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FHWA Order M 1100.1.A

Order
Subject
FHWA Delegations and Organization Manual:
Classification Code Date: Office of Primary Interest
M 1100.1A, Part II, Chapter 6 May 30, 2002 HAIM-10

NOTE: Entire document consists of new material.

PART II (ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS)
Chapter 6 (Safety Core Business Unit)

Section 1. Program Manager

  1. What is the mission of the Safety Core Business Unit (CBU)? To provide national leadership and advocacy in the development and implementation of strategies and programs to continuously reduce the number and severity of highway crashes involving both motorized and non-motorized travelers on the Nation’s highways, streets, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and at intermodal connections.


  2. What are the functions of the Safety CBU?
  1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA advocate and a national leader for the elimination of highway crashes, and highway safety infrastructure and other safety programs, including safe highway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities. Advocates and supports the FHWA field offices in developing strong relationships with State, tribal, and local transportation and safety agencies and other public and private sector partners. Provides national and international leadership to improve the safety of all highway users, both the motorist and bicyclist/pedestrian, for local communities as well as through traffic.


  2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Develops and executes national policies and plans, implements program initiatives, and provides program leadership, management, and oversight for roadway-oriented surface transportation safety programs. Provides leadership to FHWA’s Safety Strategic goal as the agency’s goal manager. Initiates quality self-assessments, program evaluations, and system and process improvements to continually improve the quality of the office’s programs, products, and services. Develops and maintains the Safety CBU Business Plan.


  3. Legislation, Regulations, Policy, and Guidance. Develops legislative recommendations and administers statutory provisions relating to FHWA’s highway safety mission. Develops and issues regulations, policies, and guidance for State and local transportation agencies in accordance with Federal laws. Carries out these functions in cooperation with other DOT and Federal agencies, as well as FHWA Headquarters and field offices.


  4. Safety Programs. Coordinates with other appropriate FHWA Units to initiate and develop national highway and bicycle/pedestrian facility safety programs to eliminate highway crashes, fatalities, and injuries, including planning, development and operations, and coordinates as appropriate with other FHWA and departmental organizations, other Federal agencies, and the public and private sector.


  5. Safety Council. Serves as the agency’s primary liaison to the DOT Safety Council involving all major national and international safety activities and initiatives. In partnership with the Department’s Safety Council, as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and other Federal agencies, develops joint policies, outreach initiatives, and training efforts for broad-based and multidisciplinary safety programs to ensure maximum collaboration within DOT and to avoid duplication of effort.


  6. Technology Delivery. In cooperation with other core business units, resource centers, and the Research, Development, and Technology Service Business Unit (SBU), leads the development and execution of a multi-year research and technology program plan to develop and demonstrate broad-based and multidisciplinary products, tools, and practices to improve highway safety. These may include but are not limited to roadway features, visibility under adverse environmental conditions, roadside hardware, roadway intersections, highway rail crossings, pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, accommodations for disabled highway users, traffic control devices, work zones, utility poles, and speed management.


  7. Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of the Department’s field offices, State and local governments, and the private sector on the development and implementation of highway safety infrastructure and other safety technologies, programs and strategies and uses that information in carrying out office functions. Assesses the community impact of issues relating to highway safety, and seeks to assure that the interest of the users and the community are addressed in safety policies and programs.

Section 2. Office of Safety Design

  1. What is the mission of the Office of Safety Design? To administer programs and promote practices relating to the development and incorporation of road and roadside features that impact highway safety performance.


  2. What are the functions of the Office of Safety Design?
  1. Advocacy. Serves as an advocate and national leader for road and roadside features which improve highway safety performance, including agency leadership in accommodating the parking needs of persons with disabilities. Advances state-of-the-art technologies and practices regarding design of highways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and other safety technologies and practices. Coordinates with other agencies regarding highway safety issues and represents FHWA’s safety interests with other public and private organizations.


  2. Policy and Guidance. Develops policies and guidelines, in cooperation with the Office of Safety Programs and the Office of Program Integration and Delivery for national highway safety programs. Provides guidance on safety performance goals, policies, and criteria for all public roads, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities. Provides national leadership in the policy and guidance on highway safety infrastructure features including pavement skid resistance, roadway geometrics and cross-sections, and roadside safety features, traffic control devices, and highway-rail grade crossings. In cooperation with NHTSA, develops policies and guidelines for the State Highway Safety Programs.


  3. Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Coordinates with the Operations CBU in the development and maintenance of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the retroreflectivity of signs and pavement markings, and supporting documents and promotion of the safe and uniform application of traffic control devices.


