Meeting Summary Virginia Regional Transportation Safety Road Show Hampton Roads Meeting December 8, 2016

Transcription

1 Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan Meeting Summary Virginia Reginal Transprtatin Safety Rad Shw Hamptn Rads Meeting December 8, 2016 ATTENDEES Luke Beasley, Nrflk Naval Shipyard PAO Sam Belfield, HRTPO David Benn, VB/TE Gerjeane Blumling, AAA Le Blades, City f Hamptn April Brwn, Nrflk Naval Shipyard PAO Brenda Fuller, VBCPS Ken Muhleman, VDOT Steve Frncill, Keith Nichls, HRTPO Chesapeake TE Reggie Garrett, David Nrman, Prince Newprt News Edward Reserve Squad Behind the Wheel Valeri Henchel, Darrick Persn, Nrflk VB/TE Public Schls Curtis Hardisn, VSP Brian Prctr, P/W Traffic Engineering Wlliam Irving, Steve Sctt, Chesapeake Safe USDOT/FMCSA Rutes t Schl Dwight Jenkins, James Stanley, VDOT Dempsey Brutn, VB/TE DMV/VAHSO Dug Carper, Kurt Kraus, Tit Jhn Stevensn, USF/VDOT Main Nrflk/PW Ed Diehl, VBCPS Dan Mtt, FHWA Ira Swartz, Nansemnk Sufflk Vlunteer Fire Squad Paula Swartz, Nansemnk Sufflk Vlunteer Fire Squad Rbert Weber, VDOT MEETING SUMMARY Welcme and Meeting Outcmes Stephen Read, Highway Safety Imprvement Prgram (HSIP) Planning Manager frm VDOT Central Office, welcmed participants t the meeting and discussed the purpse and utcmes f the meeting, which included: Cllabratin Cntinuing, and in sme cases, initiating cnversatins with state and reginal representatives frm VDOT, DMV s Highway Safety Office, the State Plice and lcal law enfrcement, educatrs, health prfessinals, representatives frm emergency medical services, cmmunity activists and thers t reduce transprtatin related fatalities and serius injuries in the Hamptn Rads regin.

2 SHSP Update Hear abut the cntents f the updated Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) including the statewide infrastructure and behaviral emphasis areas, supprting strategies and actins, and subsequent prgrams and prjects. Participants will prvide input n whether anything is missing frm the plan and if s, suggestins t imprve it. Reginal Safety Pririties Evaluate the reginal crash data t identify the three mst serius transprtatin safety issues (behaviral and/r infrastructure) in the Hamptn Rads regin and decide hw these can be further addressed thrugh the implementatin f strategies, actins, prgrams, and prjects. Strategic Highway Safety Plan Statewide Activities Overview A brief verview f the SHSP was given. In 2005, Cngress included a requirement in transprtatin legislatin fr states t develp safety plans. This was based n reductins ther cuntries had seen in traffic related fatalities and serius injuries thrugh the develpment f a safety plan. The key t thse effrts was crdinatin and cperatin amng the fur Es f safety engineering, enfrcement, educatin, and emergency medical services t determine the majr traffic safety prblems and where the greatest difference can ccur. A review f the SHSP s Visin, Missin, and Gal was prvided and it was nted that the Tward Zer Deaths (TZD) visin is pssible cnsidering it is the gal fr every persn, every time they get behind the wheel f a car. T reach that gal, the SHSP perates as the crdinating plan fr the ther plans that deal with safety including the Highway Safety Plan (HSP), develped by DMV s Highway Safety Office, which includes the behaviral safety prgrams and prjects cnducted in the state; the Highway Safety Imprvement Prgram (HSIP), develped by VDOT and includes the infrastructure prjects; and the Cmmercial Vehicle Safety Plan. The SHSP is currently being updated and a schedule fr that prcess was discussed, including final apprval by the Gvernr r his designee in March f The latest SHSP requirement, fr the state t develp a single safety target supprted by bth the DOT and the state highway safety ffice, was als described. Over the next five years, Virginia plans t accmplish a 2 percent annual reductin fr fatalities and fatality rates and a 5 percent annual reductin fr serius injuries and serius injury rate. SHSP Infrastructure and Behaviral Strategies Stephen Read, VDOT Central Office and Dwight Jenkins, DMV Highway Safety Office prvided an verview f the infrastructure and behaviral safety prgrams in the SHSP. Fr each emphasis area in the SHSP (impaired driving, ccupant prtectin, speeding, yung drivers, intersectins, radway departures, pedestrians, and bicyclists) a number f prven strategies are detailed t lwer fatalities and serius injuries in each f these areas. The prpsed strategies fr the updated SHSP were reviewed and participants were asked t cmment n items that might be missing frm the dcument. Cmments included: Retraining parents r prviding prgrams fr parents f new drivers is f high interest in the regin. Sme pprtunities d exist, but mre culd be dne in this area

