Rhode Island

Highway Safety Improvement Program

2013 Annual Report

Prepared by: RI
ii

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. 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.”
iii

Table of Contents

Disclaimer...................................................................................................................................................... ii

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................3

Program Structure ........................................................................................................................................3

Program Administration ...........................................................................................................................3

Program Methodology..............................................................................................................................5

Progress in Implementing Projects.............................................................................................................15

Funds Programmed............................................................................................................................. 15

General Listing of Projects.................................................................................................................. 19

Progress in Achieving Safety Performance Targets....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Overview of General Safety Trends....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Application of Special Rules................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Improvements (Program Evaluation) ..........................................41

SHSP Emphasis Areas............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Groups of similar project types.............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Systemic Treatments ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Glossary.......................................................................................................................................................65
iv
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

1

Executive Summary

The State of Rhode Island, through efforts undertaken by the Rhode Island Department of 

Transportation (RIDOT), has demonstrated itself as a safety champion through actions designed 

to reduce fatalities and serious injuries of all roadway users on its roadways. In recent years, 

RIDOT has revamped their HSIP to align with the Highway Safety Manual methodology, 

identifying local and systemic improvements through this process with the focus on the 

reduction of fatal and serious injuries on all public roads. 

The following are highlights of what RIDOT has accomplished in Fiscal Year 2013 regarding as 

part of the HSIP: 

• Identified locations statewide exhibiting the most severe safety needs using a site-specific and 

systemic approach. 

• Began to enhance RIDOT’s safety decision making process, including enhanced traffic and 

roadway data collection efforts, crash data improvements, and the development of more 

sophisticated project evaluation methods. 

• Performed Road Safety Assessments (RSAs) at 25 locations statewide based on the top 

locations exhibiting the most severe safety needs. 

• Obligated 16 design, data collection, and infrastructure construction projects using HSIP 

safety funds. RIDOT also programmed 13 other infrastructure construction projects that should 

be obligated over the next 2 years. 

• Constructed over 10 miles of median cable/guardrail on limited access facilities with medians 

less than 70 feet wide. 

• Installed enhanced signage, striping and enhanced pedestrian signal equipment 

improvements at 25 locations on Aquidneck Island, including the America’s Cup Avenue in 

Downtown Newport. 

• Replaced 4-lane cross section roadways with a 3-lane cross section with bicycle facilities (aka 

road diet) along Coddington Highway and Memorial Boulevard. 

• Began the construction of a systemic project implementing enhanced unsignalized 

intersection regulatory and warning signage improvements at more than 100 rural intersections 

and improving lane and horizontal curve delineation of over 150 miles of rural roads. 

• Implemented department-wide organizational changes to form the comprehensive Traffic 

Management and Highway Safety section. The HSIP, HSP, and SHSP are now aligned under a 

single Safety Champion focused on consistent safety goals. Safety initiatives are now 

implemented in a more integrated and multi-disciplinary manner, providing RIDOT with more 

flexibility to direct resources to address particular safety needs. 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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• Experienced a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries in the state and their respective crash 

rates, meeting MAP-21 performance requirements. The latest 5-year moving average indicates 

a steady decline in fatalities/ fatality rate, decreasing 10% since 2008. While fatalities have 

slightly decreased over the past few years, serious injuries have decreased by 25% since 2010. 

• Experienced a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries at intersections, a SHSP Emphasis 

Area. While there was a slight decrease in intersection-related fatalities and serious injuries 

between 2009 and 2011, there was a significant decrease in serious injuries occurring at 

intersections in 2012. 

• Experienced a reduction of 50% of all crashes where enhanced horizontal delineation has 

been implemented over the past few years. 

• Experienced a reduction of 35% of all crashes where road diets have been implemented over 

the past 5 years. Specifically, serious injury crashes have been reduced by 50%. 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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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 MAP-21 Reporting Guidance dated February 13, 2013 and consists 

of four sections: program structure, progress in implementing HSIP projects, 

progress in achieving safety performance targets, and assessment of the 

effectiveness of the improvements. 

