September 29, 2016
Innovation of the Month: Data-Driven Safety Analysis
Systemic safety analysis scans an entire road network for high-risk roadway features and identifies low-cost safety treatments. The Federal Highway Administration is promoting this data-driven safety analysis approach through Every Day Counts.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development used data-driven systemic tools to strategically prioritize and implement 105 miles of cable median barriers on controlled-access roads across the state. The agency plans to install another 180 miles to help reduce crash severity.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation conducted a comprehensive systemic analysis of local roads to determine the highest-risk locations across the system. Counties then installed low-cost countermeasures at those sites. The result was wider, but more targeted, safety investment.
See FHWA’s Systemic Safety Project Selection Tool for a process for conducting a systemic safety analysis.
Visit the U.S. Road Assessment Program website for software to generate a program of road network improvements.
Read About EDC-3 Innovation Deployment Progress
Iowa Forms Traffic Incident Management Committee
Iowa has a new statewide Traffic Incident Management Executive Committee. Leaders from 15 local, state and federal agencies and private industry met September 16 to outline a mission and vision statement for the committee. They also discussed ways they can collaborate to advance training for first responders and institutionalize traffic incident management techniques to ensure safe, quick clearance of crashes on Iowa roads.
Technology Deployment Topic of Michigan Conference
FHWA staff provided an update on the Every Day Counts initiative at the Transportation Estimators Association Project Users Group Conference on September 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They also discussed FHWA funding opportunities for technology deployment, including the Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration and State Transportation Innovation Council Incentive programs. The conference drew about 125 people from transportation agencies and organizations across the country.
Public Roads Magazine Features Every Day Counts
The Every Day Counts initiative is the focus of two articles in the latest issue of FHWA’s Public Roads magazine. “Building a Culture of Innovation” discusses how FHWA stimulates innovation through EDC and the national network of State Transportation Innovation Councils. “EDC-4: Introducing a New Round of Innovations” highlights the innovations FHWA will promote through EDC in 2017 and 2018.
View Webinars on EDC-4 Innovations
FHWA’s webinar series on the innovations in the fourth round of EDC wraps up today with sessions on Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET and Integrating the National Environmental Policy Act and Permitting from 3 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Watch recordings of the webinars to learn about all 11 innovations in EDC-4.