3 Greater use f red light running cameras and speed cameras was suggested as a strategy. VDOT staff nted that installatin f red light cameras are limited by legislatin and speed cameras are nt permitted. Driver s educatin is nt required fr thse 18 years ld and abve (used t be 19). The lack f n-rad and in-classrm training will likely becme mre f an issue. This regin in particular is seeing an uptick in aggressive drivers. Traffic vilatins are ften being reduced when ffenders g t curt. Educatin fr judges and prsecutrs n the implicatins f reduced penalties culd be beneficial. Hamptn Rads Reginal Transprtatin Safety Activities Representatives frm the DMV Highway Safety Office, the VDOT District Office, and State Plice prvided participants with an verview f the behaviral and infrastructure safety prgrams and prjects already ccurring in the Hamptn Rads regin. Behaviral Prgrams The DMV Highway Safety Office currently funds grants in the regin, fcused n lwering impaired driving, ccupant prtectin, pedestrian, and speed related crashes specifically. The regin mst recently received 52 grants ttaling $1,423,630. Successful grant activities are: Prviding grants t law enfrcement fficials fr vertime and selective enfrcement thrughut the Hamptn Rads regin; Prmtin and implementatin f the Drive Sber Get Pulled Over prgram, which is targeted t year ld males; Prviding educatinal activities in schls and encuraging active participatin in the Yuth f Virginia Speak Out Abut Traffic Safety (YOVASO) prgram; Prmtin and implementatin f Click It r Ticket in the regin; statewide the seat belt use rate is arund 79 percent, but is arund 83 percent in the Hamptn rads area; Cnducting the Traffic Occupant Prtectin Strategies (TOPS) training t specifically incentivize plicies amng law enfrcement agencies and encurage fficers t wear their seat belts; Child seat technicians t assist parents with prper implementatin r car seats; and Future funding t enfrce the Mve Over Law. The Virginia State Plice receives grant funding frm the DMV Highway Safety Office and is a very active safety partner in the Hamptn Rads regin. Successful activities are: Use f enfrcement grants t target patrls arund the regin fr special events and majr travel hlidays (in 2016, 5,527 summns were issued ver Memrial Day, 5,938 ver Furth f July; 4,635 ver Labr Day, and 4,152 ver Thanksgiving; Use f grants fr selective enfrcement and vertime (between August 2015 and July 2016, state plice in this regin captured 856 DUI s); - 3 -

4 Pilt testing f instant tw, where law enfrcement persnnel and a tw truck are dispatched t the scene cncurrently; Use f blue lights t slw dwn traffic n majr rutes; Implementatin f traffic incident management techniques t respnd t and clear crashes as quickly as pssible; and Prviding educatinal activities in any schl upn request. Infrastructure Prgrams The Virginia DOT District Office uses HSIP funding t implement safety imprvements t transprtatin infrastructure in the Hamptn Rads regin. Successful activities are: Instant tw is being successfully used in wrk znes and there is interest in rlling this prgram ut mre widely; One hundred thirty eight miles f centerline rumble strips have been implemented and sixty six additinal miles are under cntract; A befre and after study evaluated the effectiveness f the shulder rumble strips n Rute 13 n the eastern shre and fund that severe crashes drpped frm 120 in 2014 t 72 in 2015; Flashing yellw arrws have been added t enhance left hand turning mvements at intersectin, where necessary, t reduce crash severity; Reflective backplates have been added t signal heads at intersectins t increase visibility; Crdinatin with the lcal jurisdictins t address severe crashes ccurring ff the state system; and A safety study has just been cmplete n Rute 460. Breakut Grups The reginal crash data fr Hamptn Rads was explained and shwn n a heat map. Data included cmbined fatality and serius injury crash data fr the biggest safety issues reginally, including impaired driving (drunk, drugged, distracted, drwsy), speeding, ccupant prtectin, bicyclists, pedestrians, yung drivers, intersectins, radway departures, aging drivers, and mtrcyclists. After review, participants identified what they cnsider t be the tp three mst serius crash prblems in the regin: Impaired Driving Intersectins Bicycles and Pedestrians - 4 -