  4. Safety Information and Analysis. Serves as the FHWA national leader to ensure FHWA Divisions have the expertise to conduct and to perform safety data analysis to support program activities with State partners. Identifies data needs to carry out analyses necessary to support a safety mission, collects data, and performs data analyses to determine accident trends and to evaluate FHWA’s safety program and policy effectiveness. In cooperation with other DOT and FHWA offices, works to assure that data resources are available to address safety issues. Develops, maintains, and uses information systems to support highway and bicyclist/pedestrian infrastructure and other safety programs. With the resource centers and divisions, assists the States with data information systems to ensure the most accurate complete and timely data are available for national and State data analyses. Advise the DOT Safety Council on information and data issues that support the Department's efforts to develop joint policies, outreach initiatives, and training efforts for multidisciplinary safety programs.


  5. Highway Safety Hardware and Design. Analyzes and accepts highway safety hardware for use on the National Highway System and other roadways. Provides information to partners and customers on current and emerging strategies to improve highway safety.


  6. Railroad-Highway Crossings. In coordination with the FRA, directs the national program to improve hazardous railroad-highway crossing locations including the development and implementation of special studies and FHWA involvement with Operation Lifesaver.


  7. Technical Assistance. Provides advice and assistance and serves as the Headquarters focal point to other FHWA CBUs, resource centers, and division offices, and State and local jurisdictions regarding highway safety program development, evaluation, and administration. Develops and promotes the Road Safety Audits process. Provides support for international highway safety activities. In cooperation with the Federal Lands CBU, works to improve safety on Federal Lands and Native American Lands. Represents FHWA through a variety of technical forums dealing with highway safety, including roadside design and hardware safety, and highway-rail grade crossing safety. In partnership with the resource centers, divisions, and the Professional Development SBU, develops training material to advance the state-of-the-practice in highway safety.

Section 3. Office of Safety Programs

  1. What is the mission of the Office of Safety Programs? To develop and manage programs for the safe operation of roadways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and at intermodal connections.


  2. What are the functions of the Office of Safety Programs?
  1. Advocacy. Serves as an advocate and national leader for Federal Highway programs and State highway safety programs and activities that improve the safe operation of roadways. Coordinates with other agencies dealing with highway safety issues and represents FHWA’s interests with other public and private organizations.


  2. Safety Programs. Develops policies, procedures, and guides for development, administration, and management of FHWA highway safety programs and safety-related information in collaboration with other FHWA offices and DOT agencies. In partnership with other FHWA and departmental organizations, and the public and private sectors, uses the information and results to identify and evaluate policies, practices, and technologies. Develops and implements policies, regulations, and guidance on highway safety grant programs. Coordinates the Highway Safety Improvement program.


  3. Program Analysis. Prepares recurring and special reports based on highway, user, and crash statistics and safety needs information. Analyzes highway safety crash trends and evaluates program effectiveness in reducing the number and severity of crashes. Researches crash causation and exposure data. Conducts cost/benefit analyses and regulatory flexibility analyses in support of new or revised legislation. Advises the DOT Safety Council on information and data issues that support the Department’s efforts to develop joint policies, outreach initiatives, and training efforts for multidisciplinary safety programs. Promotes the safety management process.


  4. Speed Management Program. In cooperation with the Operations CBU, manages the speed management program with NHTSA and FMCSA.


  5. Pedestrian/Bicycle Activities. Coordinates with NHTSA and the Research, Development, and Technology SBU to develop and implement a national program to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.


  6. Intersection Safety. Coordinates with the Research, Development, and Technology SBU and the Infrastructure CBU to develop and implement a national program to improve intersection safety, including a reduction in Red Light Running.


  7. Highway Work Zones. Coordinates with the Operations CBU in the development and implementation of the national program to improve safety and mobility in highway work zones. In coordination with other FHWA units, participates on the Work Zone Mobility and Safety Integrated Products Team.


  8. Program Assistance and Guidance. Provides program assistance and guidance to FHWA field offices and State and local agencies in efforts to accommodate the needs of older drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Provides policy guidance to the Federal Lands Highway CBU as it works with other Federal agencies to develop safety management systems. Provides technical assistance to resource centers, divisions, and States, as requested.


  9. Safety Management. Coordinates with NHTSA to promote and implement safety management practices and principles nationally.


  10. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Recommendations. Serves as the agency’s focal point for responses to NTSB recommendations, coordinating the development of NTSB recommendations and tracking the implementation of the recommendations.

Section 4. Office of Program Integration and Delivery

  1. What is the mission of the Office of Program Integration and Delivery? To provide strategic direction for surface transportation programs administered by FHWA, ensure that safety policies and programs are integrated with other FHWA and DOT policies and initiatives, and manage and promote a program to leverage technology and innovation in the support of FHWA safety objectives.


  2. What are the functions of the Office of Program Integration and Delivery?
  1. Advocacy. Ensures appropriate linkage and integration of safety practices and principles with other entities, including other FHWA Units, DOT agencies, and external organizations.


