measures 1.Listing the evaluation criteria and show how the alternatives compare

CUUATS Project Assessment Guidelines for TIP 2. Assigning weights or scores to the evaluation factors

HSIP Application County Road 1 B/C Conducting cost-benefit analysis

Plan and Program Development Strategies included in the LRTP and UTWP Produce the Selected Crash Intersection Locations (SCIL) report every two years Evaluate intersections that have problematic or crash-inducing patterns and identify solutions Improve visibility for all roadway users through improved lighting, striping, signage, visibility triangles, and access control

Plan and Program Development Continue educational programs for CUUATS member agencies as well as law enforcement officers about safety issues Continue educational programs for grades K-12 including driver’s education and safety programs such as Operation Cool Continue educational safety programs for the community including drivers, bicyclists & pedestrians

System Monitoring LRTP 2035 Report Card Monticello Road HSIP Project: Before and After Collision Type Befor eAfterChange Angle153 Animal011 Fixed Object81-7 Overturned51-4 Rear End550 Turning341 Sideswipe Opposite121 Other121 Total Crash SeverityBeforeAfter Fatal Crashes1 - A- Injuries Crashes13 B - Injuries Crashes55 C - Injuries Crashes21 PDO Crashes1510 Crash Severity: Before and After Collision Type Distribution: Before and After

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