Nevada

Highway Safety Improvement Program

2016 Annual Report

Prepared by: NV
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 .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Program Structure ........................................................................................................................................ 2

Program Administration ........................................................................................................................... 2

Program Methodology.............................................................................................................................. 8

Progress in Implementing Projects............................................................................................................. 14

Funds Programmed............................................................................................................................. 14

General Listing of Projects.................................................................................................................. 16

Progress in Achieving Safety Performance Targets .................................................................................... 19

Overview of General Safety Trends........................................................................................................ 19

Application of Special Rules.................................................................................................................... 32

Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Improvements (Program Evaluation) ..........................................33

SHSP Emphasis Areas.............................................................................................................................. 35

Groups of similar project types............................................................................................................... 39

Systemic Treatments............................................................................................................................... 44

Project Evaluation....................................................................................................................................... 47

Glossary....................................................................................................................................................... 49
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Executive Summary

This annual Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) report for 2016 summarizes the activities of 

the Nevada Department of Transportation’s HSIP as required by Fixing America’s Surface 

Transportation (FAST) Act. The FAST Act continues the HSIP to achieve a significant reduction in 

traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads and 

roads on tribal lands. The HSIP requires a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety 

on all public roads that focuses on performance (FAST Act § 1113; 23 U.S.C. 148) 

The FAST Act continued to allocate funds for the HSIP program in the Federal Fiscal Years 2016 -

2020. Available program funds for the purpose of this report are considered to be those funds obligated 

during the 2016 federal fiscal year. The activities of the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) 

are primarily designed to develop safety improvement projects for the following areas:

• Systemic roadway improvements

o Safety management plans

 High crash locations (intersections and roadway segments)

o Rural lane departure crash mitigation

o Rural intersection low cost safety improvements

o Urban intersection low cost safety improvements

o Urban lane departure crash mitigation

• Pedestrian related crash mitigation

• Tribal Low Cost Safety Improvements 

The crash data on all public roadways contained in this report is extracted from the Nevada 

Citation and Accident Tracking System (NCATS) and Brazos crash databases, and prepared for 

Traffic Safety Engineering’s analysis as a normalized view. After the crash data is downloaded 

from the NCATS and Brazos databases, it is processed through our geo-location software and is 

linearly referenced to the statewide street centerline data. The geo-location software tools 

automate the cleanup of location attributes and assign a spatial location to the crash data 

through a series of database procedures.

The HSIP program is administered by the NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering section, a centrally 

located component of the NDOT. The methods used by the Traffic Safety Engineering section 
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to identify, select, implement, and evaluate safety improvement projects have been compiled 

in the NDOT’s “Safety Procedural Manual,” implemented in 1980, amended in 1990, 2010, and 

2016. A copy of the current updated NDOT Safety Procedural Manual is located on the NDOT 

website.

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

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

Under the systemic roadway improvements approach, NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering evaluates local 

roads for safety improvements such as Slope Flattening/Shoulder Widening, Flashing Yellow Arrows, 

Rumble Stripes, and turn pockets with acceleration/deceleration lanes on rural highways. We also have 

a project that identifies and evaluates curves on local roads for mitigations such as advanced signage, 

chevrons, and high frictions surfaces. While evaluating rural intersections we are identifying those 

locations where fatalities and serious injuries can be reduced by converting to a roundabout.

During 2016 NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering developed a low-cost safety improvement project with 2 

local tribal agencies; the Te-Moak Tribe Band (which includes Battle Mountain Indian Colony, Elko Indian 
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Colony, South Fork Indian Reservation, and the Wells Indian Colony) and the Duckwater Tribe. The 

safety improvements included enhanced pedestrian lighting, signage, and sidewalk improvements.

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

Design

Planning

Maintenance

Operations

Governors Highway Safety Office

Other-District Offices

Briefly describe coordination with internal partners. 

NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering coordinates with:

1. The NDOT Roadway Design team at many different levels to include, recommend or request the 

inclusion of safety improvements from strategies identified in the Strategic Highway Safety Program 

(SHSP), Road Safety Assessments (RSA), Safety Management Plans (SMPs) or locations identified as 

safety management areas:

• Preliminary Field Design Survey – at this level the team recommends possible improvements to 

include into the project based on the review of field conditions.

• Pre-design – at this level the traffic safety team evaluates the design concepts for the inclusion of 

safety improvements and recommends possible safety improvements to include into the project.

• Intermediate design – at this level the traffic safety team evaluates the preliminary design for the 

inclusion of safety improvements and recommends possible safety improvements to include into the 

project.