  2. Strategic Planning. Directs strategic plan development for safety-related elements of FHWA and other DOT agencies, which is designed to achieve national goals and performance objectives relating to improved highway and bicycle/pedestrian safety infrastructure and other safety aspects of the surface transportation system. Develops safety-related performance plans and elements of the Administrator’s performance agreement with the Secretary. Develops strategies to assist division offices to ensure that national highway safety policy objectives are reflected in State safety program activities.


  3. Legislation and Regulations. Develops, recommends, reviews, and coordinates legislative provisions relating to FHWA’s highway safety mission. In coordination with other FHWA organizations, as appropriate, provides technical assistance to Congressional authorizing and appropriations committees in developing legislative recommendations and interpreting statutory provisions related to safety.


  4. Policy Coordination. Provides guidance on the inclusion of infrastructure safety and other safety initiatives into intelligent transportation systems (ITS) activities, including the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI), and including streamlining Federal-aid policies, procedures, and guidelines to facilitate the deployment of ITS.


  5. Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of other FHWA and DOT organizations, and public and private sector customers, including academia, on the development and implementation of highway and bicycle/pedestrian safety technologies and strategies and uses that information to represent the agency’s safety interests with organizations such as the National Safety Council, Roadway Safety Foundation, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Transportation Research Board, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, the National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives, bicyclist and pedestrian associations, Operation Lifesaver, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and the American Public Works Association. Actively seeks to include a public involvement element in the decisions that affect safety innovations in communities and neighborhoods.


  6. Research and Technology Program. In cooperation with the Research, Development, and Technology SBU, develops the multi-year and annual Highway Safety Research and Technology (R&T) Program Plan. Manages R&T Program resources provided to the Safety CBU, and coordinates preparation of justification documentation and presentation materials on the R&T Program for FHWA Management Council and other entities’ discussions. In cooperation with the Operations CBU, Infrastructure CBU, the Research, Development, and Technology SBU, and other DOT, academia, and private sector partners, supports the development, demonstration, field testing, and evaluation of emerging technologies, standards, and practices designed to improve the safe movement of people and goods, and/or enchance the safety of the surface transportation system. Supports the development, application, and dissemination of technologies desgined to enhance highway safety. Participates in cross-cutting integrated product teams and takes a lead where the primary mission is improving highway safety.


  7. Technology Delivery. Manages the FHWA program to design, implement, and deliver programs to advance the adoption of highway safety-related and market-ready technologies and innovations. In partnership with the resource centers, divisions, and the Professional Development SBU, develops training material to advance the state-of-the-practice in highway safety. Working with both the resource centers and industry, designs, implements, and delivers programs to advance the adoption of market-ready technologies provides information to customers on the current and emerging technologies and stratetgies to improve highway safety. Acts as a techonogy and information clearinghouse for resource centers, divisions, and States on information relating to highway safety programs. Helps to coordinate the development of international highway safety standards and requirements, and works with the international highway safety standards and requirements, and works with the appropriate offices to identify and share highway safety technology applications and requirements. In cooperation with the Planning and Environment, Operations, and Infrastructure CBU's, works with the Federal Lands Highway CBU, resource centers, and divisions to identify and deploy highway safety technologies and products.


  8. Monitoring and Evaluation. Monitors the implementation of activities by other FHWA organizations and departmental modes, industry, and other partners and customers to ensure that highway safety is embraced in their programs. Assesses the impact of FHWA’s policies, funds, and programs on highway safety. Uses results to improve program performance and guide future FHWA program development. Initiates system and process improvements to continually improve highway safety infrastructure and safety programs, products, and services.


  9. Communication and Marketing Assistance. Provides and maintains communication, marketing assistance, outreach, and coordination services for all highway safety infrastructure and other safety initiatives and activities, including the Safety CBU Website, FHWA-wide publications (Public Roads and Transporter magazines, etc.) in support of highway and bicycle/pedestrian safety programs. Coordinates with several support units within FHWA, supports the external communication, Internet communication, publication, correspondence, and media response. In partnership with the field offices, develops and conducts public education efforts and media relations to support the highway and bicycle/pedestrian facilities safety programs. Works with a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders in the public and private sectors concerned with FHWA's safety program to develop and implement a communication strategy to eliminate highway crashes and promote safe transportation. Coordinates with AASHTO, TRB, private organizations (such as ATSSA, ITE, AND ARTBA), bicyclist/pedestrian organizations and others to develop implementation and market strategies for key national technology program activities.

  10. FHWA Order M 1100.1A, Chg. 21 Part II, Ch. 6
    O1-18-01 Figure 6.1

    Safety
    Core Business Unit

    safety core business unit org. chart

    Chapter 5 | Table of Contents | Chapter 7

Page last modified on October 19, 2015
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