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PUERTO RICO

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Photo Source: 

PRHTA TMC

0 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Highway Administration 

HIGHWAY SAFETY 

IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Table of Contents

Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Protection of Data from Discovery Admission into Evidence............................................................. 3

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 4

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Program Structure................................................................................................................................. 6

Program Administration..................................................................................................................... 6

Program Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 9

Project Implementation .......................................................................................................................12

Funds Programmed.........................................................................................................................12

General Listing of Projects ..............................................................................................................14

Safety Performance ............................................................................................................................20

General Highway Safety Trends......................................................................................................20

Safety Performance Targets............................................................................................................26

Applicability of Special Rules...........................................................................................................30

Evaluation ...........................................................................................................................................31

Program Effectiveness ....................................................................................................................31

Effectiveness of Groupings or Similar Types of Improvements .......................................................31

Project Effectiveness.......................................................................................................................34

Compliance Assessment ....................................................................................................................35

Optional Attachments..........................................................................................................................39

Glossary..............................................................................................................................................40
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Disclaimer

Protection of Data from Discovery Admission into Evidence

23 U.S.C. 148(h)(4) states “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or 

data compiled or collected for any purpose relating to this section[HSIP], shall not be subject to discovery or 

admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action 

for damages arising from any occurrence at a location identified or addressed in the reports, surveys, 

schedules, lists, or other data.

23 U.S.C. 148(h)(4) states “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or 

data compiled or collected for any purpose relating to this section[HSIP], shall not be subject to discovery or 

admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action 

for damages arising from any occurrence at a location identified or addressed in the reports, surveys, 

schedules, lists, or other data.23 U.S.C. 409 states “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, reports, 

surveys, schedules, lists, or data compiled or collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, or planning 

the safety enhancement of potential accident sites, hazardous roadway conditions, or railway-highway 

crossings, pursuant to sections 130, 144, and 148 of this title or for the purpose of developing any highway 

safety construction improvement project which may be implemented utilizing Federal-aid highway funds shall 

not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for 

other purposes in any action for damages arising from any occurrence at a location mentioned or addressed in 

such reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or data.”
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Executive Summary

Background

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is responsible for managing the 25% of federal funds 

allocated for Puerto Rico under the ZP-30 Fiscal Management Information System program code for highway 

safety improvement projects. This program does not have any subprogram. The Strategic Highway Safety Plan 

(SHSP) is a key element of the HSIP in Puerto Rico, being responsible of coordinating with internal and 

external safety stakeholders from all sectors the highway safety initiatives, performance measures, and targets 

for Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico developed the first SHSP in 2014, for the 2014 to 2018 period, with the support of safety 

stakeholders from the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA), the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This 5-year comprehensive plan met the requirements of the federal 

regulations (23 U.S. Code §148). The Puerto Rico SHSP targets for 2018 were satisfactory met, as certified by 

FHWA.

In 2019, the second SHSP was approved, for the 2019 to 2023 period, and is currently under implementation 

by the PRHTA, the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission (PRTSC), and more than 80 safety stakeholders. It 

is through the SHSP that the main highway safety problems, and opportunities to achieve the purpose of the 

HSIP, have been identified and analyzed, as well as other transportation plans.

Puerto Rico HSIP Funding

During FY 2020, the PRHTA invested $34,881,624.52 of federal funds on a total of seventeen (17) projects at 

the following highways: PR-493 (Arecibo, Hatillo), PR-8 (San Juan, Carolina), PR-18 (San Juan), PR-52/PR-18 

(Caguas, San Juan), PR-66 (Carolina, Canóvanas, Río Grande), PR-115 (Rincón, Aguada), PR-116 (Lajas), 

PR-152 (Barranquitas, Naranjito), PR-167 (Comerío, Naranjito, Bayamón), PR-173 (Cidra, Aibonito), PR-176 

(San Juan), PR-181 (San Juan), PR-183 (Caguas, San Lorenzo), PR-203 (San Lorenzo, Gurabo), PR-119 

(Las Marías), and PR-4413 (Rincón). These projects represent an 92% of the total federal investment of the 

Puerto Rico HSIP. All these projects were mainly focused on roadside improvements following the Manual of 

Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) upgrades, such as metal safety barriers, signs and traffic control, rumble 

strips, among other roadside safety applications. The method used to select the projects was systematic, 

where some of the high crash locations were analyzed and the ones with the highest priority were chosen. The 

remaining 8% of the federal investment was used for the Highway Safety Patrol Program (SEGURO, by its 

Spanish Acronym), with a cost of $2,084,750.00, for the Strategic Highway Safety Plan Consultant with a cost 

of $221,179.20 and for the State Planning and Research Program 2019-2020 with $500,000.00.

There are no funds allocated for local or tribal roads. Allocating federal funds to improve highway safety 

through the State highway system had been essential to stop the increase in the number of fatal and injury 

crashes in Puerto Rico. In addition, the PRHTA, together with the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission 

(PRTSC) established the safety performance targets for 2022. These targets were based on the 2020 fatalities 

and serious injuries, and the National Transportation Performance Targets (NTPT) for Highway Safety. PRHTA 

is engaged in updating the next SHSP in 2024.

2020 Challenges

During 2020, like the rest of the world, Puerto Rico faced the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; but 

this also led to some positive changes. The most important positive aspect during the pandemic has been the 

historical reduction in fatalities of 242 deaths during 2020. According to the 2019-2023 SHSP, the goal for 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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2023 is to reduce deaths to less than 275, and during 2020, because of the government lockdown, the total 

amount was 242. The most important negative effect was the delay in the implementation of several PRHTA 

programs, including the 2019-2023 SHSP. One of the main purposes of the SHSP is to unify roadway safety 

efforts through safety stakeholders at public and private entities. This effort was undermined during 2020 due 

to strict government executive orders that required a general lockdown for entire population for several months 

without having any physical contact. During that period, many of the meetings and work plans were affected as 

not all the safety stakeholders were able to transition to remote work at the same time. In addition, many of the 

governmental priorities at the state and federal level were changed to strictly meet the needs of the population 

during this pandemic. This resulted in a low effectiveness in the general participation of the safety 

stakeholders, where many of these people were key to achieving some specific goals.

Another delay in the PRHTA efforts, and within the SHSP safety stakeholders, was a series of earthquakes 

that hit the island between December 2019 through January 2020. This natural disaster, although was mainly 

located at the south of the island, affected all the government services due to several collapses structures and 

entire communities leaving their home and living in tents. The negative effects of this event, in terms of ground 

transportation, were that several roads were closed and many of transportation professionals and 

governmental resources were focused to work with the damaged infrastructure. This event was declared as a 

natural disaster by FEMA (DR-4473-PR) on January 16, 2020, with an incident period from December 28, 

2019, through July 3, 2020.

2019 and 2020 Safety Performance Targets

In 2019, the Puerto Rico HSIP could not met four (4) out of five (5) safety performance measures. Having 

failed to meet or make significant progress in 2019, PRHTA is required to comply with provisions set forth in 23 

U.S.C. 148(i) for the FY2022. For this purposes, Puerto Rico developed a HSIP Implementation Plan and will 

obligate an obligation authority equal to FY2019 HSIP apportionment in the amount of $32,613,967.00. The 

Puerto Rico HSIP Implementation Plan will: 1) identify roadway features that constitute a hazard to road users; 

2) identify highway safety improvement projects based on crash experience, crash potential, or other data 

supported means; 3) describe how HSIP funds will be allocated, including projects, activities, and strategies to 

be implemented; 4) describe how the proposed projects, activities, and strategies funded under the State HSIP 

will allow the State to make progress toward achieving the safety performance targets; and 5) describe the 

actions the State will undertake to achieve the performance targets.