Program Structure

Program Administration

How are Highway Safety Improvement Program funds allocated in a State? 

Central

District

Other

Describe how local roads are addressed as part of Highway Safety Improvement Program.

Through the RIDOT’s HSIP, all public roads are addressed, focusing on fatal and serious injury 

crashes, in line with their SHSP and the performance measures set forth in MAP-21. Most of the 

State-owned roadway network and some of the local roadways are mapped to a Linear 

Referencing System, however, the majority of the local roadways is not referenced and is 

manually reviewed to ensure their inclusion into the HSIP process. While this method confirms 

that all public roads are addressed, it involves intense manual input and process, making it 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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susceptible to error. As a result, the RIDOT intends to modify the process for planning, 

implementing, and evaluating HSIP funded improvements and its relationship to other safety 

initiatives found in the SHSP. This will ensure that the limited HSIP funds are strategically 

allocated to all roadways (State and local) demonstrating the greatest need. 

Identify which internal partners are involved with Highway Safety Improvement Program planning. 

Design

Planning

Maintenance

Operations

Governors Highway Safety Office

Other: Other-GIS Analysts

Briefly describe coordination with internal partners. 

The RIDOT works internally with transportation planners, design engineers, GIS analysts, safety 

engineers, and maintenance/operations staff to identify critical locations and to select the 

appropriate countermeasures/improvements. These partners were involved in Road Safety 

Assessments (RSAs) that were performed at many of these locations to facilitate this 

multidiscipline approach. 

Identify which external partners are involved with Highway Safety Improvement Program planning. 

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Governors Highway Safety Office

Local Government Association

Other: 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Identify any program administration practices used to implement the HSIP that have changed since 

the last reporting period.

Multi-disciplinary HSIP steering committee

Other: Other-RIDOT implemented department-wide organizational changes to form the 

comprehensive Traffic Management and Highway Safety section. The HSIP, HSP, and SHSP are now 

aligned under a single Safety Champion focused on consistent safety goals. 

Describe any other aspects of Highway Safety Improvement Program Administration on which you 

would like to elaborate.

Program Methodology

Select the programs that are administered under the HSIP. 

Median Barrier Intersection Safe Corridor

Horizontal Curve Bicycle Safety Rural State Highways

Skid Hazard Crash Data Red Light Running Prevention

Roadway Departure Low-Cost Spot Improvements Sign Replacement And 

Improvement

Local Safety Pedestrian Safety Right Angle Crash

Left Turn Crash Shoulder Improvement Segments

Other: 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Program: Intersection

Date of Program Methodology: 10/1/2012

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Traffic Median width

Fatal crashes only Volume Horizontal curvature

Fatal and serious injury 

crashes only

Population Functional classification

Other Lane miles Roadside features

Other-Congestion Other 

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Expected crash frequency with EB adjustment

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

EPDO crash frequency with EB adjustment

Relative severity index

Crash rate

Critical rate

Level of service of safety (LOSS)
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

Excess expected crash frequency with the EB adjustment

Excess expected crash frequency using method of moments

Probability of specific crash types

Excess proportions of specific crash types

Other 

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

Yes

No

If yes, are local road projects identified using the same methodology as state roads?

Yes

No

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Competitive application process

selection committee

Other 

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

Rank of Priority Consideration
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

Incremental B/C

Ranking based on net benefit

Cost Effectiveness

Program: Low-Cost Spot Improvements

Date of Program Methodology: 10/1/2012

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Traffic Median width

Fatal crashes only Volume Horizontal curvature

Fatal and serious injury 

crashes only

Population Functional classification

Other Lane miles Roadside features

Other-Congestion Other 

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Expected crash frequency with EB adjustment

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

EPDO crash frequency with EB adjustment
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Relative severity index

Crash rate

Critical rate

Level of service of safety (LOSS)

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

Excess expected crash frequency with the EB adjustment

Excess expected crash frequency using method of moments

Probability of specific crash types

Excess proportions of specific crash types

Other-Delay/Congestion

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

Yes

No

If yes, are local road projects identified using the same methodology as state roads?

