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

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

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 no decision on funds

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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