During 2020, two (2) out of five (5) safety performance target were met. The number of fatalities and fatality 

rate met the targets, decreasing a 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively. On the other hand, the performance measures 

for serious injuries, serious injury rate, and non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries does not meet the 

target, increasing a 5.8%, 8.7%, and 18.7%, respectively. 
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Introduction

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the purpose of achieving 

a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. As per 23 U.S.C. 148(h) and 23 CFR 

924.15, States are required to report annually on the progress being made to advance HSIP implementation 

and evaluation efforts. The format of this report is consistent with the HSIP Reporting Guidance dated 

December 29, 2016 and consists of five sections: program structure, progress in implementing highway safety 

improvement projects, progress in achieving safety outcomes and performance targets, effectiveness of the 

improvements and compliance assessment.

Program Structure

Program Administration

Describe the general structure of the HSIP in the State. 

The Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) manages a Highway Safety Improvement 

Program (HSIP) focused on the development of highway safety improvement projects along the entire roadway 

network. As part of this program, PRHTA is implementing a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) since 2014 

and, currently, the Puerto Rico SHSP 2019-2023. PRHTA uses local and federal funds to implement the SHSP 

and perform highway safety improvement projects.

Under the title 23 U.S.C. Section 165, Territorial and Puerto Rico Highway Program, Puerto Rico is authorized 

to receive $158,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2016 through 2020. The responsible agency for receiving 

these funds is the PRHTA. From these funds, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is responsible 

for managing the 25% under the ZP-30 Fiscal Management Information System program code for highway 

safety improvement projects. Additionally, the PRHTA applies ZP-40 Section 154 Penalty (Open Container 

Requirements) and ZP-50 Section 164 Penalty (Minimum Penalties for Repeated Offenders) funds to HSIP 

eligible activities.

To strategically invest the HSIP funds, PRHTA use a project selection process with the following steps:

• Crash data collection in the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (PRDTPW).

• Application of the High Crash Location (HCL) methodology. This data-driven methodology helps 

PRHTA to identify the high crash locations by corridors, segments, and intersections.

• Evaluation of the high crash locations to determine the highway safety improvement projects to be 

included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). (Those projects are divided 

using a systematic or hot-spot approach, and PRHTA is working to use a systemic safety approach. 

This evaluation considers the use of funds through to the five (5) PRHTA Regions.)

• Selection of consultants for the development of PS&E in compliance with the latest engineering 

standards in Puerto Rico.

• Inclusion of the highway safety improvement projects in the STIP for the evaluation and approval of the 

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

• Bidding and construction processes. 

Where is HSIP staff located within the State DOT? 

 Engineering
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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How are HSIP funds allocated in a State? 

• Other-Allocated Programs

PRHTA use a project selection process with the following steps:

• Crash data collection in the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (PRDTPW).

• Application of the High Crash Location (HCL) methodology. This data-driven methodology helps 

PRHTA to identify the high crash locations by corridors, segments, and intersections.

• Evaluation of the high crash locations to determine the highway safety improvement projects to be 

included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). (Those projects are divided 

using a systematic or hot-spot approach, and PRHTA is working to use a systemic safety approach. 

This evaluation considers the use of funds through to the five (5) PRHTA Regions.)

• Selection of consultants for the development of PS&E in compliance with the latest engineering 

standards in Puerto Rico.

• Inclusion of the highway safety improvement projects in the STIP for the evaluation and approval of the 

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

• Bidding and construction processes. 

Describe how local and tribal roads are addressed as part of HSIP.

For local roads: In Puerto Rico, local roads are addressed by municipalities. As part of the Strategic Highway 

Safety Plan (SHSP), all crashes are evaluated, and high crash locations are identified along the entire roadway 

network. If local streets resulted as prone to a high number of crashes, the PRHTA is engaged to provide 

technical support, perform Road Safety Audits (RSA), and develop highway safety improvement projects. In 

addition, the municipalities are invited to participate in the Emphasis Areas teams’ meetings. This is very 

important because the meeting participants can receive the most recent crash and fatalities data analysis, 

discuss the main SHSP’s strategies and action plan for the specific period of the year or according to 

increasing safety issues. Municipalities with the most roadway length of high crash locations are informed and 

PRHTA provide them with a municipal deep crash analysis to help them plan their local police mobilizations, 

educational programs, community outreach, emergency medical services, and engineering improvements. If 

there is a safety problem in the local roads, the PRHTA provide technical resources to find countermeasures 

and encourage a reduction in the severe crashes

For tribal roads: Puerto Rico does not have tribal roads, thus is not applicable.

Identify which internal partners (e.g., State departments of transportation (DOTs) 

Bureaus, Divisions) are involved with HSIP planning.

• Design

• Local Aid Programs Office/Division

• Operations

• Planning

• Traffic Engineering/Safety

• Other-Driver Licensing Office (DISCO) 

Describe coordination with internal partners.

The PRHTA Area Directors continuously held coordination meetings for the selection and integration of their 

programs using a data driven oriented process. The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is that 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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data-driven program were all the program managers of PRHTA converge their necessities and ideas. Some of 

the internal partners are Planning and Programming Area, Design Area, and Traffic Engineering and 

Operations Area, among others.

Identify which external partners are involved with HSIP planning.

• Academia/University

• FHWA

• Governors Highway Safety Office

• Law Enforcement Agency

• Local Government Agency 

• Local Technical Assistance Program

• Regional Planning Organizations (e.g. MPOs, RPOs, COGs)

• Other-Non-profit organizations

Describe coordination with external partners.

As part of the Puerto Rico SHSP, the external partners are continuously informed about the SHSP progress, 

and they actively participate in Emphasis Areas Quarterly Meetings (i.e., Pedestrians, Traffic Record Systems, 

Emergency Medical Services, Lane Departure, Negligent Driving, Personal Safety Gear, and Under the 

Influence of Alcohol and Other Substances), and Road Safety Audits (RSA), among other events. Through the 

Emphasis Areas Teams Meetings (i.e., pedestrians, lane departure, negligent driving, under the influence of 

alcohol and other substances, and personal safety gear) these partners collaborate in the progress of the 

Puerto Rico SHSP. In addition, some of them participate in the road safety evaluations supporting the decisionmaking processes of the highway safety improvement projects. The development and implementation of the 

Puerto Rico SHSP is funded through the HSIP.

The PRHTA-HSIP Team coordinates with the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission (PRTSC) and the 

Automobile Accident Compensation Administration (ACAA, by its Spanish Acronym) the crash data used to 

establish performance measures and the data-driven highway safety improvement projects. The PRTSC is 

responsible of managing the Puerto Rico fatalities database through the Planning Area and for the software 

created to access and analyze the Puerto Rico crash data, called “Observatorio Vial”, that is developed and 

managed by the Instituto Tercera Mision (San Juan, Puerto Rico). The ACAA provides the number of injured 

people that were transported in an ambulance because of a traffic crash.

The HSIP promotes the alliance among safety stakeholders by encouraging them, throughout the SHSP, to

bring together efforts and providing technical references for their studies and activities (i.e., statistical crash 

analysis and profile of pedestrian crashes).

During this 2021 reporting period, the coordination with the external partners has been delayed due to several 

reasons. First, the COVID-19 pandemic has deprived the SHSP team to reach the external partners as has 

usually happened. The communication with the external partners were mainly at face-to-face meetings, helping 

to all these professionals to know each other and to listen to their needs. With the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of 

this interaction has been on hold. Second, the PRHTA was amid finalizing the SHSP’s contract award for the 

consultant, adding an administrative delay to the process.

Describe other aspects of HSIP Administration on which the State would like to 

elaborate. 