Yes

No

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Competitive application process

selection committee

Other 

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).
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Relative Weight in Scoring

Rank of Priority Consideration

Ranking based on B/C 50

Available funding

Incremental B/C

Ranking based on net benefit

Cost Effectiveness

Reduction in 

Delay/Congestion

50

Program: Pedestrian Safety

Date of Program Methodology: 10/1/2012

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Traffic Median width

Fatal crashes only Volume Horizontal curvature

Fatal and serious injury 

crashes only

Population Functional classification

Other-Pedestrian Lane miles Roadside features

Other Other 

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Crash frequency

Expected crash frequency with EB adjustment

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

EPDO crash frequency with EB adjustment

Relative severity index

Crash rate

Critical rate

Level of service of safety (LOSS)

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

Excess expected crash frequency with the EB adjustment

Excess expected crash frequency using method of moments

Probability of specific crash types

Excess proportions of specific crash types

Other 

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

Yes

No

If yes, are local road projects identified using the same methodology as state roads?

Yes

No

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Competitive application process

selection committee
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Other 

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

Rank of Priority Consideration

Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

Incremental B/C

Ranking based on net benefit

Cost Effectiveness

What proportion of highway safety improvement program funds address systemic improvements? 

20

Highway safety improvment program funds are used to address which of the following systemic 

improvments?

Cable Median Barriers Rumble Strips

Traffic Control Device Rehabilitation Pavement/Shoulder Widening

Install/Improve Signing Install/Improve Pavement Marking and/or 

Delineation

Upgrade Guard Rails Clear Zone Improvements
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Safety Edge Install/Improve Lighting

Add/Upgrade/Modify/Remove Traffic Signal Other 

What process is used to identify potential countermeasures? 

Engineering Study

Road Safety Assessment

Other: 

Identify any program methodology practices used to implement the HSIP that have changed since the 

last reporting period.

Highway Safety Manual

Road Safety audits

Systemic Approach

Other: 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Describe any other aspects of the Highway Safety Improvement Program methodology on which you 

would like to elaborate. 

For the Highway Safety Improvement Project Design Study Program (HSIP DSP), the RIDOT 

identifies all critical safety locations Statewide. Under the program, low-cost improvements 

that can be implemented quickly are favored. In addition, treatments with minimal right-of-way 

and utility impacts (in many cases, upgrades to traffic control devices or to the roadway within 

its existing cross section) receive preference. 

The HSIP DSP reviews all crash types and severity, with the focus on fatal and serious injury 

crashes on all public roads. Locations are identified based on a weighted average of severity 

(using the KABCO scale) and are ranked by functional class. The top locations for each 

functional class are reviewed and addressed, with the total number of locations selected based 

on available funding and improvements planned/recently implemented. Once the top locations 

are chosen by functional class, RSAs are performed to identify countermeasures, and the 

improvements are ranked using the benefit/cost (B/C) ratio method. Under this program, both 

spot improvements and systemic improvements are identified. Systemic improvements that 

have been identified and proposed include cable median barriers on all limited access facilities 

with medians less than 70 feet wide, rumble strips on all limited access facilities and on 

applicable highways with frequent roadway departure histories, signing and striping 

enhancements, and safety edge on some limited access facilities. Proposed improvements are 

implemented though RIDOT work-orders and/or stand-alone projects. Some proposed 

improvements can be incorporated into existing projects. 

For the 2012 reporting period (2009-2011 crash data), the RIDOT has identified the top 

locations exhibiting the most severe safety needs based on crash severity. RIDOT uses crash 

data one year behind (e.g. crash data for 2009-2011 for 2013 reporting period) to allow 

sufficient time to summarize, review, and validate raw crash data to identify and eliminate 

errors.

Rhode Island Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (RISTARS) is a new initiative, 

introduced in 2011, to deliver low-cost and high-benefit safety and mobility improvements. The 

RIDOT identifies all critical safety and congestion locations within a targeted region and works 

with the municipalities to develop a detailed improvement plan for selected locations. Under 

the program, low-cost improvements that can be implemented quickly are favored. In addition, 

treatmentswith minimal right-of-way and utility impacts (in many cases, upgrades to traffic 

control devices or to the roadway within its existing cross section) receive preference. Under 

RISTARS, all crash types and severity are reviewed, identifying locations based on a weighted 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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average of frequency, severity, and congestion delay. Locations are occasionally derived from 

the HSIP Design Study Program list. Local roads were not included in the 2011 program but 

were included in the 2013 program. RSAs are used to identify countermeasures, and the 

improvements are ranked using the B/C ratio method. Under this program, both spot 

improvements and systemic improvements are identified. Systemic improvements that have 

been identified and proposed include signing and striping enhancements and improved 

pedestrian signal equipment (countdown timers) and signage/striping in high pedestrian 

activity corridors. Proposed improvement projects are implemented though RIDOT work-orders 

and/or stand-alone projects and are also incorporated into existing projects. The following is a 

brief description of the RISTARS projects:

RISTARS/Aquidneck Island – In 2011, RISTARS kicked-off with a pilot program on Aquidneck 

Island. Twenty-five intersections were investigated for safety and congestion countermeasures. 

From this report, three separate construction contracts were developed. Contract 1 involved 

mostly short-term signing and striping, as well as enhanced pedestrian signal equipment. This 

contract was completed in Spring 2013. Contracts 2 and 3 involve roadway construction, such 

as enhanced sidewalks and ADA ramps, the addition of bicycle facilities, and the installation of a 

roundabout at an existing signalized intersection.

RISTARS Localized Bottleneck Reduction (LBR) Program – Starting in 2013, the RIDOT 

incorporated the LBR program into RISTARS. As part of this project, 20 freeway segments and 

signalized intersections experiencing fatal and serious injury crashes as well as high 

delay/congestion are being investigated. Mitigation measures range from restriping for 

auxiliary lanes to longer-term projects involving roadway widening. A majority of the locations 

included were identified as part of the HSIP Design Study Program in the past few years. 

The RIDOT has incorporated pedestrian safety into their HSIP planning process. Several 

pedestrian-focused RSAs were performed in 2012 at high fatal and injury crash locations. Local 

roads were included in this process as well. Improvements identified in these RSAs are in the 

design stage and will be either incorporated into existing projects or will be a stand-alone 

project in the upcoming year. In 2012, the RIDOT started the HSIP-targeted program Pedestrian 

Safety in Rhode Island (PedS RI). One of the first objectives of this program was to develop a 

Statewide Vulnerable Safety Action Plan

Progress in Implementing Projects

Funds Programmed

Reporting period for Highway Safety Improvement Program funding.
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Calendar Year

State Fiscal Year

Federal Fiscal Year

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

Funding Category Programmed* Obligated

HSIP (Section 148) 17800000 90 % 15611875 100 %

HRRRP (SAFETEA-LU)

HRRR Special Rule 900000 5 % 0 0 %

Penalty Transfer -

Section 154

Penalty Transfer –

Section 164

Incentive Grants - 

Section 163

Incentive Grants (Section 

406)

Other Federal-aid Funds 

(i.e. STP, NHPP)

1000000 5 % 0 0 %

State and Local Funds

Totals 19700000 100% 15611875 100%
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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How much funding is programmed to local (non-state owned and maintained) safety projects? 

5 %

How much funding is obligated to local safety projects?

15 %

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

0 %

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

34 %

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

period?

$0.00

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

period? 

$0.00
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Discuss impediments to obligating Highway Safety Improvement Program funds and plans to 

overcome this in the future.

The RIDOT has experienced delays in programming and allocating safety funds primarily due to 

the time needed for the consultant procurement process. The delay involved in awarding 

consultant contracts results in HSIP projects being implemented well beyond the timeframe in 

which a safety problem was identified. This has resulted in missed opportunities to prevent 

traffic fatalities and injuries, and may also result in the spending of funds for a problem that is 

no longer prevalent. 

This problem was identified in a 2010 HSIP review in which the RIDOT participated. Since this 

review, the RIDOT conducted a workshop to evaluate the current contract award process and 

has developed mechanisms to streamline a consultant award with priority on safety projects. 

The RIDOT is in the process of soliciting on-call consultants to help administer the HSIP, as well 

as advance projects identified as part of the HSIP process into final design. 

Describe any other aspects of the general Highway Safety Improvement Program implementation 

progress on which you would like to elaborate.
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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General Listing of Projects

List each highway safety improvement project obligated during the reporting period. 

Project Improveme

nt Category 

Output HSIP 

Cost

Total 

Cost

Funding 

Categor

y

Functional 

Classificati

on

AAD

T

Spee

d

Roadway 

Ownershi

p

Relationship to SHSP

Emphasis 

Area

Strategy

RISTARS 

Aquidneck 

Island 

Contract 2

Pedestrians 

and 

bicyclists 

Pedestrian 

signal -

install new 

at 

intersection

15 

Number

s

250000

0

250000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

25 State 

Highway 

Agency

Improving 

the design 

and 

operation of 

highway 

intersection

s

Add Turn 

Lanes, Road 

Diet, 

Enhanced 

Pedestrian 

Facilities

Master Price 

Agreement –

Statewide 

Signs and 

Delineator 

Installation

Roadway 

signs and 

traffic 

control 

Roadway 

signs 

(including 

post) - new 

or updated

100 

Number

s

750000 750000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Keeping 

vehicles in 

the roadway

Enhanced 

Delineation

Highway 

Safety 

Improvemen

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

5 

Number

100000

0

100000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

State 

Highway 

Improving 

the design 

and 

Enhanced 

traffic signal 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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t Project –

Interstate C1 (Old 

HazardElimination)

Intersection 

traffic 

control -

other

s 148) Other Agency operation of 

highway 

intersection

s

equipment

Improvemen

ts to Fruit 

Hill Avenue 

Contract 2

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

Modify 

control -

two-way 

stop to 

roundabout

1 

Number

s

665000 665000 Penalty 

Transfe

r –

Section 

164

Urban 

Minor 

Arterial

Town or 

Township 

Highway 

Agency

Improving 

the design 

and 

operation of 

highway 

intersection

s

Install 

Roundabout

Route 165 

Reclamation 

Contract

Roadway 

delineation 

Roadway 

delineation 

- other

100 

Miles

200000 820000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Rural 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Minimizing 

the 

consequenc

es of leaving 

the road

Install 

Rumble Strips

1R 

Improvemen

ts to Route 

102 Contract 

2

Roadway 

Roadway -

other

5 Miles 250000 268500

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Rural 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Keeping 

vehicles in 

the roadway

Install 

Delineators

Wrong-Way 

Driving 

Mitigation 

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

Intersection 

225 

Number

s

200000

0

200000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

State 

Highway 

Agency

Sustaining 

proficiency 

in older 

Enhanced 

Signing/Stripi

ng Install/ITS 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Contract traffic 

control -

other

Interstate drivers Equipment

2014 HSIP 

Short-Term 

Statewide 

Improvemen

t Contract

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

Intersection 

traffic 

control -

other

20 

Number

s

100000

0

100000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Keeping 

vehicles in 

the roadway

Add Turn 

Lanes, Road 

Diet, and 

Rumble 

Strips, 

Horizontal

Delineation

Highway 

Safety 

Improvemen

t Project –

East Bay C-1 

(Old HazardElimination)

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

Intersection 

traffic 

control -

other

2 

Number

s

150000

0

150000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Improving 

the design 

and 

operation of 

highway 

intersection

s

Enhanced 

traffic signal 

equipment

Highway 

Safety 

Improvemen

t Project –

East Bay C-2 

(Old HazardElimination)

Intersection 

traffic 

control 

Intersection 

traffic 

control -

other

2 

Number

s

500000 500000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

State 

Highway 

Agency

Improving 

the design 

and 

operation of 

highway 

intersection

s

Enhanced 

traffic signal 

equipment

2014 

Highway 

Safety 

Roadway 

Pavement 

surface -

10 

Number

100000

0

100000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

State 

Highway 

Keeping 

vehicles in 

High friction 

surface 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Improvemen

t Project –

High Friction 

Surface 

Treatment

high friction 

surface

s 148) Other 

Freeways 

and 

Expressway

s

Agency the roadway treatment

MIRE Safety 

Data 

Collection 

Project

Noninfrastructur

e 

300000

0

300000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

All 

roadways

All 

roadways

Improving 

information 

and decision 

support 

systems

Enhanced 

safety data

2014-2018 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvemen

t Final 

Design 

Consultants 

(4 Contracts)

Noninfrastructur

e 

260000

0

260000

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

TBD State and 

Local

TBD TBD

Strategic 

Highway 

Safety 

Program 

Support

Noninfrastructur

e 

500000 500000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

All Areas

2015 

Highway 

Safety 

Improvemen

Noninfrastructur

e 

250000 250000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

State and 

Local

Improving 

the design 

and 

operation of 
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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t Project –

Long-Term 

C-1 Final 

Design

Other highway 

intersection

s
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Progress in Achieving Safety Performance Targets

Overview of General Safety Trends

Present data showing the general highway safety trends in the state for the past five years. 

Performance Measures* 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of fatalities 77 77 73 70 69

Number of serious injuries 493 610 679 617 506

Fatality rate (per HMVMT) 0.92 0.93 0.88 0.85 0.85

Serious injury rate (per HMVMT) 6.02 7.39 8.2 7.81 6.4

*Performance measure data is presented using a five-year rolling average.
2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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2013 Rhode Island Highway Safety Improvement Program

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To the maximum extent possible, present performance measure* data by functional classification and ownership. 

Year - 2012

Function Classification Number of fatalities Number of serious injuries Fatality rate (per HMVMT) Serious injury rate (per HMVMT)

RURAL PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - INTERSTATE

1.6 10.2 0.398 2.532

RURAL PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER 

FREEWAYS AND 

EXPRESSWAYS

3.2 21.4 2.518 16.606

RURAL PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER

0 0 0 0

RURAL MINOR 

ARTERIAL

2.2 18.2 1.666 13.814

RURAL MINOR 

COLLECTOR

3 15 1.932 9.57

RURAL MAJOR 

COLLECTOR

0.6 3.2 1.674 8.864

RURAL LOCAL ROAD OR 

STREET

2.8 7.4 12.474 32.904

URBAN PRINCIPAL 7.4 65 0.428 3.746
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ARTERIAL - INTERSTATE

URBAN PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER 

FREEWAYS AND 

EXPRESSWAYS

6.4 43.4 0.526 3.564

URBAN PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER

19 192 0.904 9.122

URBAN MINOR 

ARTERIAL

6.4 106.6 0.62 10.234

URBAN MINOR 

COLLECTOR

2 57.8 0.252 6.996

URBAN MAJOR 

COLLECTOR

0 0 0 0

URBAN LOCAL ROAD 

OR STREET

14.4 40.8 5.014 14.218

OTHER 0 0 0 0

OTHER 0 0 0 0
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Year - 2012

Roadway Ownership Number of fatalities Number of serious injuries Fatality rate (per HMVMT) Serious injury rate (per HMVMT)

