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                Implementing New Technology
**Publication Year:** 
            2018
    
        Problem

Local agencies may have limited expertise with new/innovative safety countermeasures. This limits the agencys ability to address key crash factors.

Noteworthy Solution

In 2012, Thurston County in Washington State conducted a data-driven safety analysis to identify and prioritize potential safety projects that would be eligible for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds.

In late 2013, Thurston County determined that wet/icy pavement contributed to 47% of crashes and identified high friction surface treatment (HFST)a new and innovative technology proven effective at reducing crashes, particularly on wet pavementsas a solution. However, Thurston County had no prior experience with HFST and neither the Washington State Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) nor the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) could answer Thurston Countys questions about local implementation (installation costs, materials, and ongoing maintenance issues). To resolve the unanswered HFST inquiries, Thurston County worked with LTAP and FHWA to coordinate a peer exchange and pilot project.

This practice is from the FHWA publication "*Noteworthy Practices Manual - For Local Agencies Implementing Federal-Aid Highway Safety Improvement Program Projects*." Download a PDF of the entire manual or view the HTML version.
    
        **Read the full noteworthy practice:** 
      CASE STUDY 7 – Implementing New Technology U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

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