The Puerto Rico HSIP Administration is focused on update the current methodology for selecting the highway 

safety improvement projects by using the latest HPMS items, MIRE FDE, and fatalities, crashes, and serious 

injuries data. All these data sets have been updated for the last three years and the PRHTA will develop new 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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strategies for using them. Also, the PRHTA team will enhance this methodology by combining the hot-spot, 

systematic, and systemic approach to ensure the best selection of projects and investments federal funds, as 

part of the HSIP Implementation Plan and adjustments to the HSIP Administration. In addition, the PRHTA has 

been implementing Before and After Studies as a mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of the selected 

projects. Finally, Puerto Rico is fully engaged in the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiatives. Finally, the PRHTAHSIP Team is actively participating in the Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC) helping in the 

implementation of the digital crash form PPR-621.4.

Program Methodology

Select the programs that are administered under the HSIP.

• HSIP (no subprograms)

Program: HSIP (no subprograms)

Date of Program Methodology:7/1/2017

What is the justification for this program? 

• Addresses SHSP priority or emphasis area

• FHWA focused approach to safety

What is the funding approach for this program? 

Funding set-aside

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway 

• All crashes • Traffic

• Lane miles • Functional classification

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

• Crash frequency

• Other-High Crash Location Report

• Relative severity index

Are local roads (non-state owned and operated) included or addressed in this 

program?

Yes

Are local road projects identified using the same methodology as state roads?

Yes

How are projects under this program advanced for implementation?

• selection committee
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Select the processes used to prioritize projects for implementation. For the methods 

selected, indicate the relative importance of each process in project prioritization. 

Enter either the weights or numerical rankings. If weights are entered, the sum must 

equal 100. If ranks are entered, indicate ties by giving both processes the same rank 

and skip the next highest rank (as an example: 1, 2, 2, 4).

Relative Weight in Scoring

Available funding:100

Total Relative Weight:100

What percentage of HSIP funds address systemic improvements?

 92.3

 HSIP funds are used to address which of the following systemic 

improvements? 

• Add/Upgrade/Modify/Remove Traffic Signal

• Clear Zone Improvements

• Horizontal curve signs

• Install/Improve Pavement Marking and/or Delineation

• Install/Improve Signing

• Rumble Strips

• Safety Edge

• Traffic Control Device Rehabilitation

• Upgrade Guard Rails

What process is used to identify potential countermeasures? 

• Crash data analysis

• Data-driven safety analysis tools (HSM, CMF Clearinghouse, SafetyAnalyst, usRAP)

• Engineering Study

• Road Safety Assessment

• SHSP/Local road safety plan

• Stakeholder input

Does the State HSIP consider connected vehicles and ITS technologies? 

Yes

Describe how the State HSIP considers connected vehicles and ITS technologies. 

The Puerto Rico HSIP considers connected vehicles and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) as 

innovative technologies that will promote a reduction of crashes with its capabilities and performance. If a 

safety project recommends ITS technology as part of the proposed countermeasures, PRHTA will propose the 

use of HSIP funds for the development and implementation of the technology that will promote a reduction of 

crashes with its capabilities and performance (i.e., traffic signal, dynamic message sign, TMC). The 

implementation of connected vehicles is not as advanced as ITS technologies in Puerto Rico, but as these 

technologies are included in the Puerto Rico’s Regional ITS Architecture the Puerto Rico HSIP will support 

their implementation. Many of these advanced technology applications can be found on the CMF 

Clearinghouse, or through other research papers, which provides additional tools for analysis. PRHTA’s focus 
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is to actively manage the transportation system to maximize safety, security, mobility, and return on investment 

for the benefit of customers.

Does the State use the Highway Safety Manual to support HSIP efforts?

Yes

Please describe how the State uses the HSM to support HSIP efforts.

The PRHTA used the HSM as a reference to develop current procedures to determine the high crash 

locations, perform the Before and After studies, and develop the Puerto Rico Crash Modification Factors 

database. The PRHTA methodology for determining the high crash locations (HCL Report) includes a Crash 

Cost Factor (CCF) and a Frequency Index (FI), corresponding to the Crash Rate and Severity Index presented 

in the HSM.

The PRHTA have not been able to use the HSM in the full extends because the KABCO injury classification 

was not implemented, and the traffic data was very limited. However, since 2019, the new crash form, PPR621.4, provides the necessary fields for the police officer to fill out the form at the scene of a crash. PPR-621.4 

allows the police officer to analyze and identify the severity of the crash and classify it in one (1) of the five (5) 

classifications according to KABCO. This effort has been led by the PRTSC and the Puerto Rico Police 

Department, where they have been able to obtain technical personnel for the analysis of the new digital crash 

form and its compliance with the MMUCC; They have also managed to obtain funds for the purchase of tablets 

for traffic patrols and the training of police officers for the proper use and implementation of this effort. This 

entire process has been implemented in a phased manner and it has taken time for the new processes to 

mature and the staff to get used to completing the new crash form. This being the case, the PRHTA-HSIP 

team is in constant communication with the TRCC to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the 

classifications of crashes made by police officers. It is contemplated that during the SHSP 2019-2023 cycle, 

the PRHTA could use the crash severity data provided in PPR-621.4.

The crash costs used for determining the CCF and for the justification of highway safety improvement projects 

are those included in the HSM. Currently, the process for performing the Before and After studies was based 

on the process contained in the HSM, except for those elements that were limited by the local available data. 

PRHTA participated in the Data-Driven Safety Analysis FHWA Initiative.

Describe other aspects of the HSIP methodology on which the State would like to 

elaborate.

As part of the methodology of the HSIP, the PRHTA’s SHSP team has actively participated in meetings and 

technical events to integrate the effort among the 4Es of highway safety in the pasts 5 years. One of the main 

HSIP support to the safety stakeholders was related to the Puerto Rico Police digital crash form (PPR-621.4). 

During 2019, the goal of start implementing the digital form was achieved, thus during 2020, Puerto Rico is 

transitioning to a more accurate and modern crash data collection system. This effort will help the PRHTA to 

perform a faster and accurate crash data analysis. Also, the PRHTA had promoted the new SHSP 2019-2023 

emphasizing in achieving an historical reduction in the percent of pedestrian fatalities of less than 30%. By 

providing technical support to the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission (PRTSC or GHSO), a pedestrian 

safety task force is currently being developed. Other activities supported by the HSIP methodology includes 

following up on the SHSP Action Plan with the key safety stakeholders. In addition, the HSIP supports and 

shares, through the SHSP efforts, the educational campaigns of the PRTSC. In terms of technical activities, 

PRHTA performed a pedestrian RSA targeted to the Spectacular 7 initiatives of STEP.
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Project Implementation

Funds Programmed

Reporting period for HSIP funding.

Calendar Year

Enter the programmed and obligated funding for each applicable funding category.

FUNDING CATEGORY PROGRAMMED OBLIGATED % 

OBLIGATED/PROGRAMMED

HSIP (23 U.S.C. 148) $26,125,000 $29,539,203 113.07%

HRRR Special Rule (23 

U.S.C. 148(g)(1))

$0 $0 0%

Penalty Funds (23 U.S.C. 

154)

$1,900,000 $1,901,423 100.07%

Penalty Funds (23 U.S.C. 

164)

$1,900,000 $1,900,946 100.05%

RHCP (for HSIP 

purposes) (23 U.S.C. 

130(e)(2))

$0 $0 0%

Other Federal-aid Funds 

(i.e. STBG, NHPP)

$0 $1,540,052 0%

State and Local Funds $0 $900,683 0%

Totals $29,925,000 $35,782,307 119.57%

How much funding is programmed to local (non-state owned and operated) or tribal 

safety projects?

$0

How much funding is obligated to local or tribal safety projects?

$0

How much funding is programmed to non-infrastructure safety projects?

$3,362,500

How much funding is obligated to non-infrastructure safety projects?

