Session 15 -- Improving Transportation Safety: A focus on intersections

Moderator, Mr. Jim Thorne, Metropolitan Planning Specialist, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Resource Center, Olympia Fields, Illinois -- Presentation
Mr. Theodore A. Petritsch, P.E., Senior Transportation Engineer, Sprinkle Consulting, Inc. -- Presentation
Ms. Gail M. Holley, Elder Road User and Research Manager, Florida Department of Transportation -- Presentation
Mr. John R. Freeman, Jr., P.E., PTOE, Senior Principle, Kitteleson & Associates -- Presentation

The Transportation Safety Planning Working Group (TSPWG) has an excellent website at tsp.trb.org with a wealth of information and resources on what’s going on in safety - case studies, safety initiatives, and write-ups on best practices.

Complete Streets – Design roadways to all users of highways. Design from outside – in. Very few roadway projects are started because of pedestrian/bike needs. They are normally started because of motor vehicle mobility. This is a way to design roadways for all users.

Florida’s Elder Road User program. Focuses on roadway improvements that benefit mature drivers. These improvements better accommodate elder users – visibility, advance notice, simplify decision-making at intersections, pedestrian enhancements.

The challenge is to balance mobility for older drivers with safety. Business plan developed has performance measures and strategies to achieve this goal.

There is a Elder Road User Website with program information.

Training Courses are being conducted to focus on driving improvements, pedestrians, communities, partnering. Learning how to partner with other programs. Roll-out is scheduled for 2008.

Road Safety Audits (RSA): A form safety performance examination. It seeks to improve roadway safety. These safety audits have federal guidelines.

A road safety report is produced at the end of each RSA. A standard format is recommended along with findings and a formal response (letter).

These safety audits can be developed to be a part of value engineering at FDOT. It would require safety staff to be added to the process. This will provide more emphasis on pedestrian and bicyclists’ needs and an emphasis on all road users.

Safety audit costs range from $13,000-$20,000 depending on location and roadway dynamics.

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