County Road Safety Plans Experiences with Development and

Implementation

Richard (Rick) West, PEOtter Tail County Public Works Director/County Engineer

2013 LTAP/TTAP National ConferenceBoise, ID

July 22-25, 2013

Large rural county in West Central MN

Land Area – 2232 square miles

Population – 58,000 1048 Lakes Summer Population – 150,000 62 Townships 22 Cities

Otter Tail County, MN

1052 miles of County Highways (all paved)

2427 miles of Township Roads

142 Bridges One third of County system

has 11 foot lanes and 2 foot gravel shoulders.

707 Horizontal Curves

Otter Tail County Highway System

Traffic Safety Showcase – Mendocino Co, CA MN County Engineers Highway Safety Committee Local road safety research/implementation

projects by MN Local Road Research Board Development of the MN Crash Mapping Analysis

Tool Safe Communities Coalitions Strong relationships with Mn LTAP, Mn/DOT, FHWA,

NACE, and ATSSA Counties involved in Mn/DOT TZD efforts from

beginning (MN North Star Conference)

MN Counties Safety Background2004 – 2011

Summary of the findings of the Otter Tail County Fatal Review Committee

January 1 – December 31, 2010 Item Specific Area Reported Number Percentage

1 Total drivers & passengers killed 14 100% 2 Total motor vehicle crashes resulting in fatalities 12 100% 3 Multi-vehicle crashes 2 17%

4 Single vehicle crashes 10 83% 5 Drivers killed (14 total drivers involved) 8 58% 6 Passengers killed 3 21% 7 Pedestrians killed 3 21% 8 Victims ejected and not wearing seatbelts when belts were

available (3 of 4 not belted) 3 75%

9 Fatal crashes involving motorcycles/ATVs 3 21% 10 Motorcycle/ATV fatalities w/no helmet use (3 of 3) 3 100% 11 Crashes with impaired drivers 7 58% 12 Crashes occurring on curves 2 17% 13 Crashes where speed was a likely contributing factor 5 42% 14 Crashes weather/road conditions were factor 2 17% 15 Crashes with driver medical conditions a factor 2 17% 16 Drivers charged in criminal court 3 21% 17 Deceased victims who were local OTC residents 11 79% 18 Crashes caused by failure to yield right of way 2 17% 19 Deaths caused by run off the road crashes 9 64% 20 Deaths resulting with speed as a contributing factor 6 43% 21 Crashes occurring on township roads 4 33% 22 Crashes occurring on County Highways 3 25% 23 Crashes occurring on State Highways 3 25% 24 Crashes occurring on interstate highways 1 8% 25 Crashes occurring on private roadways 1 8% 26 Sex of deceased victims: 12 male (86%); 2 female (14%) 27 Sex of vehicle drivers: 12 male (86%); 2 female (14%) 28 Age of ATM/Motorcycle crash victims: 15 – 62 (actual ages: 15, 55, 62) 29 Age range of impaired drivers: 17-62 (actual ages: 17, 21, 33, 48, 55, 59, 62)

Impairments contributing to deaths of crash victims:

Alcohol: 6 (43%) Huffing: 1 (7%) Prescription meds: 2 (14%) THC: 2 (14%)

Age of All Drivers (total drivers involved=14)

Number Percentage

Age 15 – 24 4 28% Age 25 – 55 5 36% Age 56- 79 5 36% Age 80 + 0 0%

Time of Crashes Number Percentage 6 PM – Midnight 7 58% Midnight – 6AM 1 8%

6AM – 6 PM 4 33%

MN LRRB Safety-Related ProjectsAdvanced Dynamic LED Warning Signs for Rural Intersections Powered by Renewable Energy (2007 and 2011)

Development of a digital highway framework to facilitate crash avoidance systems: Serving county roads (2012)

Analysis of Highway Design and Geometric Effects on Crashes (2010)

MN Crash Mapping Tool (2008)

Rural Road Safety Solutions Workshops (2008)

Maintain a Safer Roadway Workshops (2010)

Estimating the Crash Reduction and Vehicle Dynamic Effects of Flashing LED Stop Signs (2009)

Best Practices and Policy Guidance County Roadway Safety(2011)

Best Practices for Sign Reduction on the Local System (2011)