$2,805,929

The SEGURO program provides timely and proactive road assistance to improve highway safety in the San 

Juan Metropolitan Area. Since the inception of this program, the incident response time in their coverage area 

reduced due to the constant patrolling of these units. The SEGURO program is managed through the Traffic 

Management Center. SEGURO provides safety during traffic incidents by implementing safety devices, change 

tires and support first responders while assisting traffic incidents. One important aspect of the SEGURO 
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Program is that it allowed the PRHTA’s TSM&O Program to advance from the traffic incident monitoring stage 

to the response stage by providing a dedicated service for responding directly traffic incidents with equipped 

vehicles. There have been several accounts in which the SEGURO Program has saved the life of travelers that 

could have been impacted by vehicles while waiting on the side of the road for towing, and most of the time 

SEGURO units are the first responders to arrive at the scene to provide protection. By implementing programs 

such as SEGURO, which is part of the quick incident clearance strategies of PRHTA, the probability of the 

occurrence of a secondary crash decreases. The likelihood of a secondary crash increases by 2.8% for each 

minute the primary incident continues to be a hazard, a quick clearance means there will be less chance of 

secondary crashes occurring.

How much funding was transferred in to the HSIP from other core program areas 

during the reporting period under 23 U.S.C. 126?

$0

How much funding was transferred out of the HSIP to other core program areas during 

the reporting period under 23 U.S.C. 126?

$0

Discuss impediments to obligating HSIP funds and plans to overcome this challenge in 

the future.

There were no major impediments to obligate the HSIP funds in this period.

Describe any other aspects of the State’s progress in implementing HSIP projects on 

which the State would like to elaborate. 

PRHTA is developing a highway safety culture by including highway safety improvement in all projects 

independently of the project scope and the corresponding allocated program. This methodology includes: 

selecting several design consultants, develop PS&E in expedite manner, evaluate the division of projects in 

phases (as possible) to reduce construction time and risk, and promoted an aggressive bid program. Also, at 

the end of 2018, Puerto Rico selected the Every Day Counts’ Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) 

initiative to identify countermeasures in order to reduce the pedestrian fatalities due to traffic crashes. This 

action will encourage the PRHTA to evaluate projects aimed at pedestrian facilities as part of the HSIP 

investment.

Also, the highway safety patrol program, known as SEGURO, for its Spanish acronym, provides to the Traffic 

Management Center reliable data in terms of traffic incidents and roadway conditions. Through this program it 

is collected incident timeline data, including incident response time, roadway clearance time, incident 

clearance time, among other data such as incident type, lanes blocked, incident location and responders on 

scene. All these data is analyzed to monitor the performance of the roadway safety and to promptly identify if 

there is a safety concern along the roadway system. The SEGURO program started in 2017 covering 45 miles 

on four freeways/expressways in the San Juan Metropolitan Area. Since then, the program has expanded and 

increased their coverage area to 75 miles. This service is part of the PRHTA’s Traffic Incident Management 

Program, which is regulated by FHWA.
 

 

 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

General Listing of Projects 

List the projects obligated using HSIP funds for the reporting period. 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

State 

Planning and 

Research 

Program 

2019-2020 

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous -

other 

1 Environmental 

Planning and 

Support 

$500000 $16046960.73 Other 

Federal-aid 

Funds (i.e. 

STBG, 

NHPP) 

N/A N/A 0 0 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Not 

Aplicable 

Not Aplicable 

ITS Field 

Devices for 

Incident 

Management 

Traveler at 

PR-52, PR-18 

Municipalities 

of Caguas 

and San Juan 

Advanced 

technology and 

ITS 

Advanced 

technology and 

ITS - other 

13.4 Miles $1570245.35 $12779595.35 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialInterstate 100,142 65 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Negligent 

Driving 

Promote the use 

of ITS to support 

negligent driving 

enforcement. 

Safety 

Improvements 

Highway PR66, 

Kilometers: 

0.00 to 20.00, 

Carolina, 

Canovanas 

and Rio 

Grande 

Roadside Roadside - other 12.4 Miles $185654.7 $11983522.5 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Rural Principal ArterialInterstate 30,050 65 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-115 from 

Km 10.84 to 

Km 20.4, 

Muicipalities 

of RincónAguada 

Roadside Roadside - other 5.9 Miles $1423.4 $2795100 Penalty 

Funds (23 

U.S.C. 154) 

Urban Minor Arterial 8,850 30 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-116 from 

Km 3.00 to 

14.00, 

Municipality of 

Lajas 

Roadside Roadside - other 6.8 Miles $946 $6696999.1 Penalty 

Funds (23 

U.S.C. 164) 

Rural Principal ArterialOther 6,800 25 City or 

Municipal 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

Page 14 of 40 
 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

area in

accordance with

current 

standards. 

Scenic Walk

for Bicycle

and 

Pedestrian 

Route PR4413, 

Municipality of

Rincón 

Pedestrians and

bicyclists 

On road bicycle

lane 

3.8 Miles $49846.75 $6522791.95 HSIP (23

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Local Road or

Street 

500 25 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Pedestrians Improve the 

highway 

infrastructure to 

accommodate 

people who are 

walking. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvement 

Program PR183 From Km. 

0.00 to Km. 

10.00, 

Municipalities 

of Caguas 

and San 

Lorenzo 

Roadside Roadside - other 6.21 Miles $818872.47 $8532071.9 Other 

Federal-aid 

Funds (i.e.

STBG, 

NHPP) 

Urban Minor Arterial 13,169 35 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvement 

Program PR203 From Km. 

0.00 to Km.

7.10, 

Municipalities 

of San

Lorenzo and

Gurabo 

Roadside Roadside - other 4.4 Miles $8573468.58 $13661645.14 HSIP (23

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 21,400 25 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-152 

Kilometers: 

0.00 to 11.25, 

Barranquitas 

Naranjito 

Roadside Roadside - other 6.9 Miles $1977980.67 $1980001 HSIP (23

U.S.C. 148) 

Rural Minor Arterial 11,760 25 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to

remove and/or

shield fixedobjects located

within roadside

clear recovery 

area in

accordance with

current 

standards. 

Page 15 of 40 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-152 from 

km 11.50 to 

13.65, 

Municipalities 

of 

BarranquitasNaranjito 

Roadside Roadside - other 1.3 Miles $1407166.2 $1418716.2 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Rural Minor Arterial 12,800 35 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Connector 

between 

Highway PR119 and 

Ramón Rivera 

Street, 

Municipality of 

Las Marias 

Roadway Roadway - other 1 Locations $622039.25 $13340000 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Minor Arterial 17,243 25 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Not 

Aplicable 

Not Aplicable 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-167 from 

Km 0.0 to 9.0, 

Municipalities 

of ComeríoNaranjitoBayamón 

Roadside Roadside - other 5.6 Miles $1185990.47 $5233795.77 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Minor Arterial 6,800 25 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

PR-173, Km. 

0.0 to Km. 9.0 

Municipalities 

of Cidra -

Aibonito 

Roadside Roadside - other 5.6 Miles $417002.75 $3428062.45 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Rural Major Collector 9,125 35 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

on PR-176 

from Km 0 to 

Km 4 

Roadway signs 

and traffic 

control 

Roadway signs 

and traffic control 

- other 

2.5 Miles $3165451 $4943160 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 17,800 35 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

Page 16 of 40 
 

 

 

 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Traffic 

Congestion 

Management 

Project 

Dynamic Toll 

Lanes Phase 

III, Unit 2, PR18 

Municipality of 

San Juan 

Roadway Roadway 

widening - travel 

lanes 

0.9 Miles $505332 $5836533.84 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialInterstate 35,775 55 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Not 

Aplicable 

Not Aplicable 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

on PR-8 from 

Km 0.0 to Km 

4.6 

Roadside Roadside - other 3 Miles $265495.25 $13425580.87 Penalty 

Funds (23 

U.S.C. 164) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther Freeways & 

Expressways 

35,775 45 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Pedestrians Improve the 

highway 

infrastructure to 

accommodate 

people who are 

walking. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

on PR-8 from 

Km 0.0 to Km 

4.6 

Roadside Roadside - other 3 Miles $2414714.18 $13425580.87 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 35,775 40 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

on PR-8 from 

Km 0.0 to Km 

4.6 

Roadside Roadside - other 3 Miles $1900000 $13425580.87 Penalty 

Funds (23 

U.S.C. 154) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 35,775 40 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvements 

Roadside Roadside - other 3 Miles $1634504.75 $13425580.87 Penalty 

Funds (23 

U.S.C. 164) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 35,775 40 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

Page 17 of 40 
 

 

 

 

 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

on PR-8 from 

Km 0.0 to Km 

4.6 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Traffic Signal 

System 

Highway PR2, From PR493 to Antonio 

Gonzalez 

Street, 

AreciboHatillo 

Roadway signs 

and traffic 

control 

Roadway signs 

and traffic control 

- other 

3.8 Miles $328482.5 $5165283.7 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther 18,914 45 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Negligent 

Driving 

Include 

engineering 

countermeasures 

that discourage 

speeding and 

other negligent 

driving actions. 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvement 

Program PR183 From Km. 

