1. FHWA Safety Perspectives: Implementing ARRA and SAFETEA-LU
SCOHTS
April 2009
FHWA Safety Perspectives: Implementing ARRA and SAFETEA-LU
April 2009
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2. Recovery Act Signed February 17, 2009
SCOHTS
April 2009
Recovery Act Signed February 17, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) (Public Law 111-5) was enacted on February 17, 2009 to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery, and to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits, among other goals. $27.5 Billion was apportioned for highways, primarily through additional funding for the Surface Transportation Program (STP), with priority on projects that can be initiated quickly, and in economically distressed areas.
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3. Safety and the Recovery Act
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April 2009
Safety and the Recovery Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will enable our nation to rebuild, retool and revitalize the vast network of roads, tunnels, bridges, rail systems, airports and waterways that we have long depended on to keep the economy moving and growing… Above all, we must keep these assets safe for all travelers. Where public safety is concerned, there is no room for compromise. By investing in roads… we can save…men and women who lose their lives each year due to bad roads and driving conditions.
President Barack Obama
March 3, 2009 – Washington DC
He also said:
The jobs that we're creating are good jobs…making street signs, repairing stoplights, replacing guardrails.
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4. ARRA Opportunities for Safety
SCOHTS
April 2009
ARRA Opportunities for Safety
Building safety into all Recovery Act projects
Work zone safety
Low-cost, system-wide improvements
Priority to projects that generate significant improvements in safety
The Recovery Act also presents many opportunities to improve highway safety. 1) Increased funding will allow for incorporating safety improvements in all projects including resurfacing, with the inclusion of rumble strips, paved shoulders, a safety edge, modern sign materials, markings, and guardrail upgrades. 2) Low-cost system-wide safety improvements are also relatively easy to advance through the transportation funding process and implement quickly, including improvement of signs, markings, guardrail, data, and local and rural roads. 3) The STP already allows for safety projects and makes some exceptions to include safety on local roads. 4) The flexibility of STP means most projects already identified or eligible in the HSIP, SHSP, and High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program could be advanced. 5) This will allow additional safety needs to be addressed using the other funds.
Many states are putting a lot of ARRA funds in resurfacing
Opportunity to add safety improvements to these projects
Rumble strips
Upgrade guardrail
Paved shoulder
More durable pavement markings
Sign upgrades
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5. SCOHTS
April 2009
Safety Projects
Types of safety projects that would be eligible for ARRA funds:
“Highway and transit safety infrastructure improvements and programs, hazard eliminations…”
Sign and guardrail replacement
Projects on local roads and minor rural collectors
Projects on High Risk Rural Roads
Projects eligible for HSIP funding
Data Collection and Analysis
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6. Activities to Promote Safety Opportunities and ARRA
FHWA Website
Q&As on safety
Key Points (e.g., eligibility on local roads)
Webinars directed at safety and locals
ATSSA and NACE
APWA and LTAP
ITE
Presentations
Lifesavers, ATSSA, NACE, GHSR Board
Articles and publications

7. $8 Billion have already been obligated
Making it Happen
$8 Billion have already been obligated
Over 2441 projects in 8 weeks

8. Sample ARRA Safety Projects
SCOHTS
April 2009
Sample ARRA Safety Projects
[ADD DETAIL & $$$$]
AL – Safety Improvements on US-431 curves. At 3 points in Cleburne County. Other safety Improvements on 2 miles of SR-49.
AK – Overhead lighting on Glenn Highway
CO – Intersection safety improvements
IL – Guardrail end-treatment replacement in each district
IN – Cable median barriers on I-70, I-74
KS – Pavement projects with sidewalks, ADA, guardrail…
MA – Pedestrian improvements on school routes
MD – District-wide guardrail upgrades, MD: Each District (Breck Jeffers)
MN – District-wide guardrail, curve-chevrons
MO – Shoulder improvements
NV – wildlife crossing over US-93. Approximately $3.5 million.  It will be a precast arch overpass over US miles north of Wells, NV in an area of heavy deer migration and numerous animal – vehicle collisions in the past. (Steve Ratke)
NH – Resurfacing with guiderail upgrades
OH – Intersection alignment, sight distance, turn lanes
PA – District-wide signs, guiderail, RRX pavement markings
RI – Statewide signal optimization, guardrail; US-1 safety
SC – adding turn lanes; interstate pavement markings
TX – Upgrade bridge rail, add shoulders, pavement friction
VI – Roadside safety improvements
WA – Pedestrian crossing safety
WV – Climbing lanes
WI – STH 064 Safety improvements
WY – Deer reflectors, slope, guardrail
Sharing Safety Success - We need your help to highlight ARRA safety projects in your state: Projects underway, Project owner, contacts, Safety elements, Material for success stories
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9. Sharing Safety Success
We need your help to identify:
ARRA safety projects in your state
Projects underway
Contact information
Safety elements
Diversity of projects…location, types of work, needs

10. HSIP 2009 Obligations through March 31, 2009
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April 2009
HSIP 2009 Obligations through March 31, 2009
Funds Available ($ millions)
Funds Obligated in FY ($ millions)
Total Funds Obligated ($ millions)
Percent of Funds Obligated
HSIP
$ 4,722
$ 356
$ 2,483
52.6%
HRRR $
$ 24
$ 89
24.7%
Rail/HighwayCrossings
$ 8,755
$ 118
$ 462
52.8%
Total
$ 5,956
$ 498
$ 3,034
50.9%
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11. Challenges…Lessons Public Perceptions and Expectations
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April 2009
Challenges…Lessons
Public Perceptions and Expectations
Reaching Local Governments
Increased Accountability and Transparency
Better Investment Decisions
Finding New Sources of Revenue
Demonstrating performance and outcomes
The rapid infusion of funds and acceleration of projects present several risks and challenges to highway programs and highway safety in particular. 1) Strong emphasis on accountability and transparency bring additional reporting requirements, and infrastructure is in many ways the public face of the stimulus; our performance implementing the Recovery Act could easily affect the next transportation funding bill, already under discussion. 2) Requirements to obligate half the funds within 120 days and complete projects within three years means projects are moving rapidly under the same requirements for stewardship. Overseeing DBE, NEPA, quality assurance, and safety will be especially important. The increased number of projects will also require continued emphasis on work zone safety. 3) Local governments may also receive more federal aid funds, so the knowledge and capacity of Local Public Agencies (LPA) may require additional training or oversight. 4) Meanwhile, the priorities already established for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP) must not be overlooked, and special efforts may be needed to incorporate and advance safety projects.
Our chance to improve highway safety will also depend in part on how well we share our successes. Many states have already identified safety projects using Recovery Act funds. Projects to upgrade guardrail, signs, or markings district-wide are already advancing. In some states, approved resurfacing and rehabilitation projects specifically include both guardrail or sidewalk improvements, which help address roadway departure fatalities and pedestrian safety. Furthermore, the inclusion of safety in Recovery Act projects provides the opportunity to show the public how engineering can contribute to highway safety, now, while the public is watching.
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