• Final design – at this level the traffic safety team evaluates the final design for the inclusion of safety 

improvements.

Also, NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering coordinates with the Roadway Design team to educate them in 

the latest safety strategies and provides guidance regarding safety improvements and ideas. This 

includes the utilization of the strategies included in the SHSP, the HSM and the federal guidelines. To 

enhance this education, HSM training classes were also provided to Traffic Safety and Roadway Design 

staff, both in northern and southern Nevada. This HSM training included Roundabouts, Freeways and 

Interchanges, and the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM). Traffic Safety Engineering 

coordinates with the Roadway Design Scoping section to initiate and recommend safety improvements 

into projects that are currently being evaluated. This coordination with the Scoping team also includes 

the 3R evaluation team when they complete their field reviews for upcoming projects. 

 

2. The NDOT Maintenance/Operations division during RSA’s, SMPs and miscellaneous field reviews.

 

3. The NDOT Planning division at many different levels to provide guidance regarding safety 

improvements in the development of projects and by recommending safety improvements for inclusion 
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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into projects that are in the early stage of development.

 

4. The NDOT Traffic Operations division when developing / implementing safety projects, which includes 

signal design, lighting design, operational analysis of roadway segments and intersections, and 

development and discussion of safety strategies, methodologies and guidelines. Recently, Traffic Safety 

and Traffic Operations are reviewing the possibility of incorporating the Intersection Control Evaluation 

(ICE) as part of our intersection improvement evaluations and Wrong Way Driver countermeasures.

 

5. The Governors Highway Safety Office (The Department of Public Safety - Office of Traffic Safety, OTS). 

Traffic Safety Engineering has been coordinating with the OTS since the inception of the SHSP and has 

funded many behavioral components of the OTS. Because of this long ongoing 

coordination between Traffic Safety Engineering and OTS, the safety messages continue to reach more 

and more road users in the state of Nevada which results in achieving our combined performance 

measures. Because of the importance of this behavioral component and due to the changes in FAST 

Act funding these programs are currently being funded with State Gas Tax funds, until other eligible 

funds can be identified.

 

6. The NDOT District offices to gain knowledge of the locations that are of concern to the district to 

determine if they are being identified as potential safety project locations. 

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

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Governors Highway Safety Office

Local Government Association

Other-Emergency Medical Services

Other-Tribal Agencies

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

the last reporting period.

Other-No change in our program administration practices since 2015

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

would like to elaborate.

Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan:

In 2010, Nevada adopted the “Zero Fatalities” goal, consistent with the national Toward Zero Deaths 

strategy sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Highway Traffic Safety 
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Administration (NHTSA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

(AASHTO), and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). To reach zero fatalities, Nevada 

established an interim goal of one-half of 2008 levels by 2030. At the time of the 2011-2015 SHSP 

update, analysis of statewide crash data indicated that the CEAs should remain the same: Impaired 

Driving, Intersections, Lane Departures, Pedestrians, and Seat Belts (now Occupant Protection). 

In 2014, the SHSP was amended to incorporate the Special User Groups of bicyclists, pedestrians, 

motorcyclists, younger road users and older road users into all CEAs and add Emergency Responders and 

Traffic Incident Management to Emergency Medical Services. In addition, the NECTS approved the sixth 

CEA - Motorcycles - due to the increasing trends in motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries both in 

Nevada and on a national level.

The 2016 Nevada SHSP update process was kicked off in March 2015 when Nevada hosted a 2-day peer 

exchange in Carson City with support from FHWA. Safety professionals from Nevada as well as five other 

states exchanged noteworthy practices and share successes and challenges for Nevada to incorporate 

into the update. Shortly after the peer exchange, NDOT and Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) hosted the 

2015 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit, March 24-25, in Reno, Nevada. Approximately 240 safety 

professionals representing the 4 “E’s” gathered together to develop strategies and action steps for each 

CEA. Attendees were assigned to CEA breakout teams. Each breakout team reviewed the crash data for 

the CEA, and then small teams brainstormed the top strategies and actions. 

After the Traffic Safety Summit, the CEA facilitators, chairs, and vice-chairs summarized the results of 

each CEA breakout session. Over the following months, CEA teams met to determine strategies and 

actions steps for the update. In selecting the final strategies for the plan, the CEA teams: 

• Reviewed current strategies and action steps and determined if any should be carried over to 

the updated plan

• Reviewed results and recommendations from the 2015 Traffic Safety Summit

• Reviewed proven strategies and countermeasures from the National Cooperative Highway 

Research Program (NCHRP) Report 500.