0.00 to Km. 

10.00, 

Municipalities 

of Caguas 

and San 

Lorenzo 

Roadside Roadside - other 6.21 Miles $2756472.4 $8532071.9 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Minor Arterial 13,169 35 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Lane 

Departure 

Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Construction 

of Pedestrian 

Bridge at 

Highway PR181 

Kilometer: 

0.50 

Intersection 

with Julio 

Andino Street, 

Los Prados 

Development, 

San Juan 

Pedestrians and 

bicyclists 

Pedestrian bridge 1 Bridge $2294606.65 $7041216.97 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther Freeways & 

Expressways 

16,300 45 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

Pedestrians Improve the 

highway 

infrastructure to 

accommodate 

people who are 

walking. 

RFP for 

Consultant 

Services for 

Puerto Rico 

Strategic 

Highway 

Miscellaneous SHSP 

Development 

1 SHSP 

Contract 

$221179.2 $4985679.2 Other 

Federal-aid 

Funds (i.e. 

STBG, 

NHPP) 

N/A N/A 0 0 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Systematic 

Approach 

SHSP Implement 

engineering 

measures to 

remove and/or 

shield fixedobjects located 

within roadside 

Page 18 of 40 
 

 

2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program 

PROJECT 

NAME 

IMPROVEMENT 

CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY OUTPUTS OUTPUT TYPE 

HSIP 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

TOTAL 

PROJECT 

COST($) 

FUNDING 

CATEGORY 

LAND 

USE/AREA

TYPE 

FUNCTIONAL 

CLASSIFICATION AADT SPEED OWNERSHIP 

METHOD 

FOR SITE 

SELECTION 

SHSP 

EMPHASIS 

AREA 

SHSP 

STRATEGY 

Safety Plan 

(SHSP) 

clear recovery 

area in 

accordance with 

current 

standards. 

Highway 

Service Patrol 

Operation and 

Incident Data 

Collection and 

Reporting for 

Highways PR18, PR-26, 

PR-52 and 

PR-30 

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous -

other 

75 Miles $2084750 $11564593.74 HSIP (23 

U.S.C. 148) 

Urban Principal ArterialOther Freeways & 

Expressways 

207,440 55 State 

Highway 

Agency 

Crashes and 

Incidents 

Management 

Emergency 

Medical 

Services 

Continue the 

educational 

programs and 

training to 

enforcement and 

emergency 

response 

personnel for 

crashes and 

incident 

management. 

Page 19 of 40 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 20 of 40

Safety Performance

General Highway Safety Trends

Present data showing the general highway safety trends in the State for the past five 

years.

PERFORMANCE 

MEASURES 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Fatalities 366 344 304 310 279 290 308 289 242

Serious Injuries 5,551 3,705 4,040 4,199 4,267 3,024 4,290 5,377 4,106

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

1.970 1.850 2.090 2.130 1.920 1.930 1.950 1.968 1.675

Serious injury rate (per 

HMVMT)

29.878 19.925 27.775 28.851 29.298 20.147 28.562 36.610 28.419

Number nonmotorized fatalities128 98 107 112 98 108 125 109 72

Number of nonmotorized serious 

injuries

631 431 478 400 369 248 418 662 493
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 21 of 40

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Fatalities 5 Year Rolling Avg.

Annual Fatalities

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Serious Injuries 5 Year Rolling Avg.

Annual Serious Injuries
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 22 of 40

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Fatality rate (per HMVMT) 5 Year Rolling Avg.

Fatality rate (per HMVMT)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Serious injury rate (per HMVMT) 5 Year Rolling Avg.

Serious injury rate (per HMVMT)
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 23 of 40

Describe fatality data source.

FARS

The Puerto Rico HSIP Administration uses the Puerto Rico FARS database, provided by the PRTSC. This 

database is monitored and administered by the TRCC work team within the PRTSC, who in turn coordinate 

with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Institute of Forensic Sciences. This coordination occurs daily, 

where the status of deaths due to traffic crashes is updated and it seeks to comply with parameters established 

by NHTSA.

To the maximum extent possible, present this data by functional classification and 

ownership.

Year 2020

Functional 

Classification

Number of Fatalities

(5-yr avg)

Number of Serious 

Injuries

(5-yr avg)

Fatality Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Serious Injury Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Rural Principal 

Arterial (RPA) - 

Interstate

0 0 0 0

Rural Principal 

Arterial (RPA) - Other 

Freeways and 

Expressways

Rural Principal 

Arterial (RPA) - Other

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Fatalities Serious Injuries 5 Year Rolling Avg.

Non Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 24 of 40

Functional 

Classification

Number of Fatalities

(5-yr avg)

Number of Serious 

Injuries

(5-yr avg)

Fatality Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Serious Injury Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Rural Minor Arterial

Rural Minor Collector

Rural Major Collector

Rural Local Road or 

Street

Urban Principal 

Arterial (UPA) - 

Interstate

Urban Principal 

Arterial (UPA) - Other 

Freeways and 

Expressways

Urban Principal 

Arterial (UPA) - Other

Urban Minor Arterial

Urban Minor Collector

Urban Major Collector

Urban Local Road or 

Street
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 25 of 40

Year 2020

Roadways Number of Fatalities

(5-yr avg)

Number of Serious 

Injuries

(5-yr avg)

Fatality Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Serious Injury Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

State Highway 

Agency

281.6 4,212.8 1.89 28.35

County Highway 

Agency

Town or Township 

Highway Agency

City or Municipal 

Highway Agency

State Park, Forest, or 

Reservation Agency

Local Park, Forest or 

Reservation Agency

Other State Agency

Other Local Agency

Private (Other than 

Railroad)

Railroad

State Toll Authority

Local Toll Authority

Other Public 

Instrumentality (e.g. 

Airport, School, 

University)

Indian Tribe Nation

Provide additional discussion related to general highway safety trends.

General highway safety trends in Puerto Rico have shown a decrease in traffic fatalities during the past 30 

years. This decrease has been achieved thanks to constant and consistent road safety education among all 

safety stakeholders. However, in the past years Puerto Rico has faced many challenges in keeping up the 

momentum of the actions.

During 2020, although there was a dramatic drop in fatalities, it was a year where many of the problems that 

affect road safety worsened and were more latent than ever. Things like the loss of police officers patrolling the 

roads and enforcing traffic laws; the lack of education for the application of new technologies that improve 

police enforcement; an enhanced structure for road safety education that helps citizens to support traffic laws 

instead of challenging and disobeying them; and the lack of trained medical response personnel for traffic 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 26 of 40

crashes and the decrease in the ambulance coverage area. Many of these challenges interfere with the 

proposed goals of the road safety delegates in Puerto Rico. However, the different allies in road safety 

continue to fight against traffic crashes. 

