Metropolitan Planning Organization Safety Performance Measures

Fact Sheet 

Safety Performance Measures

The Safety Performance Management Measures regulation supports the Highway Safety 

Improvement Program (HSIP) and requires State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning 

Organizations (MPOs) to set HSIP targets for 5 safety performance measures. This document highlights the 

requirements specific to MPOs and provides a comparison of MPO 

and State DOT responsibilities.

How do MPOs establish HSIP targets?

Coordination is the key for all stakeholders in setting HSIP targets. 

Stakeholders should work together to share data, review strategies 

and understand outcomes. MPOs must work with the State DOT. 

MPOs should also coordinate with the State Highway Safety Office,

transit operators, local governments, the FHWA Division Office, 

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) 

Regional Office, law enforcement and emergency medical services

agencies, and others. By working together, considering and 

integrating the plans and programs of various safety stakeholders, MPOs will be better able to understand impacts to 

safety performance to establish appropriate HSIP targets. Coordination should start with the Strategic Highway Safety 

Plan (SHSP). More information on the SHSP is available at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/shsp/. 

HSIP Safety Targets Established by MPOs

1 Number of fatalities

2 Rate of fatalities

3 Number of serious injuries

4 Rate of serious injuries

5 Number of non-motorized fatalities and 

non-motorized serious injuries

MPOs establish HSIP targets by either: 

1. agreeing to plan and program projects so that they contribute toward the accomplishment of the State DOT 

HSIP target or 

2. committing to a quantifiable HSIP target for the metropolitan planning area. 

To provide MPOs with flexibility, MPOs may support all the State HSIP targets, establish their own specific numeric 

HSIP targets for all of the performance measures, or any combination. MPOs may support the State HSIP target for 

one or more individual performance measures and establish specific numeric targets for the other performance 

measures.

If an MPO agrees to support a State HSIP target, the 

MPO would ...

If an MPO establishes its own HSIP target, the MPO 

would...

 Work with the State and safety stakeholders to address 

areas of concern for fatalities or serious injuries within 

the metropolitan planning area

 Coordinate with the State and include the safety 

performance measures and HSIP targets for all public 

roads in the metropolitan area in the MTP (Metropolitan 

Transportation Plan)

 Integrate into the metropolitan transportation planning 

process, the safety goals, objectives, performance 

measures and targets described in other State safety 

transportation plans and processes such as applicable 

portions of the HSIP, including the SHSP

 Include a description in the TIP (Transportation 

Improvement Program) of the anticipated effect of the 

TIP toward achieving HSIP targets in the MTP, linking 

investment priorities in the TIP to those safety targets

 Establish HSIP targets for all public roads in the 

metropolitan planning area in coordination with the State

 Estimate vehicles miles traveled (VMT) for all public 

roads within the metropolitan planning area for rate 

targets

 Include safety (HSIP) performance measures and HSIP

targets in the MTP

 Integrate into the metropolitan transportation planning 

process, the safety goals, objectives, performance 

measures and targets described in other State safety 

transportation plans and processes such as applicable 

portions of the HSIP, including the SHSP

 Include a description in the TIP of the anticipated effect 

of the TIP toward achieving HSIP targets in the MTP, 

linking investment priorities in the TIP to those safety 

targets

FHWA-SA-16-084
Volumes for HSIP Rate Targets: MPOs that establish fatality rate or 

serious injury rate HSIP targets must report the VMT estimate used for such targets, and the methodology used to 

develop the estimate, to the State DOT. For more information on volumes for HSIP rate targets, see 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/processes/tools/technical_guidance/index.cfm. 

Roads addressed by MPO HSIP Targets: HSIP targets cover all public roadways within the metropolitan planning 

area boundary regardless of ownership or functional classification, just as State HSIP targets cover all public roads in 

the State. 

How do MPOs with multi-State boundaries establish HSIP targets?

MPOs with multi-State boundaries must coordinate with all States involved. If an MPO with multi-State boundaries 

chooses to support a State HSIP target, it must do so for each State. For example, an MPO that extends into two 

States would agree to plan and program projects to contribute to two separate sets of HSIP targets (one for each 

State). If a multi-State MPO decides to establish its own HSIP 

target, the MPO would establish the target for the entire

metropolitan planning area. 

When do MPOs need to establish these 

targets?

States establish HSIP targets and report them for the 

upcoming calendar year in their HSIP annual report that is due 

August 31 each year. MPOs must establish HSIP targets 

within 180 days of the State establishing and reporting its

HSIP targets. Since FHWA deems the HSIP reports submitted 

on August 31, MPOs must establish HSIP targets no later than 

February 27 of each year. 

Top 5 Things to Know about MPO HSIP Safety 

Performance Targets

 All MPOs must set a target for each of the 5 HSIP 

Safety Performance Measures

 MPOs may adopt and support the State’s HSIP 

targets, develop their own HSIP targets, or use a 

combination of both

 MPOs must establish their HSIP targets by February 

27 of the calendar year for which they apply

 MPO HSIP targets are reported to the State DOT



MPO HSIP targets are not annually assessed for 

significant progress toward meeting targets; State 

HSIP targets are assessed annually

Where do MPOs report targets?

While States report their HSIP targets to FHWA in their annual HSIP report, MPOs do not report their HSIP targets 

directly to FHWA. Rather, the State(s) and MPO mutually agree on the manner in which the MPO reports the targets to 

its respective DOT(s). MPOs must include baseline safety performance, HSIP targets and progress toward achieving 

HSIP targets in the system performance report in the MTP. 

Whether an MPO agrees to support a State HSIP target or establishes its own HSIP target the MPO would include in 

the MTP a systems performance report evaluating the condition and performance of the transportation system with 

respect to the safety performance targets described in the MTP including progress achieved by the MPO in achieving 

safety performance targets

Assessment of Significant Progress

While FHWA will determine whether a State DOT has met or made significant progress toward meeting HSIP targets, it 

will not directly assess MPO progress toward meeting HSIP targets. However, FHWA will review MPO performance as 

part of ongoing transportation planning process reviews including the Transportation Management Area certification 

review and the Federal Planning Finding associated with the approval of the Statewide Transportation Improvement 

Program. 

FHWA-SA-16-084