Program Planning, Development & Evaluation Award: To Iowa Departments of Transportation and Public Safety for Local Roads Safety Initiative
The Iowa Department of Transportation along with the Iowa Department of Public Safety has developed three innovative safety programs to address safety concerns on the local roadway system. These initiatives were undertaken because local governments generally lack available crash data and the expertise and resources needed to identify candidate safety locations and cost effective countermeasures. The programs remove barriers to implementing high quality safety improvements on local roadways. Examples follow.
-- Provide free comprehensive crash data and analysis software in a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based format to local governments. Training is also provided free of charge. Additionally, local governments can request free GIS crash analysis through the Iowa Traffic Safety Data Services located at Iowa State University.
-- Local governments are provided a free traffic safety study at safety candidate intersections and roadways. The studies are limited to 100 hours and provided by on-call professional transportation consultants.
-- Local government safety projects are eligible for a safety grant of up to $500,000. This program is funded through a State Safety Program that was established with one-half of one percent of the State Road Use Tax Fund.
Over 250 local government safety projects have been funded since this program was undertaken. These projects have had a mean crash reduction of 21% and resulted in a benefit of $6.90 for each $1.00 spent.
For more information, contact:
Tom Welch
Iowa Department of Transportation
Office of Traffic and Safety
Telephone: 515-239-1267
Email: tom.welch@dot.iowa.gov
Rev. 10/30/07