Safety Performance Targets

Safety Performance Targets

Calendar Year 2022 Targets *

Number of Fatalities:284.8

Describe the basis for established target, including how it supports SHSP goals.

The database used to forecast the number of fatalities was the Puerto Rico FARS Database. The years 

considered during the analysis were from 2008 to 2020. To obtain the safety performance target of the number 

of fatalities for 2022, several trendline options were evaluated (i.e., exponential, linear, logarithmic, polynomial, 

and power). A new step to analyze the traffic fatalities was implemented. The new step was to perform a 

regression analysis using the total of traffic fatalities per year versus the traffic fatalities per month per year and 

find what coefficients had more correlation to the total traffic fatalities based on historic data. This regression 

analysis was performed with Minitab and Microsoft Excel software. The main reason to take this additional step 

was to have a more accurate prediction of the traffic fatalities in 2021 and 2022 due to several outliers in the 

data from 2020. This analysis has the following parameters:

• Total number of traffic fatalities: y = 87.9 + 2.532*February fatalities + 2.181*March fatalities + 

1.463*July fatalities + 0.757*October fatalities + 1.108*November fatalities + 0.958*December fatalities

o The P-Value for each coefficient in the regression formula was less of 5%, inside the parameter 

of confidence.

o The P-Values for each parameter were: February = 0.000; March = 0.000; July = 0.002; October 

= 0.036; November = 0.008; and December = 0.007.

• The regression analysis was performed using a stepwise selection of terms; α to enter = 0.15 

and α to remove = 0.15.

• It was used a 95% of confidence.

• R-Square = 98.99%

After having selected the linear regression detailed in the last paragraph, the forecast of the number of 

fatalities for 2021 is 306 and for 2022 is 279. This represents a reduction of 3.5% from 2019 to 2022. Thus, the 

5-year moving average safety performance target is 284.8 for 2021. For the FY 2022, the Puerto Rico HSIP 

Implementation Plan is aiming to be more cautious in the identification and selection of project locations.

Number of Serious Injuries:4883.4

Describe the basis for established target, including how it supports SHSP goals.

The databases used to forecast the serious injuries were from the Automobile Accident Compensation 

Administration (ACAA, by its Spanish acronym). The years considered during the analysis were from 2008 to 

2020, for the ACAA Database. The Serious Injury forecast was based on the forecasted number of people 

transported in ambulance from the crash scene, using the 5-year moving average. After having selected a 

polynomial (2 degree) trendline of y = 52.254x2 - 987.85x + 8646.3 serious injuries, the 2022 Serious Injury 

was forecasted to 5,586. Thus, the 5-year moving average safety performance target for 2022 is 4,883.4.
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 27 of 40

Fatality Rate:1.949

Describe the basis for established target, including how it supports SHSP goals.

The vehicles miles traveled (VMT) in Puerto Rico has been decreasing since 2013 until 2020 (except 2015), at 

a rate of 1.6% per year. The PRHTA had had some challenges in the traffic data collection. But this steady 

decrease is currently being evaluated by the PRHTA officials and performing an aggressive traffic data 

collection statewide to enhance the available data. The databases used to forecast the fatality rate were from 

the Puerto Rico FARS Database and the values of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reported by the PRHTA. 

The years considered during the analysis were from 2013 to 2020 for the Puerto Rico FARS Database and for 

the VMT. The fatality rate forecast was based on the forecasted number of HMVMT for 2021 and 2022, using 

several trend line options (i.e., exponential, linear, logarithmic, polynomial, and power). After having selected a 

logarithmic trend line of a logarithmic trend line of y=-2x10^5 ln(x)+4x10^7 with a R2=3.4% for the VMT, the 

2021 and 2022 fatality rate was forecasted to 2.119 and 1.933, respectively. This represents a reduction of 

1.8% from 2019 to 2022. Thus, the 5-year moving average safety performance target is 1.949 for 2022.

Serious Injury Rate:33.465

Describe the basis for established target, including how it supports SHSP goals.

The vehicles miles traveled (VMT) in Puerto Rico has been decreasing since 2013 until 2020 (except 2015), at 

a rate of 1.6% per year. The PRHTA had had some challenges in the traffic data collection. But this steady 

decrease is currently being evaluated by the PRHTA officials and performing an aggressive traffic data 

collection statewide to enhance the available data. The databases used to forecast the serious injuries rate 

were from the Automobile Accident Compensation Administration (ACAA, by its Spanish acronym) and the 

values of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reported by the PRHTA. The years considered during the analysis 

were from 2011 to 2020, for the ACAA Database, and from 2013 to 2020, for the VMT, as shown in Figure 11. 

The Serious Injury rate forecast was based on the forecasted number of people transported in ambulance from 

the crash scene, using the 5-year moving average, and VMT for 2022. Also, it was analyzed several trendline 

options (i.e., exponential, linear, logarithmic, polynomial, and power) to forecast the 2022 Serious Injury rate. 

After having selected a logarithmic trendline of y=-2x10^5 ln(x)+4x10^7 with a R2=3.4% for the VMT, the 2021 

and 2022 Serious Injury rate was forecasted to 35.03 and 38.70, respectively. Thus, the 5-year moving 

average safety performance target is 33.465 for 2022.

Total Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries:672.2

Describe the basis for established target, including how it supports SHSP goals.

The databases used to forecast the non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries were from the Puerto Rico 

FARS Database and from the Automobile Accident Compensation Administration (ACAA, by its Spanish 

acronym). The years considered during the analysis were from 2008 to 2020, for both databases. For the 

number of fatalities, a linear regression was chosen (this trendline is detailed at the beginning of this section) 

and, for the number of serious injuries, a polynomial (2 degree) trendline of y = 52.254x2 - 987.85x + 8646.3 

was selected. Then, using those forecasts (trendlines), it was analyzed the average annual distribution 

between the non-motorized serious injuries; founding that, in average, they represent a 12% of the total 

serious injuries. Thus, after having analyzed all the annual distribution and overall behavior, the 2021 and 2022 

forecast for the non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries are set to 710 and 772, respectively. The 2022 

forecast for the 5-year moving average non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries is 672.2.
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

Page 28 of 40

Describe efforts to coordinate with other stakeholders (e.g. MPOs, SHSO) to establish 

safety performance targets. 

During this reporting period, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed must coordination efforts with the 

stakeholders to establish the safety performance targets. Nevertheless, the PRHTA Safety Division, along with 

the new consultant’s team, coordinate with the PRTSC Federal Program Manager to analyze and defined the 

safety performance targets for the 2022. This coordination took place in June 2021. These coordination efforts 

basically consisted on several meetings where the PRTSC discussed its goals and targets of theirs Highway 

Safety Plan (HSP) with the PRHTA team, and discussed every single performance measure to be reported to 

the NHTSA. Then, the PRHTA team perform a thorough statistical analysis with the crash data reported from 

the PRDTPW and the fatalities from the Puerto Rico FARS (provided by the PRTSC). The results of the 

statistical analysis were discussed between all the teams and decide the values to submit in the HSP and the 

HSIP. PRHTA will coordinate in 2022 with the Puerto Rico MPO the approval of the 2022 safety performance 

targets.

Does the State want to report additional optional targets? 

No

Not Applicable.

Describe progress toward meeting the State’s 2020 Safety Performance Targets (based 

on data available at the time of reporting). For each target, include a discussion of any 

reasons for differences in the actual outcomes and targets.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES TARGETS ACTUALS

Number of Fatalities 292.0 281.6

Number of Serious Injuries 3983.0 4212.8

Fatality Rate 1.913 1.889

Serious Injury Rate 26.082 28.607

Non-Motorized Fatalities and 

Serious Injuries

445.0 540.4

During 2020, two (2) out of five (5) safety targets were met. The number of fatalities and fatality rate met the 

targets, decreasing a 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively. On the other hand, the performance measures for serious 

injuries, serious injury rate, and non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries does not meet the target, 

increasing a 5.8%, 8.7%, and 18.7%, respectively.