The final strategies and action steps were presented to the SHSP Technical Working Group (TWG) in 

August, 2015. 

Documented in this update are 22 strategies and accompanying actions to continue to reduce crashes, 

and fatal and serious injury crashes. This plan also includes measurable objectives to track the progress 

of each strategy and action step. The Nevada SHSP provides a summary of the emphasis areas and 

strategies that will guide Nevada’s traffic safety efforts over the next five years.

Recurring activities for the SHSP included semi-annual meetings of the Nevada Executive Committee on 

Traffic Safety (NECTS), and quarterly meetings for the SHSP Technical Working Group, six SHSP Critical 

Emphasis Area (CEA) teams, Intersections, Impaired Driving, Occupant protection, Pedestrians, Lane 

departures and Motorcycle’s and the new Safety Data Analysis Team.

Road Safety Assessments (RSA’s)

The RSA program is continuing in Nevada and has been a typical approach by the designer and/or 

planner to request for an RSA on their new projects. There were 10 RSAs performed from January 2015 

to June 2016. The RSAs were primarily performed on 3R preservation projects, capacity projects, 

corridor studies, and Safety Management Plan.
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This Federal Fiscal Year 2016, the RSA program is focused on updating the RSA database. The RSA 

database is a compilation of all the RSA suggestions in one central file that can easily be sorted out 

according to the required data field for use as a design/planning reference by NDOT transportation 

professionals. The RSA database shall identify suggestions that were incorporated in the project or 

implemented by NDOT District Maintenance crews and/or by other using agencies; and also identify 

those suggestions that were not implemented. The compilation is being performed on 123 RSA reports 

that were completed statewide in a 5-year period from February 2010 to November 2014. 

Furthermore, the RSA program statewide will be continuing for FFY 17–18. NDOT just negotiated and 

contracted through Request for Approach with two (2) Service Providers. 

Systemic improvements:

Systemic improvements that were incorporated in the FY2016 HSIP program were: shoulder widening & 

slope flattening on rural two lane highways, median cable barrier rail installations, edge-line and 

centerline rumble stripes, flashing yellow arrow installations. NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering is also 

evaluating the following:

• Conversion of all rural state highway striping from 4” lines to 6” lines as a countermeasure for 

lane departure crashes.

• Incorporating the use of the Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) methodology to determine the 

best intersection type based on safety and efficiency.

Safety Management Plans: a safety focused corridor study

To reduce the number of crashes on Nevada Roadways, the NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering Division 

identified corridors along arterials statewide to implement safety improvements. In order to identify 

corridors for improvement, all reported crashes between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed. For Principal 

Arterials, routes were identified that exceed the statewide average crashes per mile and average severe 

crashes per mile by functional classification when compared to the statewide averages. For Minor 

Arterials, routes were identified that exceed double the statewide average crashes per mile and severe 

crashes per mile by functional classification when compared to the statewide averages. 

Three SMP’s were completed at the following locations: 

• Craig Rd in North Las Vegas (Decatur to 5th)

• Eastern Ave/Civic Center in Las Vegas (Cope to US 95)

• Second St and Arlington Ave in Reno (Keystone to I580 and Court to 6th)

These SMP’s evaluated the needs of all modes of transportation and make recommendations for future 

projects. The purpose of a Safety Management Plan (SMP) was to conduct a safety focused corridor 

study aimed at all road users and to include collaboration with stakeholders and the public. A SMP 

includes the development of short and long range transportation safety improvement projects that 

incorporate relevant studies, access management principles, public and stakeholder input, crash and 

capacity analyses, benefit/cost analysis, and other impacts to all road users. A Technical Advisory 

Committee (TAC) and a Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) were created to help with the development 

of the SMP and to ensure that the plan was consistent with the needs of the many different 
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stakeholders along the project corridor. The SMP process is consistent with the Nevada Strategic 

Highway Safety Plan’s goals of reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on Nevada’s 

roadways.

NDOT Complete Streets Policy

At the direction of NDOT’s Assistant Director of Planning and the Assistant Director of Engineering, a 

Complete Streets Policy was developed by Traffic Safety Engineering Staff for NDOT. The purpose of the 

NDOT Complete Streets policy is to provide guidance for the implementation of complete streets on 

NDOT right-of-way throughout the state. The NDOT Complete Street Policy was developed using the 

guidance from Smart Growth America and in collaboration with local jurisdictions, the Regional 

Transportation Commission’s, (both Washoe and Southern Nevada), and NDOT staff. 

