Integrating safety improvements into resurfacing and restoration projects is a subject of long-standing interest by Federal, State, and local transportation agencies. A Scan Tour was conducted to identify and subsequently observe good practices in this area. The scan team visited Colorado, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington State. The Scan Team met with each State DOT and county agencies in three States and observed completed projects in all States. Despite wide variations in agency operating environments (e. g., funding levels and flexibility, public expectations, environmental regulations), the report identifies a set of common issues host agencies confronted in developing integrated resurfacing-safety improvement programs, and also observed a set of common success factors. Good practices are reported within institutional and technical categories. Good institutional practices include commitment to integrate safety into pavement preservation projects, establishing a system that allows for multifunded projects (pavement, safety) and allocates cost items by fund, allowing for flexible project development cycles, strengthening State-local relationships, developing an expedient procedure for acquiring minor rights-of-way, and engaging safety experts in the project development process. Good technical practices include identifying targeted safety countermeasures, making selective geometric improvements, installing traffic control devices and guidance features, improving roadsides, and improving private and public access points. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting