Safety Data Initiatives in Reauthorization – What Can We Expect?

1. Safety Data Initiatives in Reauthorization – What Can We Expect? Kathy Krause, FHWA Office of Safety 30th Annual International Traffic Records Forum July 25-29, 2004

2. State Traffic Safety Information System Improvement Grants • Description: • Grants to improve State safety data & information systems • Traffic Records Coordinating Committee of data collectors, managers and users make key decisions on data improvements

3. State Traffic Safety Information System Improvements - continued • Status: • House bill includes $159M over 6 years • Senate bill includes $270M over 6 years • Conferees agreed to accept Senate language but nodecision on funds

4. State Traffic Safety Information System Improvements - continued • Outstanding Issues: • Funding • Senate requirement that States include in model data elements traffic safety impacts of using electronic devices while driving

5. Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) • Description: • New safety infrastructure program built around a data-driven statewide safety plan • It requires: • Crash data systems for problem identification & countermeasure analysis • Improved traffic records, data collection & analysis • Consideration of 4 “E”s of safety on all public roads & consultation with stakeholders

6. HSIP - Continued • Status: • Included in Senate bill • House bill makes few changes in current safety infrastructure programs & requires no statewide safety plan • Senate provides $8.2B over 6 years • House provides $3.9B over 6 years

7. HSIP - Continued • Outstanding Issues: • Funding • Statewide Highway Safety Plan • Will final agreement require or encourage States to develop safety plans? • How will States obtain comprehensive safety data on roads, drivers, vehicles & EMS? • Will States have sufficient safety data on local highway safety needs?

8. HSIP Reporting Requirements • Description: • House & Senate bills include: • State reports to Secretary on progress in implementing HSIP • Secretarial reports to Congress on national implementation of HSIP

9. HSIP Reporting Requirements - Continued • Senate requires annual State reports to: • Describe 5% of locations in each State with most severe safety needs • Assess potential remedies, costs & impediments • Assess effectiveness of projects in reducing fatalities, injuries & severity of crashes • Be posted on the DOT website

10. HSIP Reporting - Continued • House limits funds for report data collection & analysis to 2%. • Secretary’s report must include: • Summary of projects completed & analysis of effectiveness • Assessment of adequacy of program funding & State use of funds

11. HSIP Reporting - Continued • Recommendations for future funding & program improvements • Analysis & evaluation of State programs • Status: • Secretarial & State reports will be required • No agreement reached on details

12. HSIP Reporting – Continued • Outstanding Issues: • Content & timing of reports • House 2% limitation on funds • Senate requirement to report 5% of locations with severest safety needs • Senate requirement to publish reports on website

13. Safe Routes to School (SRS) • Description: • States administer grants to State, local & regional agencies to encourage walking & bicycling to school and improve safety near schools • Projects within 2 miles of schools for sidewalks, ped/bike crossings & facilities, education, awareness, enforcement, traffic calming & improved traffic operations

14. SRS - Continued • Status: • Included in both bills • House conferees instructed to insist on House provision • Funding: • House $1B over 6 years • Senate $470M over 6 years

15. SRS - Continued • Outstanding Issues: • Funding • Many States lack data to identify & promote safety improvements on public roads, pathways and trails within 2 miles of school • Apportionment formula: House – primary and middle school enrollment, Senate – STP

16. High Risk Rural Road Safety Improvement Program • Description: • To improve safety on rural collector and local roads • For construction & operational improvements • States must fund projects with greatest highway safety benefits

17. High Risk Roads - Continued • Status: Included only in House bill • Outstanding Issues: • Funding: House - $675M over 6 years • Lack of data on rural roads limits ability to target funds to States with greatest needs • Many States lack the data on rural & local roads to identify projects with highest benefits

18. Status of Reauthorization • Congress extended highway, transit & safety programs to September 24 with no changes in funding or policy • White House agreed to $299B overall spending for 6-year reauthorization bill this year – House & Senate staff will work on detailed conference agreement

19. Likely Outcomes? • Dedicated funds are likely for state data improvement grants. • Funding levels are not yet clear • More reporting requirements are likely for safety programs & initiatives - HSIP, Safe Routes to School, High Risk Rural Roads etc.

20. Likely Outcomes? - Continued • State DOTS will need to work with data managers & collectors to fulfill reporting requirements & possibly to develop statewide safety plans • State & metropolitan planners will need safety data to integrate safety into planning process

21. Likely Outcomes? - Continued • State DOTs & planners will be encouraged to participate in traffic records coordinating committees • Data managers & collectors are likely to have increased opportunities to develop new partners among key customers & users of safety data within States