Number of fatalities

The annual number of fatalities for the 2020 was reduce to 242, representing a 16.3% decrease from 2019, 

this being the lowest number in the history of fatalities due to car crash events. In addition, comparing the 5-

year moving average, there was a change from 295.2 in 2019 to 281.6 in 2020, representing a decrease of 

4.6%.

This outcome was not expected nor contemplated in any internal analysis. However, the 2020 results are 

directly related to the repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the main reasons for this drastic 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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reduction in fatalities is that the government of Puerto Rico promoted through executive orders the total 

lockdown of public and private establishments during the months of April and May. Then, the executive orders 

were made more flexible during the rest of 2020, creating a de-escalation effect for the lockdown restrictions. 

The overall effect of the lockdown was that far fewer people were driving on the country's highways; therefore, 

the chances of crashes were drastically reduced.

Number of Serious Injuries

The annual number of serious injuries for 2020 reported from the ACAA was 4,106, representing a 23.6% 

decrease from 2019 to 2020. But, when comparing the 5-year moving average from 2017 to 2020, it was 

observed an increase in serious injuries of +3.0% between 2017 and 2018, an increase of +6.7% 

between 2018 and 2019, and a reduction of -0.4% between 2019 and 2020. These numbers show us that the 

serious injuries in Puerto Rico are on the rise at a steady pace since 2017.

The reasons for the annual decrease in number of serious injuries between 2019 and 2020 are basically the 

same as for the number of fatalities. But for the past years, the increase in serious injuries may have different 

reasons that are affecting the compliance with the Safety Performance Targets, such as:

• More drivers are speeding. Due to recent highways safety improvements projects (i.e., pavement 

rehabilitation, update of guardrails, replacement of traffic signing, etc.), drivers are more comfortable 

speeding and hence disobey traffic laws. This has an effect of increasing the driver’s probabilities to 

have a crash with serious injuries. 

• The trendline analysis selected in the 2019 HSIP Annual Report described a logarithmic 

behavior, and the forecast was set to a decrease of serious injuries. The logarithmic trendline 

analysis was performed using data from 2008 to 2018. This set of data included the serious injuries of 

2013 (3,705) and 2017 (3,024), but those results should had been adjusted to reflect the effects of 

several events (i.e., Hurricane María). This is because, for several months in 2017, the crashes 

decreased due to the aftermath of Hurricane María. Then, in 2018 (4,290) and 2019 (5,377) the number 

of serious injuries increased. These could be related to the regression-to-the-mean behavior of the 

data, but must importantly, the possible appearance of a new traffic crash behaviors. When the data 

from 2008 to 2020 are analyzed, it seems that a polynomial trendline forecast could fit better

• The prevention of crashes and law enforcement are more difficult to implement. This can be due 

to several reasons. First, there is a need to reinforce road safety education for the general population. It 

is important to educate drivers on why they should respect, promote, and protect traffic laws rather than 

challenge and discredit them. This lack of education makes the job much more difficult for the police 

trying to enforce traffic laws, which leads to the second point: the lack of resources of the state and 

municipal police. Many of the solutions and/or responses to the high incidence of crashes is the 

enforcement by the police. But police personnel have been on the decline over the past years, causing 

officers to be overworked and unavailable for crash prevention. And third, the use and implementation 

of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies promotes civic responsibility in drivers and partly 

relieves police officers of the time and effort of patrolling and crash prevention. The PRHTA is 

extending their ITS program and Traffic Management Center operations, and by having these tools, the 

PRHTA will aid in providing traffic monitoring and management services to provide a safer roadway 

system.

Fatality rate and serious injury rates

The fatality rate and the serious injury rates were estimated based on HMVMTs reported until 2020. However, 

the PRHTA corrected the units of the HMVMT data from 2015 to 2017. The combined influence of the number 

of fatalities and serious injuries that were registered and the changes in the HMVMT affected the actual results, 

that leads to a non-compliance of the safety targets.

Non-motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries
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The non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries (F+SI) were estimated based on same methodologies 

explain in Question 34. Statistically, the reason for the difference between the targets and actual numbers is 

directly proportional to the results of the trendlines (regressions) chosen. The number of non-motorized 

fatalities decreased from 109 (2019) to 72 (2020), representing a reduction of 33.9%. And the non-motorized 

serious injuries decreased from 662 (2019) to 493 (2020), representing a reduction of 25.5%. On the other 

hand, the 5-year moving average increased from 529.8 (2019) to 540.4 (2020), representing an increase of 

2.0%. After all the numerical comparison, and reviewing the behavior in 2019 and 2020, the main reason for 

differences in the actual outcome and target is mainly related to the trendline analysis selected in the 2019 

HSIP Annual Report. That trendline described a logarithmic behavior and the forecast was set to a decrease of 

serious injuries, but the actual numbers behaved as a polynomial trendline.

Applicability of Special Rules

Does the HRRR special rule apply to the State for this reporting period? 

No

Provide the number of older driver and pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries 65 

years of age and older for the past seven years.

PERFORMANCE 

MEASURES 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Number of Older Driver 

and Pedestrian Fatalities

49 42 55 76 50 96 52

Number of Older Driver 

and Pedestrian Serious 

Injuries

337 402 457 495 514 624 493
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Evaluation 

Program Effectiveness

How does the State measure effectiveness of the HSIP?

• Other-Comparison in the number of fatalities and serious injuries

Based on the measures of effectiveness selected previously, describe the results of 

the State's program level evaluations.

Even when three out of five safety targets for 2020 were not met, the PRHTA worked hard to implement the 

safety improvement projects. The number of serious injuries was not met by 5.8%, the number of nonmotorized fatalities and serious injuries by 18.7%, and the rate of serious injuries by 8.7%. It is our best 

understanding that after hurricanes Irma and María in 2017, the earthquakes and COVID-19 pandemic in 

2020, the Puerto Rico historical crash, fatalities, and serious injuries data patterns changed. Thus, there is a 

before and after September 20, 2017, in terms of highway safety, as well as other impacted areas of the 

society. That is why PRHTA will perform a special HCLR in 2021 to identify specific changes in the pattern of 

high crash locations in Puerto Rico.

What other indicators of success does the State use to demonstrate effectiveness and 

success of the Highway Safety Improvement Program?

• # miles improved by HSIP

• # RSAs completed

• HSIP Obligations

• Increased awareness of safety and data-driven process

Effectiveness of Groupings or Similar Types of Improvements

Present and describe trends in SHSP emphasis area performance measures.

Year 2020

SHSP Emphasis Area Targeted Crash 

Type

Number of 

Fatalities

(5-yr avg)

Number of 

Serious 

Injuries

(5-yr avg)

Fatality Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Serious Injury 

Rate

(per HMVMT)

(5-yr avg)

Lane Departure All 96.2 0.65

Pedestrian All 93.2 0.63
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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Lane Departure Pedestrian

Fatalities

2012-2016 2013-2017 2014-2018 2015-2019 2016-2020

Number of Fatalities 

5 Year Average

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Lane Departure Pedestrian

Serious Injuries

2012-2016 2013-2017 2014-2018 2015-2019 2016-2020

Number of Serious Injuries 

5 Year Average
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0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Lane Departure Pedestrian

Fatality Rate

2012-2016 2013-2017 2014-2018 2015-2019 2016-2020

Fatality Rate (per HMVMT) 

5 Year Average

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Lane Departure Pedestrian

Serious Injury Rate

2012-2016 2013-2017 2014-2018 2015-2019 2016-2020

Serious Injury Rate (per HMVMT) 

5 Year Average
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Project Effectiveness

Provide the following information for previously implemented projects that the State evaluated this reporting period. 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Compliance Assessment

What date was the State’s current SHSP approved by the Governor or designated State representative?

