ROAD SAFETY AUDITS Victoria F. Beale JD, SPHR, SHRM SCP, Ohio LTAP Center Director & Assistant Administrator, Office of Local Programs 1980 W. Broad St., Mail Stop #1240, Columbus, OH 43223 614 466 3129 Victoria.Beale@dot.ohio.gov Alan D. Stock Xenia Township Administrator 8 Brush Row Rd Xenia, OH 45385 937.372.08759 astock@xeniatownship. ROAD SAFETY AUDITS Introduction to Workshop leaders Who is Xenia Township Xenia Township s journey toward LTAP (ODOT) help Township Sign Grant Greene County Highway Department Study Road Safety Audit Procedures LTAP Experience: Procedures and Outcomes RSAs performed to date with 23 counties either on call or as part of an RSA course Seeking to teach the RSA process and then use Federal funds to implement recommended improvements 1
ROAD SAFETY AUDITS Xenia Township, Greene County is the first and only Township to work directly with Ohio Department Of Transportation for a Road Safety Grant Typically Counties work directly with ODOT for this type of service. WHO IS XENIA TOWNSHIP? Approximately 50 square miles 54 miles of Center Line Roads Population of 6,530 2
WHO IS XENIA TOWNSHIP? 85% of the Township has Agriculture Zoning Classification Road Depart of four full time employees Two Fire Houses with a combination Department of 38 members WHO IS XENIA TOWNSHIP? Three Universities Central State University Payne Theological Seminary Wilberforce University Two Greene County Career Center Campus Sites One Xenia Community Elementary School 3
OUR JOURNEY TOWARD ODOT HELP In 2015 we applied for a Township wide Signage Grant due to the higher number of crashes and scoring within the top 100 Townships in the State We were awarded just over $40,000.00 in signs and sign materials OUR JOURNEY TOWARD ODOT HELP Brush Row Road is 3.63 miles long running East and West connecting SR 68 and Sr 42 It is a major thoroughfare to both Central State and Wilberforce Universities 68 We have had four fatal crashes in the last 10 years and 42 many reported crashes 4
OUR JOURNEY TOWARD ODOT HELP In 2016 we requested a speed study from the Greene County Engineer and found An average of 874 cars travel daily West bound travelers (867 traveling away from the Campus's) 41% traveled at a speed 60 MPH or greater 11% traveled at a speed of 70 or greater (50 cars 70 74mph 44 cars 75+ mph) East bound travelers (881 traveling toward the Campus's) 24% traveled at a speed 60 MPH or greater 5% traveled at a speed of 70 or greater (23 cars 70 74mph 22 cars 75+ mph) OUR JOURNEY TOWARD ODOT HELP Also in 2016 at the OTA Winter Conference we received our Township Crash Report at the LTAP vendor s booth 5
OUR JOURNEY TOWARD ODOT HELP Immediately Raymond Brushart saw that we had a Crash Corridor Problem and suggested we get in contact with LTAP as he was sure with the numbers we had we would qualify for a Crash Corridor Study which could lead to funded help The results would provide 100% funding for first tier safety measures and matching Township dollars for more costly measures if needed THE LTAP EXPERIENCE There are three (3) steps toward Funding Identified crash problem Engaging in a Road Safety Audit Willingness to utilize the recommendations report as the basis for a short funding application 6
THE LTAP EXPERIENCE For the Road Safety Audit (RSA), the Township invited stakeholders from the following groups: OSP, SO, CSU, FD, City School s Busing Service, Trustee, Daily Travelers, Residents of crash sights THE LTAP EXPERIENCE During the Road Safety Audit (RSA) it was discovered that part of the contributing factors were traffic from Bickett Road which connected both University Campuses to SR 35 as well as an increased on campus student population at Wilberforce University. Bickett Road was then included in the scope of the study. 7
THE LTAP EXPERIENCE Once the roadway review is complete, the team then met back at the Township building to review their data collected from the review and outline recommended safety countermeasures. THE LTAP EXPERIENCE 8
THE LTAP EXPERIENCE The recommendations looked at three levels: Immediate Short term ($) Intermediate enhanced improvements which are more costly ($$) Long range large projects which are justified only if immediate and intermediate projects do not show the safety effects desired ($$$) THE LTAP EXPERIENCE LTAP assists with the authoring of the RSA Recommendations report. LTAP also assists with drafting and submitting a simplified funding application to support the immediate recommended safety countermeasures. Once approval is hopefully received, LTAP works with the Township to execute a project agreement and obtain federal authorization to proceed with the improvements. 9
Video Clip of Brush Row Road West to East 10
Video Clip of Brush Row Road East to West Example Immediate Improvement: Optical Speed Bars 11
Measurement of Deceleration from Research 12
Interested in Scheduling an RSA in Your Township? Call Ohio LTAP! 1 614 387 7359 or ltap@dot.ohio.gov Questions? 13
ROAD SAFETY AUDITS Victoria F. Beale JD, SPHR, SHRM SCP, Ohio LTAP Center Director & Assistant Administrator, Office of Local Programs 1980 W. Broad St., Mail Stop #1240, Columbus, OH 43223 614 466 3129 Victoria.Beale@dot.ohio.gov Alan D. Stock Xenia Township Administrator 8 Brush Row Rd Xenia, OH 45385 937.372.08759 astock@xeniatownship. 14