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NCHRP Project 17-35: Evaluation of Safety Strategies at Signalized Intersections

 

 

Evaluations of Low Cost Safety Improvements Pooled Fund Study (ELCSI-PFS)

 

NEWS

  • Phase III Volunteer States: FL, IA, KS, KY, MO, and VA will finish strategy installations by the end of 2010.

  • Phase (V) is active and volunteer States; FL, IN, IL, KY, MO, PA, SC, and WI are installing low cost safety improvements with approximate installation date of 2012.

  • Phase VI was added and will start evaluation of Pavement Safety Performance with emphases on low cost safety improvements for curves in Spring of 2011.

  • Phase VII was added to the ELCSI–PFS, and feasibility studies are in progress for its various proposed low cost safety improvements.

  • Volunteer States; MO, WI and KS are contributing to build foundation for Pavement Safety Performance research by sharing statewide crash data and pavement files.

  • WI DOT has provided FHWA, Safety R&D with their state crash, and pavement data files to contribute to transportation safety research.

Objective: The goal of this research is to develop reliable estimates of the effectiveness of the safety improvements that are identified as strategies in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 500 Guides. These estimates are determined by conducting scientifically rigorous before–after evaluations at sites in the U.S. where these strategies are being implemented.

Scope of Work: The scope of the ELCSI–PFS is to conduct a research project of the priority strategies in the NCHRP Report 500 Guides. Originally a target of 20 strategies totaling $4.38 million for 5 years was planned for ELCSI–PFS studies in four phases. Currently, this study has outperformed its original goals, and has added three extra phases for total of seven phases, and the original $4.38 million. To provide much needed reliable measures for effectiveness of various low cost safety improvements, this study's performance period has been extended beyond 2013.

Resources: The data for this study will be gathered from States that either have already implemented the selected strategies, or will implement the strategies over the course of a few years for the purpose of evaluation by this study. The greater the number of States implementing the strategies, the faster the rate of "after" data collection, which shortens the total time required for each evaluation.

Methodology: The methodology utilized will typically be an Empirical Bayes evaluation, using before–after data to determine the effectiveness of the selected strategies in reducing the number and severity of crashes. The implementation of the strategies and the evaluations will be staggered, grouping a small number of the evaluations together, as appropriate.

Participating States: AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NY, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA and WI.

Strategy Selections: The ELCSI–PFS has Seven Phases (I–VII). Strategies (based on suggested strategies in the NCHRP Report 500) for all phase are selected through balloting conducted in the annual Technical Activity Committee (TAC) meetings.

Results and Applications: The goal of the ELCSI–PFS is to provide a Crash Reduction Factor (CRF) and Benefit/Cost (BC) economic analysis for each of the targeted safety strategies. The CRFs and the economic analyses will be used by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in planning for the implementation of these safety improvements. Our goal as we conduct these studies is to learn and improve our processes to assist in the field implementation of these safety strategies. The degree of success in the evaluation of each strategy will vary depending on the level of DOT support and the availability and reliability of the collected data.

The final result of the ELCSI–PFS will be published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and also will serve as a resource for the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) and other technical publications.

Dissemination of Results: Please see the Publications and Other Resources links.

Progress Report: Please see the Publications page under "Progress Reports."

For more information contact:
Roya Amjadi, Research Civil Engineer (Highway)
Development, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Office of Safety Research
6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 202–493–3383, Fax: 202–493–3374, roya.amjadi@dot.gov