RSF 72, Highway Safety Improvement Program Evaluations and Technical Support

The Highway Safety Improvement Program was authorized as a new Federal-aid funding program beginning in FY 2006, with the objective of achieving a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The HSIP was intended to emphasize a data-driven, strategic approach (Strategic Highway Safety Plan – SHSP) to improving highway safety with a focus on results. Specifically, the HSIP includes safety and operational improvements on all public roads, and elimination of hazards at railway-highway grade crossings. The HSIP is also expected to include processes for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the HSIP and SHSP. The Kentucky Transportation Center has provided technical assistance to the Transportation Cabinet’s HSIP team beginning in May 2010. Technical assistance during this time period has included a range of activities, with problem identification and project evaluation being the primary tasks accomplished. To provide technical support to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Traffic Operations for implementation of the Highway Safety Improvement Program. A wide range of technical support activities will be provided; based on consultation with representatives from the Division of Traffic Operations. Database development and maintenance will be performed to support management of the HSIP. GIS files will be created to visually describe project locations and types, either proposed or programmed into the HSIP. Analysis and evaluation will be performed to identify candidate highway safety improvement projects using crash frequency and crash potential to establish the relative severity of locations.