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                        High Friction Surface Treatment Curve Selection and Installation Guide May 2016


            
            In This Section
        Pavement Friction
                Friction Management
                Continuous Pavement Friction Measurement (CPFM)
                Traditional Friction Treatments
                High Friction Surface Treatment
                Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices
                FAQs, Links, and Other Resources
                
                5. Step 5: Estimate Costs and Identify Funding
This section discusses how to estimate HFST implementation costs and potential means of funding the safety improvement.

5.1. Cost

Costs will fluctuate based on choice of aggregate, binder, and application method. Many agencies can find the lowest unit cost when they are able to get two or more contractors to compete for the project.

On average, the cost breakdown for HFST installation is approximately comprised of 50 percent for labor and application and 50 percent for materials (i.e., aggregate and binder). Of the materials cost, roughly two-thirds of that cost can be attributed to the binder, as approximated in Figure 10.35 Most of the aggregates used for HFST generally range from $350 to $500 per ton.

**Figure 10. HFST Cost Breakdown Approximation.**Cost breakdown for HFST is about one half for labor and application and half for materials, with the binder accounting for two-thirds of the materials costs and the aggregate accounting for the remaining one-third of materials costs.

States' HFST unit costs range from $22 to $35 per sq. yd. Typically, unit costs are lower when:

A large volume of HFST is to be applied at a single location or multiple small installations are bundled into a single contract;
	HFST is only one component of a larger contract; or
	HFST installers directly perform the application rather than hiring a general contractor to then subcontract the work.Other factors affecting unit cost are the amount of traffic control needed, availability of staging areas, and agency specification requirements.36,37

Overall, HFST's benefit-cost ratio is high since the crash reductions are typically drastic and continue for many years indicating a positive return on investment for each dollar spent on the treatment. SCDOT found a benefit-cost ratio of about 24 to 1 during a before and after study for a series of HFST curve installations.38

A report commissioned by Transit New Zealand showed a benefit-cost ratio of 40, whereas Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that HFSTs produce benefit-cost ratios ranging between 2.23 and 8.45.39, 40 TTI estimates HFST return on investment to be approximately five-fold if an initial application prevents one fatal or injury crash (valued at over $158,000). If a fatality is averted, the return is over 100 times the amount invested.41

The exact nature of each particular installation and the problem it addresses will have a direct bearing on the exact benefit-cost ratio that can be achieved, but in general, HFSTs have shown to produce a significant return on investment in a short period of time.

5.2. Funding

HFST qualifies for Federal funding under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which is geared toward reducing crashes, fatalities, and injuries on all public roads. While each State's process varies, local agencies can apply to receive funding for HFST projects within their jurisdiction.

In the past, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has matched HFST project costs through a 90/10 split utilizing funds in the HSIP program. In the future, the Federal government may cover the entire cost.42

PennDOT's HFST projects have been entirely funded through the HSIP program, which allocated $8 million to be spent over two years using the treatment. TDOT primarily utilizes HSIP funds for HFST projects, and supplements with 23 U.S.C. 154 Open Container funds, to cover 100 percent of project costs. Caltrans has completed and/or planned approximately 139 HFST projects on their State highway system using HSIP funding, with an additional 30 to 40 completed and/or planned on the local system.

35 FHWA's High Friction Surface Treatments Frequently Asked Questions. Publication No. FHWA-CAI-14-019. [ Return to note 35. ]

36 Ibid. [ Return to note 36. ]

37 Interview with Joey Riddle and Brett Harrelson, South Carolina Department of Transportation, conducted on November 12, 2014. Interview with Gary Modi, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, conducted on January 20, 2015. [ Return to note 37. ]

38 FHWA's High Friction Surface Treatments Frequently Asked Questions. Publication No. FHWA-CAI-14-019. [ Return to note 38. ]

39 Every Day Counts HFST Fact Sheet Brochure. Available at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts. [ Return to note 39. ]

40 Izeppi, Edgar, Gerardo Flintsch and Kevin McGee. Field Performance of High Friction Surfaces. Virginia Transportation Research Council, Richmond, June 2010. [ Return to note 40. ]

41 B. Brimley and P. Carlson, Using High Friction Surface Treatments to Improve Safety at Horizontal Curves. July 2012. Available at: http://d2dtl5nnlpfr0r.cloudfront.net/tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-2012-8.pdf. [ Return to note 41. ]

42 Interview with Darrell Chambers and Robert Peterson, California Department of Transportation, conducted on November 25, 2014. [ Return to note 42. ]
      
  Book traversal links for 5. Step 5: Estimate Costs and Identify Funding
      ‹ 4. Step 4: Determine Application Method and Develop Specifications
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                    6. Conclusion ›
                
                Book:High Friction Surface Treatment Curve Selection and Installation Guide May 2016
              1. Step 1: Identify Candidate Curves for HFST
                2. Step 2: Conduct Field Verification and Design
                3. Step 3: Select Aggregate and Binder Materials
                4. Step 4: Determine Application Method and Develop Specifications
                5. Step 5: Estimate Costs and Identify Funding
                6. Conclusion
                Appendix A – HFST Curve Identification Summary
                Appendix B – Other HFST Potential Locations and Uses U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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