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Transportation Safety Planning

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD / NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

E-CIRCULAR

Number E-C041

July 2002

Supporting the Establishment of Safe Transportation Networks

Part I,Safety-Conscious Planning Forums

Part I I,Facilitator's Toolkit

TRANSPORTATION Number E-C041, July 2002

RESEARCH ISSN 0097-8515

Committee on Transportation Safety Management (A3B01)

Leanna Depue, Chair
Robert L. Thompson
Christine M. Branche
Susan N. Bryant
Adele Derby
Robert D. Ervin
Michael M. Finkelstein
Barbara L. Harsha
Kathleen F. Hoffman
Jack D. Jernigan
Ronald R. Knipling
William B. McCormick
Raj Muthusamy
Hubrecht Ribbens
Caryll F. Rinehart
William C. Rogers
Eugene R. Russell, Sr.
Randolph Sanderson
James R. Shanafelt
Edward A. Starosielec, Jr.
Michael F. Trentacoste
Thomas C. Werner
Anthony D. Wyatt
John J. Zogby
Richard F. Pain, TRB Representative

TRB website: Transportation Research Board www.trb.org

National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20418

The Transportation Research Boardis a division of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent adviser to the federal government on scientific and technical questions of national importance. The National Research Council, jointly administered by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, brings the resources of the entire scientific and technical community to bear on national problems through its volunteer advisory committees.

The Transportation Research Boardis distributing this Circular to make the information contained herein available for use by individual practitioners in state and local transportation agencies, researchers in academic institutions, and other members of the transportation research community. The information in this Circular was taken directly from the submissions of the authors. This document is not a report of the National Research Council or of the National Academy of Sciences.

Acknowledgments

As in many TRB endeavors, the activities reported in this Circular are the product of many people and organizations.

A very special thank you to each of the individuals and organizations listed below for the energy, enthusiasm, interest, and intelligence that contributed so greatly to the work reported in this Circular. Also, a profound thank you to Dr. Susan Herbel. She was instrumental in developing and reporting on the first workshop, worked with each state to plan and conduct their forum, wrote the final report for each state forum, authored this Circular, and has been an invaluable member of the Safety-Conscious Planning Working Group mentioned below.

This Circular has two very distinct parts. Part I introduces safety conscious planning (TSP) and summarizes the SCP forums conducted by six states. Part II is a toolkit that provides the information needed by any state or local agency to organize and conduct a safety conscious planning forum.

The Safety-Conscious Planning Working Group is an informal ad hoc group of individuals interested in moving forward on the integration of safety into the long-range transportation planning process. The original purpose of the group was to brainstorm ideas on how to accomplish this. The group met sporadically and included representatives from the private sector, academe, the research community, and federal agencies. After the brainstorming a limited number of the ideas were selected for further activity, e.g., developing a workshop on SCP and providing a focal point for information exchange. The group continues to meet periodically, develop ideas, foster and encourage activities, and gather and exchange information.

The Safety-Conscious Planning Working Group includes

Leanna Depue, Central Missouri State University and chair of the TRB Committee on Transportation Safety Management was actively involved with the group during the first year of activity but, due to competing pressures, was unable to continue involvement.

Our sincerest thank you for the successes achieved by the many planning and safety professionals in the six states and corresponding FHWA, FTA, and NHTSA regional or division offices that organized, planned, conducted, and participated in their respective forums.

Our special appreciation to the Federal Highway Administration, Office of Intermodal and Statewide Planning Programs, for providing resources making it possible to conduct and report on the workshops and forums described in this Circular.

Contents

PART I: SAFETY-CONSCIOUS PLANNING FORUMS

Preface

Introduction

Background

Safety-Conscious Planning

Safety-Conscious Planning in the United States

  1. First Steps
  2. Foundations for Safety in Planning
  3. Data Collection and Analysis
  4. Collaboration
  5. Outreach and Advocacy

Safety-Conscious Planning Forums

  1. National Perspective
  2. State Perspectives
  3. Forum Process

Discussion

  1. Safety Goals
  2. Long-Range Planning
  3. Data Acquisition, Management, and Analysis
  4. Leadership
  5. Communication and Outreach
  6. Resource Requirements

Summary

  1. Accomplishments
  2. Challenges

Future Needs and Actions

  1. Leadership
  2. Communication
  3. Partnerships and Collaboration
  4. Data and Information
  5. Training
  6. Analytic Planning Tools
  7. Education and Marketing Tools
  8. Research and Expertise
  9. Dedicated Funding and Other Resources

Conclusion

Postscript

References and Notes

PART II: FACILITATOR'S TOOLKIT

Background

Introduction

  1. Purpose
  2. Process
  3. Product

Conclusion

Notes

Appendix: Acronyms

APPENDIX A

Safety-Conscious Planning and the Forum Process

  1. What Is Safety-Conscious Planning?
  2. What Is a Safety-Conscious Planning Forum?

Transportation Research Circular E-C025: Safety-Conscious Planning

  1. Purpose
  2. Problem
  3. Background
  4. Process

Safety-Conscious Planning Process

  1. Examples of Good Practices
  2. Planning Focus
  3. Action Planning.
  4. Strategies
  5. Next Steps
  6. Notes

Planning Meeting Participants List

Invitation Letter

Planning Meeting Agenda

APPENDIX B

Suggested Forum Participants List

Notes on Planning a Forum Agenda

  1. Conference Management
  2. Breaks
  3. Details, Details, Details

Sample Forum Agenda

  1. Welcome/Forum Purpose and Overview
  2. Overview of the Current Planning Processes
  3. Data and Planning Tools
  4. Panel Discussions
  5. Breakout Groups
  6. Breakout Group Presentations
  7. Conclusions, Recommendations, and Next Steps

APPENDIX C

Group Themes and Questions

  1. Safety Definitions and Goal(s)
  2. Safety Data Systems Improvements, Analysis, and Liability Issues
  3. Safety Integration Planning: Long- and Short-Range Plans, Project Priority Process, and Incident and Congestion Management Systems
  4. Communication, Collaboration, and Public Outreach
  5. Educating, Informing, and Influencing the Leadership, Other Decision Makers, and the Public

Breakout Group Guidelines

APPENDIX D

Planning Checklist

To provide Feedback, Suggestions or Comments for this page contact Lorrie Lau at lorrie.lau@dot.gov.

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