Lighting Levels for Isolated Intersections Leading to Safety Improvements (2012)

Traffic Sign Life Expectancy (2012)

Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT)

In order to assist cities and counties in gaining a better understanding of crash characteristics on their systems, Minnesota Local Road Research Board and Minnesota County Engineers Association (MCEA) have made the MnCMAT tool available

Map–based computer application that provides 10 years of crash data for every roadway in Minnesota

Individual crashes are spatially located by reference point along all roadways

Up to 67 pieces of information are provided for each crash, including route, location (reference point), date/day/time, severity, vehicle actions, crash causation, weather, road characteristics, and driver condition

Analysts can select specific intersections or roadway segments for study. An overview of the entire county, city, MnDOT district or tribal government can also be generated.

Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT)

The recommended analytical process for conducting a safety/crash study is to compare Actual conditions at a specific location (intersection or segment of highway) compared to Expected conditions (based on documenting the average characteristics for a large system of similar facilities).

MnCMAT supports this analytical process by providing both the data for individual locations and for larger systems – individual or multiple counties.

For more information about MnCMAT, consult the website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/stateaid/sa_crashmapping.html

Greater Minnesota Crash Data Overview

5 Year Crashes165,739

5,770

State System76,992 – 46%2,362 – 41%

CSAH/CR39,073 – 24%2,242 – 39%

Rural24,474 – 63%1,860 – 83%

Urban14,599 – 37%

382 – 17%

All Way Stop438 – 6%6 – 4%

Run Off Road8,367 – 66%790 – 67%

On Curve3,550 – 42%399 – 51%

ExampleAll – %

Severe – %

Right Angle – 1,359 (48%), 41 (59%)Head On – 70 (3%), 7 (10%) Left Turn – 283 (10%), 4 (6%)Rear End – 368 (13%), 4 (6%)

Thru-Stop2,810 – 38%

70 – 44%

Right Angle – 651 (30%), 20 (56%) Rear End – 753 (34%), 5 (14%)Left Turn – 361 (17%), 4 (11%)Head On – 70 (3%), 2 (6%)

Signalized2,189 – 29%

36 – 22%

Inters-Related5,938 – 30%535 – 30%

Source: MnCMAT Crash Data, 2004-2008Severe is fatal and serious injury crashes (K+A).

City, Twnshp, Other49,674 – 30%1,166 – 20%

Inters-Related7,448 – 51%160 – 42%

Not Inters-Related5,271 – 36%199 – 52%

Run Off Road – 1,283 (24%), 74 (37%) Head On – 361 (7%), 27 (14%)Rear End – 1,315 (25%), 21 (11%)Right Angle – 529 (10%), 18 (9%)

Animal4,407 – 18%

74 – 4%

Not Inters-Related12,627 – 63%1,185 – 66%

Head On, SS Opp821 – 7%129 – 11%

On Curve284 – 35%47 – 36%

Unknown/Other1,880 – 13%

23 – 6%Unknown/Other

1,502 – 7%66 – 4%

Other/Unknown2,011 – 27%

48 – 30%

Right Angle – 968 (35%), 145 (55%) Run Off Road – 360 (13%), 23 (9%)Left Turn – 183 (7%), 11 (4%)Rear End – 287 (11%), 8 (3%)

Thru-Stop2,735 – 46%263 – 49%

Run Off Road – 1,047 (38%), 93 (38%) Right Angle – 297 (11%), 50 (20%)Head On – 119 (4%), 26 (11%)Left Turn – 186 (7%), 20 (8%)

Other/Unknown2,755 – 47%248 – 46%

Not Animal20,067 – 82%1,786 – 96%

All Way Stop199 – 3%19 – 4%

Signalized249 – 4%5 – 1%

-ATP’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 – NO Metro

Minnesota

 

State (2-lane)

County (All Rural

Roads)County

(Rural Paved)

County (High

Priority Rural Paved - 4 and 5 Star)

Miles 8,760 34,700 21,760 2,820

No. of Severe Injuries 1320 2510 2247 569

Severe Injury Density 0.15 0.07 0.10 0.20

Severe Injury Crash Density(Howard Preston, CH2M Hill)

Project ApproachCrash

Analysis

Select Safety Emphasis

Areas

Identify Short List of Critical Strategies

Identify Safety

Projects

Safety Workshop

Develop Comprehensive

List of Safety Strategies

Project ProgrammingProject DevelopmentImplementationEvaluationRefinement & Update

SHSP

Safety Plan

Month 1 Month 5Month 5Month 4

Month 7

Month 9

Month 6

Review Mtg w/ Counties

Kick-off Video Conference

Plan Contents Description of Safety Emphasis Areas. Identification of high priority, low cost Safety

Strategies. Documentation of at-risk locations on

roadway segments, horizontal curves, and intersections based on crash data.