STATE HIGHWAY 

AGENCY

0 0 0 0

COUNTY HIGHWAY 

AGENCY

0 0 0 0

TOWN OR TOWNSHIP 

HIGHWAY AGENCY

0 0 0 0

CITY OF MUNICIPAL 

HIGHWAY AGENCY

0 0 0 0

STATE PARK, FOREST, 

OR RESERVATION 

AGENCY

0 0 0 0

LOCAL PARK, FOREST 

OR RESERVATION 

AGENCY

0 0 0 0

OTHER STATE AGENCY 0 0 0 0

OTHER LOCAL AGENCY 0 0 0 0

PRIVATE (OTHER 

THAN RAILROAD)

0 0 0 0
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RAILROAD 0 0 0 0

STATE TOLL 

AUTHORITY

0 0 0 0

LOCAL TOLL 

AUTHORITY

0 0 0 0

OTHER PUBLIC 

INSTRUMENTALITY 

(E.G. AIRPORT, 

SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY)

0 0 0 0

INDIAN TRIBE NATION 0 0 0 0

OTHER 0 0 0 0

OTHER 0 0 0 0
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Describe any other aspects of the general highway safety trends on which you would like to elaborate.

Urban Local roads and Rural Arterials, Collectors, and Local roads have the highest crash rate 

for fatalities and serious injuries. Rural road fatalities and serious injuries in Rhode Island are 

primarily random in nature, making it difficult to identify a “hot-spot”. Therefore, the RIDOT is 

shifting towards more systemic safety projects, including implementing unsignalized intersection 

improvements at more than 100 rural intersections and improving lane delineation of over 150 

miles of rural roads.

Per HSIP reporting guidance, States should report a five-year rolling average of these 

performance measures where possible. The RIDOT was able to report the five-year rolling 

average for fatalities; however, serious injuries were not able to be represented in a five-year 

rolling average and instead are listed on an annual basis. The definition of a serious crash was 

changed prior to 2008 on police reporting forms, resulting in a significance decrease in the 

number of reported serious injuries. In future reports, the RIDOT will begin to report five-year 

rolling averages for both fatalities and serious injuries.

Application of Special Rules

Present the rate of traffic fatalities and serious injuries per capita for drivers and pedestrians over the 

age of 65. 

Older Driver

Performance Measures

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Fatality rate (per capita) 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.12 0

Serious injury rate (per 

capita)

0.27 0.26 0.31 0.18 0

Fatality and serious injury 

rate (per capita)

0.39 0.39 0.43 0.3 0

*Performance measure data is presented using a five-year rolling average.

Calculate Rate for 2011

1. (F+SI 2011 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2011 Population Figure*) + 

(F+SI 2010 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older /2010 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2009 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2009 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2008 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2008 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2007 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2007 Population Figure) / 5
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Calculate Rate for 2009

2. (F+SI 2009 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2009 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2008 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2008 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2007 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2007 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2006 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and older/2006 Population Figure) + 

(F+SI 2005 Drivers and Pedestrians 65 years of age and over/2005 Population Figure/5

Does the older driver special rule apply to your state? 
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Yes

If yes, describe the approach to include respective strategies to address the increase in those rates in 

the State SHSP.

The rate of traffic fatalities and serious injuries per capita for drivers and pedestrians over the age of 65 

has increased between the periods 2005-2009 and 2007-2011; therefore, the older driver special rule 

does apply to Rhode Island. Rhode Island will be addressing Older Drivers in their SHSP. In addition, in FY 

2013, the RIDOT has allocated funding for a Wrong-Way Driving Mitigation systemic project to address 

wrong-way driving on the State’s limited access facilities. National and local studies have shown that 

older drivers are over-represented in fatal and serious crashes resulting from wrong-way driving.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Improvements (Program 

Evaluation)

What indicators of success can you use to demonstrate effectiveness and success in the Highway 

Safety Improvement Program?

None

Benefit/cost

Policy change

Other: Other-Reduction of fatalities and serious injuries
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What significant programmatic changes have occurred since the last reporting period? 

