Assessment of Local Road Safety Funding, Training, and Technical Assistance

Gaines, Danena; Waldheim, Nicole; Herbel, Susan · 2013 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety

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Summary

This report assesses State Department of Transportation (DOT) practices for delivering safety funding, training, and technical assistance to local entities for road safety improvement projects. The research was motivated by the disproportionate safety risk on local roads, which account for approximately 14 percent of vehicle-miles traveled but 20 percent of fatalities in the United States. Local agencies often lack the resources, staff, and data analysis skills necessary to address these issues independently, creating a reliance on State DOTs for support. The study aims to identify model practices that can be implemented by State DOTs, Local Technical Assistance Programs (LTAPs), and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to improve local road safety outcomes. The assessment methodology combined a literature review, input from an expert practitioner panel, and a questionnaire distributed to all 50 States, with responses received from 38 States. Follow-up interviews were conducted with six selected States (Florida, Nebraska, California, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee) to develop case studies of noteworthy practices. The report categorizes State DOT support into four levels: providing resources and information, offering training and development, delivering technical assistance, and assuming responsibility for project implementation. Key findings indicate that many States set aside funds from programs such as the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and the High-Risk Rural Road Program (HRRRP) for local safety projects. Between fiscal years 2009 and 2011, respondents reported spending $710.1 million on local road safety improvements, with HSIP funding covering 44 percent of costs. Fatality and serious injury data were primary determinants for funding set-asides in 29 percent of States. Challenges identified include funding constraints, lack of local staff expertise, and difficulties in securing local funding matches. To mitigate these issues, States employ strategies such as developing crash data analysis tools, providing systemic safety analyses, and streamlining administrative processes through "push-button" contracts. The report highlights specific successes, including Ohio’s partnership between the DOT, LTAP, and county engineers, and Tennessee’s initiative where the State assumes full project implementation responsibility for local agencies. The significance of this report lies in its documentation of scalable model practices for enhancing local road safety. It concludes that while a "one-size-fits-all" approach does not exist, State DOTs are uniquely positioned to provide the necessary support to save lives on local roadways. The level of support required varies based on the size and capability of local agencies, with smaller agencies often requiring higher levels of technical assistance or direct project implementation. By identifying effective strategies for funding distribution, training, and technical assistance, the report provides a framework for States to better coordinate with local jurisdictions and reduce the administrative burden on local agencies.

Key finding

State DOTs provide varying levels of support to local agencies, ranging from basic resource access to full project implementation, with 38 States responding to a survey identifying common challenges like limited local staff and data analysis skills.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 38

Provenance

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Topics

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• regulatory evaluation

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes