MPC
Research Projects (2009-10)
Identifying Number
MPC-318
Project Title
Investigating Crashes and Geometric Conditions in the State of Wyoming
University
University of WyomingProject Investigator
Khaled Ksaibati, University of Wyoming
Phone: (307) 766-6230
E-mail: khaled@uwyo.edu
Description of Project Abstract
The main objective of this research is to investigate crashes and geometric conditions on local rural roads in Wyoming. Understanding the correlations between geometric features and crashes would be helpful in reducing crashes and fatalities on rural roads state wide.
SAFETEA-LU contains language indicating that State Department of Transportation agencies will be required to address safety on local and rural roads. By integrating and investigating crash statistics with geometric features, local governments will be able to better assess and fix rural roadway problems within their jurisdictions.
It is important for state, county, and city officials to cooperate in analyzing crash records statewide to develop a plan which can help in reducing crashes. The Wyoming LTAP Center has supported road safety efforts through its existing programs. The Wyoming LTAP Center can provide additional services to help WYDOT, as well as Wyoming counties and cities, in investigating how crashes and geometric conditions are correlated on rural roads statewide.
In this project, statistical analysis will be conducted to determine if there are any correlations between high risk locations on local rural roadways in Wyoming and existing geometric conditions. What makes this project unique is the high percentage of gravel roads at the local level in Wyoming. The analysis performed will be based on roadway classification as well as surface type (paved versus unpaved) and numerous geometric roadway features.
Project Objectives
The main purpose of this project is to identify potential correlations between roadway geometric conditions and crashes on rural roads around the state in order to assist local governments in making roadways safer. The Wyoming LTAP Center will be conducting research in coordination with WYDOT, using the CARE 9 program as the primary tool of the research. The CARE 9 program is an all-inclusive database of crashes in Wyoming. The CARE 9 program has many features that will assist greatly in investigating the correlation between crashes and roadway geometric conditions. The analysis that can be done on crashes by the CARE 9 program is unrivaled. All of the recorded data about every crash in Wyoming since 1994 is accessible through CARE 9, thus for every individual aspect of a crash, a filter can be applied for analysis. Filters will allow the analysis of any specific crash data by narrowing down any of the data into specific elements. There are more than 100 categories for each crash record. The GIS capabilities are endless with the CARE 9 program. Crashes can be filtered and shown in GIS ArcMap. Identifying hotspots is another analysis feature of CARE 9. The "Locations" tool can analyze data for specific milepost locations, as well as finding hotspots. The CARE 9 program has a separate data base which contains geometric features on various highway sections.
Project Approach/Methods
The following tasks will be performed in this study:
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review.
- Determine the availability of traffic data on local roads in Wyoming.
- Identify the important features of the CARE 9 software which would help in performing this research study.
- Filter the crash data to identify hot spots.
- Analyze the geometric dataset to determine the geometric features and conditions for the filtered crash data.
- Combine the crashes and geometric conditions in one data set since they are in separate data bases.
- Identify any correlations between geometric conditions and crashes.
- Develop recommendations based on the analysis performed.
MPC Critical Issues Addressed by the Research
- Transportation Safety and Security
- High-Risk Rural Roads
Contributions/Potential Applications of Research
This project will help in identifying the effects of roadway geometric conditions on crashes in the state of Wyoming. Such correlations will help in identifying statewide strategies to reduce crashes and improve geometric conditions.
Technology Transfer Activities
The Wyoming LTAP center will insure the dissemination of the findings of this study.
Time Duration
July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010
Total Budget Cost
$109,915.00
MPC Funds Requested
$53,418.00
TRB Keywords
Transportation safety, road safety audit, road safety review, road classification, roadway geometric conditions