5 Participants spent 45 minutes in a large grup frum, discussing strategies they are currently implementing r wuld like t implement in the Hamptn Rads regin t lwer fatalities and serius injuries fr each issue areas. The fllwing summarizes the highlights f the discussin. Impaired Driving Participants felt that under the umbrella f impaired driving (distracted, drinking, drugs, and drwsy), the mst pressing issues in the regin t be addressed are drinking and distractin. Participants identified several initiatives the regin had undertaken t reduce impaired driving crashes: Selective and vertime enfrcement and checkpints t reduce drinking and driving fatalities and serius injuries; Yuth educatin effrts, bth in-schl and thrugh drivers educatin prgrams; Centerline and median rumble strips t keep distracted r drwsy drivers frm leaving their travel lane. Participants identified areas where mre can be dne t drive dwn impaired driving crashes: Cllabratin Interest in establishing a reginal transprtatin safety cmmittee r leverage existing cmmittees t discuss transprtatin safety issues and needs n a regular basis, share infrmatin, and identify challenges and slutins. Cultural Shifts Interest in identifying slutins t break dwn the scietal need t cnstantly be in tuch, when driving. Legislatin Changes - Supprt legislative changes t imprve distracted driving laws. Distracted Data Since crash data related t distractin is primarily self-reprted, it is challenging t btain accurate infrmatin n the magnitude f the prblem. Identifying pprtunities thrugh legislatin, enfrcement tls, and/r new technlgy t better understand and address the prblem is needed. Cnferences a DUI Cnference is being held in Virginia Beach in April 2017 and the Virginia Assciatin f Drivers Educatrs meets annually. Prmting and encuraging participatin at events like these, and thers, will bring abut mre slutins t impaired driving. Parents - Retraining parents r prviding prgrams fr parents f new drivers is f high interest in the regin. Sme pprtunities d exist, but mre culd be dne in this area. Engineering - Cntinue t systematically implement safety cuntermeasures such as rumble strips, lighting, and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure t prevent cnflicts resulting frm distracted r drwsy drivers. Judicial Actin Sme frm f judicial r prsecutr educatin culd imprve the degree f punishment assciated with an impaired driving crime. In many instances, the punishment fr ffenders des nt deter recidivism. Intersectins - 5 -

6 Participants identified several initiatives the regin had undertaken t enhance safety at signalized intersectins: Enhancing visibility f signalized intersectins thrugh the implementatin f retrreflective backplates, flashing yellw arrws, and LED light mdules; Installatin f Emergency Vehicle Pre-emptin (EVP) alng critical crridrs t assist EMS, fire, and plice with traversing thrugh signalized intersectins under a green indicatin and t help clear cngestin t assist with decreasing travel time t the incident; Participants identified tw areas t enhance safety at unsignalized intersectins: Data the regin indicated that the crash data fr signalized intersectins had the apprpriate detail, but the same is nt true fr unsignalized intersectins. Additinal fcus n develping mre rbust unsignalized intersectin data is needed. Enhancing visibility at stp and yield cntrlled intersectins culd be enhanced thrugh the installatin f reflective striping n the stp r yield sign psts. Other strategies the regin identified shuld cntinue t be implemented included the cnsideratin f mre rundabuts, regular review f signal timings t address cngestin (including clearance intervals), and a review f nighttime crashes t determine if lighting culd be implemented r retrreflective back plates. Participants identified challenges t addressing safety at unsignalized intersectins: Participants identified funding fr maintenance activities as being a significant challenge perating their signal systems and helping t ensure safety. The initial implementatin f many strategies and actins are successful thrugh cnstructin prjects r upgrades; hwever, as equipment r technlgy ages the funding surces available are nt adequate t supprt maintenance activities. Bicycles and Pedestrians Participants identified several initiatives the regin had undertaken t imprve bicycle/pedestrian safety: Push buttns and pedestrian signage at intersectins in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Beach, and Hamptn; Dedicated bike lanes in Virginia; and A pilt that is seeing whether it is pssible t install 14 ft lanes. Participants identified areas t imprve bicycle/pedestrian safety: Develp and implement an educatin campaign that culd specifically target Shre Drive where there are a lt f pedestrians and bicyclists; Engineering imprvements including bike lanes, dedicated pedestrian crssings, etc.; and - 6 -

7 Engaging bars and restaurants in the regin with ABC as a partner t address the prblem with impaired pedestrians. Participants identified challenges t addressing bicycle/pedestrian safety: They are nt sure the messaging is ging ut t the crrect age grup. This will require getting mre data n wh is being hurt in bike/pedestrian crashes; The lack f gd data n bicycle crashes; The high cst f retrfitting radways t add a bicycle lane r additinal pedestrian crssings; and VDOT s plicy f penalizing Districts that want t cnduct a rad diet. This shuld be addressed statewide. Next Steps The SHSP will be revised, as apprpriate, based n input frm all f the reginal meetings and shared with the statewide emphasis area teams and Steering Cmmittee fr review, fllwed by final apprval frm the Executive Cmmittee. The SHSP will be fficially launched t the public and stakehlders at a planned media event and then implementatin f the strategies and actins in the Plan will begin in May Participants are encuraged t stay engaged with the SHSP and can d s by jining ne f the statewide emphasis area teams r by participating in reginal safety activities as they arise. Fr thse interested in jining r learning mre abut the emphasis area teams, cntact Stephen Read at Stephen.read@vdt.virginia.gv r