Development of $7,200,000. of suggested safety projects.

Cost of plan development - $40,000.

Intersections (244) Geometry – Inter. Skew Geometry – Roadway (on or

near curve) Commercial Development in

Quadrants Distance to Previous STOP ADT Ratio R/R Crossing on Min. Appr. Crash History

Curves (707) Curve Radius Traffic Volumes Intersection in Curve Visual Trap Crash Experience

Risk Factors

Segments ADT Range Access Density Road Departure Density Critical Radius Curve

Density Edge Risk

Risk Factors

Summary of Results from Prioritized Segments

Otter Tail County High Priority Segment Map

Otter Tail County Segment Project Summary

Sample Segment Project Form

Lane Marking and Curve Enhancements 12 counties 1670 miles of 6 inch edge lines 46 miles of Rumble StripEs 325 Horizontal Curves – 2267 chevrons Contract - $1.6 million

2009-10 District 4 HSIP

D4 County Intersection Lighting Project

Scope Six Counties 30 Intersections Install Overhead

Lighting at Intersections

Cost $360,000.

Otter Tail County Intersection Signing Upgrade Project

Scope County Wide 91 Intersections TH Junction Signs Stop Ahead Markings Stop Bars

Cost $158,000.

Otter Tail County CSAH Shoulder Paving/Rumble Stripe Project

Scope CSAH 9 5.3 Miles 4’ Paved Shoulder 1’ Rumble 6” Stripe

Cost $293,000.

Future HSIP Projects

Priority Focus Area Locations Cost Federal Local Work Type

1 Lane Departure 13 $348,580.00 $313,722.00 $34,858.00 Enhanced Edge Line Markings - Phase I2 Lane Departure 19 $349,835.00 $314,851.50 $34,983.50 Enhanced Edge Line Markings - Phase II3 Intersection Improvements 44 $104,750.00 $94,275.00 $10,475.00 Enhaned Signage and Marking4 Lane Departure 25 $82,500.00 $74,250.00 $8,250.00 Chevron Installation on Curves5 Lane Departure 42 $283,052.00 $254,746.80 $28,305.20 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IA6 Lane Departure 59 $344,064.00 $309,657.60 $34,406.40 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IB7 Intersection Improvements 21 $203,000.00 $182,700.00 $20,300.00 Lighting8 Lane Departure 78 $332,450.00 $299,205.00 $33,245.00 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IIA9 Lane Departure 48 $322,065.00 $289,858.50 $32,206.50 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IIB10 Lane Departure 42 $264,964.00 $238,467.60 $26,496.40 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IIC11 Lane Departure 50 $314,661.00 $283,194.90 $31,466.10 Shoulder Paving and Rumble Strips on Curves - Phase IID

441 $2,949,921.00 $2,654,928.90 $294,992.10

Otter Tail County Projects - SummaryHSIP 2014 - 2016

Provides information to educate the County Board and the public.

Provides data sheets for HSIP funding applications.

Provides practitioners with a detailed, prioritized county-wide, safety plan to guide and support future safety investments.

The benefits far out weigh the challenges.

Summary

Otter Tail County Roadway Safety Plan: Mn/DOT Office of State-Aid: www.dot.state.mn.us/stateaid or rwest@co.ottertail.mn.us.

MN Best Practices and Policies for Safety Strategies on Highways and Local Roads: Same as above.

Or my friend Google.

Websites

Thank youRichard WestOtter Tail County Public Works Director/County EngineerPhone: 218-998-8473

Email: rwest@co.ottertail.mn.us

Address: 505 S. Court St., Suite 1 Fergus Falls, MN 56537