1. Safety and innovation mobile lab
Caitlin Zibers, SJATSO
Rebecca Thacker, MoKAN
Caitlin
Today we’d like to share with you our newest project that is in the works, our Safety and Innovation Mobile Lab. We received a grant this year that will be used to improve safety metrics across the region.
December 4, 2017

2. Safety in The District Rebecca
So we know safety is a trending conversation across the district…everyone from St. Joseph to smaller towns like Cameron have approached us and expressed concern around speeding, fatalities, serious injuries, and safety for bicycling and pedestrians…etc.
NW District Serious Crashes

3. Safety in the Metro Caitlin
We also know, through setting our safety targets for the FAST ACT that safety I the MPO area is also a concern, especially in regards to serious injury rates.
Data provided by MoDOT and KDOT

4. Safety in rural and small towns
Lack of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
Bisected by state routes
Many have asked for help developing Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans
Emphasized safety around schools
Seeking TAP and CDBG grants for improvements
City of Savannah, population approx.. 5,000 4

5. Safety Summarized 1. Safety metrics have been trending up
Increased district fatalities, high rate of serious injuries
2. Difficulties in garnering public support for traffic calming/safety improvements
If it’s not filling a pothole they don’t want it!
Bike lanes are the devil’s work
Rebecca for 1. and 2.
So through speaking with our partners and communities, we’ve noticed two main points around safety:
Caitlin for excerpt
Excerpt from St. Joseph News-Press, July 18, 2017

6. So we put our heads together…
We know design influences behavior
Lowering the posted speed limit does not work without additional enforcement
Tactical urbanism: community ownership of a design
Take the design to the streets
Increased public input
Experience the design
Trailnet’s Lending Libraries
St. Louis KC
Springfield
Caitlin
Transition: So we put our heads together to start thinking about ways we could work with our cities to improve safety. So we started to wonder what could we do with the design of a roadway to improve safety?
Portland Tactical Urbanism – Plunger Delineators

7. Finding Funding
We found funding through the Northwest Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety (referred to as Blueprint Grant)
8th year of funding
Focus on reducing injuries and fatalities
We partnered with MoKAN and submitted a joint application
Requested $4, ($2,400 for trailer)
Itemized budget with 2-3 quotes
MoKAN provided greater in-kind match
Traffic Counter
Speed Radar Trailer
Massive LED Event Sign
Expanded Coverage from 3 counties to 6
Ranked 2nd highest out of 12 applications!!
Caitlin
Mobile Lab Coverage Area

8. Mobile lab materials Transition: So what will this actually look like?
Both

9. Pop up traffic calming options
Bethel, Vermont Bulb Outs and Bike Lanes
Santa Monica, CA Temporary Traffic Circle
example
St. Louis, Missouri Crosswalk and Median
Portland, Oregon Pop-Up Bike Lanes

10. Steps for using the mobile lab
Agencies/Municipalities contact MPO/RPC if interested
Review manual; identify whom in their area needs to be informed and approve plans
Collect baseline data
Check out Mobile Lab and speed/radar trailer (through MoKAN); nominal fee included in check-out
Set up demonstration and collect quantitative/qualitative data
Write up short report on effects of Mobile Lab demonstration
Use data for public input and decision making
Agencies
Cities/Counties Public Works
Health Dept.
Police Dept.
School Districts
Safety Council
Bike Club
Community Organizations: United Way
Churches
Local Businesses
Neighborhood Associations
Caitlin

11. timeline
Caitlin

12. Takeaways Look into applying for your local Blueprint grant
Different in every district so get on a committee, get involved
$5,000 was more than enough, you can do it for less!
Get as much donated as possible
Look for micro-grants
Find partners in your RPCs or other organizations
To sponsor
To participate
Sell it to your board and elected officials under the ‘test before you invest’ concept
Follow up and quantify it with data
Both
Questions?
Caitlin Zibers,
Rebecca Thacker,