 07/22/2019

What are the years being covered by the current SHSP?

From: 2019 To: 2023

When does the State anticipate completing it’s next SHSP update?

 2024

Provide the current status (percent complete) of MIRE fundamental data elements collection efforts using the table below. 

*Based on Functional Classification (MIRE 1.0 Element Number) [MIRE 2.0 Element Number]

ROAD TYPE *MIRE NAME (MIRE 

NO.)

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - SEGMENT

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - INTERSECTION

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - RAMPS LOCAL PAVED ROADS UNPAVED ROADS

STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE

ROADWAY SEGMENT Segment Identifier 

(12) [12]

100 1.7

Route Number (8) 

[8]

100

Route/Street Name 

(9) [9]

100

Federal Aid/Route 

Type (21) [21]

100

Rural/Urban 

Designation (20) [20]

100 1.7

Surface Type (23) 

[24]

100 1.7

Begin Point 

Segment Descriptor 

(10) [10]

100 1.7

End Point Segment 

Descriptor (11) [11]

100 1.7

Segment Length 

(13) [13]

100

Direction of 

Inventory (18) [18]

100

Functional Class 

(19) [19]

100 1.7
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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ROAD TYPE *MIRE NAME (MIRE 

NO.)

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - SEGMENT

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - INTERSECTION

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - RAMPS LOCAL PAVED ROADS UNPAVED ROADS

STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE

Median Type (54) 

[55]

100

Access Control (22) 

[23]

100

One/Two Way 

Operations (91) [93]

100

Number of Through 

Lanes (31) [32]

100 1.7

Average Annual 

Daily Traffic (79) [81]

100 1.7

AADT Year (80) [82] 100

Type of 

Governmental 

Ownership (4) [4]

100 1.7

INTERSECTION Unique Junction 

Identifier (120) [110]

Location Identifier 

for Road 1 Crossing 

Point (122) [112]

Location Identifier 

for Road 2 Crossing 

Point (123) [113]

Intersection/Junction 

Geometry (126) 

[116]

Intersection/Junction 

Traffic Control (131) 

[131]

AADT for Each 

Intersecting Road 

(79) [81]

AADT Year (80) [82]

Unique Approach 

Identifier (139) [129]

INTERCHANGE/RAMP Unique Interchange 

Identifier (178) [168]

Location Identifier 

for Roadway at 
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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ROAD TYPE *MIRE NAME (MIRE 

NO.)

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - SEGMENT

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - INTERSECTION

NON LOCAL PAVED

ROADS - RAMPS LOCAL PAVED ROADS UNPAVED ROADS

STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE STATE NON-STATE

Beginning of Ramp 

Terminal (197) [187]

Location Identifier 

for Roadway at 

Ending Ramp 

Terminal (201) [191]

Ramp Length (187) 

[177]

Roadway Type at 

Beginning of Ramp 

Terminal (195) [185]

Roadway Type at 

End Ramp Terminal 

(199) [189]

Interchange Type 

(182) [172]

Ramp AADT (191) 

[181]

Year of Ramp AADT 

(192) [182]

Functional Class 

(19) [19]

Type of 

Governmental 

Ownership (4) [4]

Totals (Average Percent Complete): 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.70 0.00 0.00 0.00

*Based on Functional Classification (MIRE 1.0 Element Number) [MIRE 2.0 Element Number]

Describe actions the State will take moving forward to meet the requirement to have complete access to the MIRE fundamental data elements on all public roads by September 30, 2026.

Over the past 3 years, PRHTA has been able to substantially increase its traffic data collection capacity by hiring two consultants with expertise in traffic data collection. The hiring of these two consultants was the first of multiple efforts 

that PRHTA is making to meet the September 2026 deadline. Currently, with the work of these consultants, some MIRE FDE data has been collected on state highways (i.e., non-local roads) as part of data collection support for HPMS 

compliance. This means that more than 30% for the MIRE FDE had been already collected through the HPMS.

Another of PRHTA's effort has been the development of the Roads Information Management System (RIMS) to comply with the data of the HPMS and with those of MIRE FDE. The RIMS project has been working for the past two years 

with the integration of GIS data of the Puerto Rico highway system. One of the end results of this project will be to have most of the MIRE FDEs available for intersections and ramps. This effort is expected to be completed and available 

by 2022.

Currently the PRHTA is identifying funds to collect the MIRE FDEs that it has not been able to obtain through the efforts of the traffic data consultants and the RIMS project. On June 2021, personnel of the Federal Liaison Office and Road 

Systems Office, both form the PRHTA, had an internal meeting with the Puerto Rico FHWA Puerto Rico Division to discuss the status of the MIRE FDE. In this meeting, the PRHTA informed FHWA that they are in the process of 

identifying all ramps in Puerto Rico with their Unique Identifier. Additionally, the PRHTA established a Data Governance team (known as the Integrated Technical Committee (ITC)). Recently, the ITC completed a Discovery Phase 

assessment. This assessment has information on the different programs that are implemented in PRHTA and their correlation with each other, including MIRE.
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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The actions defined in the MIRE FDE Puerto Rico Action Plan are presented below. Some of them which have been partially fulfilled, while others are still being worked on.

• Perform roadway data gaps assessment. 

• Collect vehicle traffic flow data (AADT), and other MIRE FDE, on state (non-local) and local highways, including ramps and intersections. (Consultants)

• Classify road segments, ramps, and intersections according to their AADT. 

• Develop a roadway data warehouse or database within the PRHTA, including HPMS and MIRE, among others (i.e., MIRE datasets, data sharing protocols, GIS layers for different highway programs, etc.).

• Integration of the MIRE FDE data sets with other databases (i.e., crash database).

• Review the MIRE Action Plan according to the information obtained in this meeting and subsequent agreements.
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Optional Attachments

Program Structure:

Project Implementation:

Safety Performance:

Evaluation:

Compliance Assessment:
2021 Puerto Rico Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Glossary

5 year rolling average: means the average of five individuals, consecutive annual points of data 

(e.g. annual fatality rate).

Emphasis area: means a highway safety priority in a State’s SHSP, identified through a data-driven, 

collaborative process.

Highway safety improvement project: means strategies, activities and projects on a public road 

that are consistent with a State strategic highway safety plan and corrects or improves a hazardous 

road location or feature or addresses a highway safety problem.

HMVMT: means hundred million vehicle miles traveled.

Non-infrastructure projects: are projects that do not result in construction. Examples of noninfrastructure projects include road safety audits, transportation safety planning activities, 

improvements in the collection and analysis of data, education and outreach, and enforcement 

activities.

Older driver special rule: applies if traffic fatalities and serious injuries per capita for drivers and 

pedestrians over the age of 65 in a State increases during the most recent 2-year period for which 

data are available, as defined in the Older Driver and Pedestrian Special Rule Interim Guidance 

dated February 13, 2013.

Performance measure: means indicators that enable decision-makers and other stakeholders to 

monitor changes in system condition and performance against established visions, goals, and 

objectives.

Programmed funds: mean those funds that have been programmed in the Statewide Transportation 

Improvement Program (STIP) to be expended on highway safety improvement projects.

Roadway Functional Classification: means the process by which streets and highways are 

grouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended to provide.

Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP): means a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary plan, based on 

safety data developed by a State Department of Transportation in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 148.

Systematic: refers to an approach where an agency deploys countermeasures at all locations across 

a system.

Systemic safety improvement: means an improvement that is widely implemented based on high 

risk roadway features that are correlated with specific severe crash types.

Transfer: means, in accordance with provisions of 23 U.S.C. 126, a State may transfer from an 

apportionment under section 104(b) not to exceed 50 percent of the amount apportioned for the fiscal 

year to any other apportionment of the State under that section.