MPC
Research Projects (2007-08)

Identifying Number

MPC-271

Project Title

A Comprehensive Transportation Safety Evaluation Program in the State of Wyoming, Year 2

University

University of Wyoming

Project Investigator

Khaled Ksaibati

Description of Project Abstract

The new transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU contains language indicating that State Department of Transportation agencies will be required to address safety on local and rural roads. It is important for state, county, and city officials to cooperate in producing a comprehensive safety plan to improve safety statewide. The new legislation provides an opportunity to implement a more cohesive and comprehensive approach to local road safety in Wyoming. The Wyoming LTAP has supported road safety efforts through its existing activities which include: training classes, newsletter publication, information dissemination, and technical assistance. The Wyoming LTAP center can provide additional services to help WYDOT, as well as Wyoming counties and cities in identifying low cost safety improvements on high risk rural roads statewide.

In this project, safety techniques and methodologies will be developed to identify and then rank high risk locations on all rural roadways in Wyoming. What makes this project unique is the high percentage of gravel roads at the local level in Wyoming. The evaluation procedure developed will be based on roadway classification as well as surface type (paved versus unpaved).

Project Objectives

The main objective of this research is to develop and evaluate transportation safety techniques that can help Wyoming agencies in reducing crashes and fatalities on rural roads state wide

Project Approach/Methods

The literature review which will be conducted will insure that the findings of similar projects will be considered in the development of the methodology of this study.

The advisory board members of MPC established research emphasis areas for transportation related research. The Board consisted of chief engineers of the DOTs in region 8 in addition to FHWA representatives. This project fits under the Transportation Safety and Security theme with concentration in High-Risk Rural roads. The research from this project will benefit WYDOT's Highway Safety program in its development of a safety management system that includes all public roadways within the State. The research will also strengthen the direction provided to safety partners by the Wyoming Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Task Descriptions

This is the second year of a two-year project. The tasks from the first year included establishing an advisory group, identifying three counties for inclusion in the study, developing a methodology for collecting and evaluating the data, conducting a survey on classification systems and minimum roadway standards.

In the second year of this project, the results from the pilot study will be evaluated to refine the methodology. A state wide implementation will follow. In addition, the Wyoming LTAP center will provide training workshops state wide to disseminate the findings. A final MPC/WYDOT report summarizing the findings of the study will be prepared.

Technology Transfer Activities

Transportation agencies at all levels in Wyoming will benefit from this safety study. The study will utilize accurate traffic records which will be passed to local agencies in the appropriate format. As a result of this study, uniform safety evaluation procedures will be adopted by all agencies in Wyoming which will help in identifying high risk rural locations and then rank these locations state wide. The Wyoming Safety Management System (SMS) Committee can then use the findings of the study to request/ justify adequate resources to improve safety state wide. The study will also make the traffic records more accessible by local agencies. The ultimate benefit of the study will be to reduce crash rates on all rural roads in Wyoming. It is highly recommended that the SMS committee would evaluate the impact of this research study a few years after full implementation. The WyomingLTAP center will hold several workshops statewide to insure the proper implementation of this study. In addition, safety packets will be distributed to all local agencies so that they can be part of the state wide safety initiative. Efforts will be also made to distribute the packets to other interested states in our region.

Time Duration

July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008

Yearly and Total Project Cost

$163,068 Total: $335,512

TRB Keywords

Transportation safety, road safety audit, road safety review, road classification.