Shift Focus to Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Include Local Roads in Highway Safety Improvement Program

Organizational Changes

None

Other: 
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Briefly describe significant program changes that have occurred since the last reporting period. 

RIDOT is shifting towards more systemic safety projects including installing roadside delineators 

on all limited access facilities, enhancing signage and striping to deter wrong-way driving on 

limited access facilities, unsignalized intersection improvements at more than 100 rural 

intersections, and improved lane delineation of over 150 miles of rural roads.

Programmatic changes include a reorganization that resulted in a Traffic Management and 

Highway Safety section, combining the Traffic Design and the Office of Highway Safety sections.
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SHSP Emphasis Areas
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For each SHSP emphasis area that relates to the HSIP, present trends in emphasis area performance measures. 

Year - 2012

HSIP-related SHSP 

Emphasis Areas

Target 

Crash Type

Number of 

fatalities

Number of 

serious injuries

Fatality rate 

(per HMVMT)

Serious injury rate 

(per HMVMT)

Other1Other2Other3

Keeping vehicles in the 

roadway

Run-offroad

37 154 0.47 1.95 0 0 0

Improving the design 

and operation of 

highway intersections

IntersectionRelated

27 303 0.34 3.83 0 0 0
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Groups of similar project types
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Present the overall effectiveness of groups of similar types of projects.

Year - 2012

HSIP Sub-program 

Types

Target 

Crash Type

Number of 

fatalities

Number of 

serious injuries

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

Serious injury rate 

(per HMVMT)

Other1Other2Other3

Low-Cost Spot 

Improvements

All 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
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Systemic Treatments
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Present the overall effectiveness of systemic treatments.. 

Year - 2012

Systemic 

improvement

Target 

Crash Type

Number of 

fatalities

Number of 

serious injuries

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

Serious injury rate 

(per HMVMT)

Other1Other2Other3

Roadside 

Delineators

Run-offroad

10 22 0 0 0 0 0
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Describe any other aspects of the overall Highway Safety Improvement Program effectiveness on 

which you would like to elaborate. 

RIDOT evaluates HSIP projects and program to see if they are achieving the desired results 

outlined in the SHSP and to continuously improve the HSIP process and future planning. These 

project evaluations provide quantitative estimates of the specific countermeasure, project, or 

group of projects. The results from the evaluation are used to make design and data standards 

changes when performing the HSIP process in following years. 

RIDOT identifies the related SHSP performance measures for each evaluation and measure 

conditions both before and after a change is made. Effectiveness is calculated by comparing the 

observed change in the performance measure with the change that would have been expected if 

the site had not been treated. RIDOT’s current use of observational before/after studies is 

susceptible to regression-to-the-mean (RTM) errors. 

RIDOT is working on moving towards more sophisticated project evaluation methods that 

handle RTM bias and draw more statistically valid conclusions. This included working with the 

University of Rhode Island on the development of calibration factors for Safety Performance 

Functions (SPFs). Using SPFs calibrated for local conditions enabled RIDOT to perform more 

sophisticated project evaluation methods outlined in the HSM. 

The majority of the HSIP programs and projects have only been recently implemented and 

therefore sufficient crash data is not available yet to determine the effectiveness of the safety 

projects RIDOT implemented. 
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Provide project evaluation data for completed projects (optional). 

Location Functional 

Class

Improvement 

Category

Improvement 

Type

BefFatalBefSerious 

Injury

BefOther 

Injury

BefPDOBefTotalAftFatalAftSerious 

Injury

AftOther 

Injury

AftPDOAftTotalEvaluation 

Results 

(Benefit/ 

Cost Ratio)

Interstate 

95

Urban 

Principal 

Arterial -

Interstate

Roadway 

delineation

Roadway 

delineation -

other

2 3 27 44 76 0 2 10 18 30 80/1
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Optional Attachments

Sections Files Attached
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Glossary

5 year rolling average means the average of five individual, 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. 

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.