Traffic Safety Engineering Design Services (TSEDs):

The TSEDs were used to design safety improvements identified in RSAs and SMPs. The following list of 

projects were design in 2016 utilizing SEDs:

• SR 28 Pedestrian Safety Improvements in Incline Village, NV*

• Sun Valley Blvd Pedestrian Safety Improvements*

• Lake Mead Blvd Complete Street Design*

• Charleston Blvd Pedestrian Safety Improvements*

• Boulder Hwy at Sun Valley Drive Pedestrian Safety Improvements*

• Te-Moak Tribe Band and Duckwater Tribe Low Cost Safety Improvements

*The design of these projects was completed using HSIP funds, but the construction will be utilizing 

State Gas Tax funds.

Other miscellaneous projects & activities: 

NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering is participating in the funding of a Truck Escape Ramp on SR 431/Mt 

Rose Highway in Washoe County where run-away truck fatalities have occurred. This project is designed 

to reduce truck lane departure crashes. Traffic Safety Engineering is also focusing on work zone safety 

and is evaluating the use of portable/temporary rumble strips in advance of work zones on high speed 

highways.

Highway Safety Manual Implementation: 

The NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering section has been continuing their strategic deployment of the HSM. 

During fiscal year 2016, the following is a summary of the main accomplishments:

• Participated in Highway Safety Manual (HSM) Peer Exchange Program, and the HSIP National 

Scan Tour.

• Completed the Project Report for Highway Safety Capacity Building, which provided additional 

safety resources to NDOT safety programs, facilitated in safety training for transportation staff 

throughout Nevada, and increased the effectiveness of support to NDOT from University of 

Nevada Reno Center for Advanced Transportation Education and Research (CATER).

• Continued the agreement with the University of Nevada Reno Center for Advanced 

Transportation Education and Research (CATER) to support HSM Implementation in Nevada.
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Tasks in FY2016 included Animal Crossing Data Collection at wildlife crossings, and Horizontal 

Curve Analysis. CATER is also coordinating with NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering on an NDOT 

Research Project that is developing a statewide database for Safety Analyst Software.

.

Program Methodology

Select the programs that are administered under the HSIP. 

Intersection Rural State Highways Crash Data

Pedestrian Safety Segments

Program: Intersection

Date of Program Methodology: 3/9/1997

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Volume Functional classification

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

Crash rate

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

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

Yes

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

Yes

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Other-Priority Ranking

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).

Rank of Priority Consideration
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Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

combining with other projects 

with our traffic safety partners

3

Program: Rural State Highways

Date of Program Methodology: 10/22/2012

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Volume Functional classification

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

Crash rate

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

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

Yes

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

Yes

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Other-Priority Ranking

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).

Rank of Priority Consideration

Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

Combining with other projects 

being done by our traffic safety 

partners

3
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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Program: Crash Data

Date of Program Methodology: 3/9/1997

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Other-Crash Data Median width

Horizontal curvature

Roadside features

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Crash rate

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

Yes

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

Yes

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Other-We use crash data in highway safety improvement project advancements

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).

NDOT Traffic Safety uses crash 

data to prioritize projects for 

implementation

Program: Pedestrian Safety

Date of Program Methodology: 3/15/2015

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Volume

Other-Land Use Generators

Functional classification

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 
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Crash frequency

EPDO crash frequency with EB adjustment

Crash rate

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

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

Yes

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

Yes

How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Other-Priority Ranking

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).

Rank of Priority Consideration

Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

Combining with other projects 

being done by our traffic safety 

partners

3

Program: Segments

Date of Program Methodology: 9/15/2015

 

What data types were used in the program methodology? 

Crashes Exposure Roadway

All crashes Volume Functional classification

What project identification methodology was used for this program? 

Crash frequency

Equivalent property damage only (EPDO Crash frequency)

Crash rate

Excess expected crash frequency using SPFs

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

Yes

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

Yes
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How are highway safety improvement projects advanced for implementation?

Other-Priority Ranking

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).

Rank of Priority Consideration

Ranking based on B/C 1

Available funding 2

Combining with other projects 

being done by our traffic safety 

partners

3

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

80%

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

improvements?

Cable Median Barriers

Rumble Strips

Pavement/Shoulder Widening

Install/Improve Lighting

Add/Upgrade/Modify/Remove Traffic Signal

Other-Safety Management Plans

What process is used to identify potential countermeasures? 

Engineering Study

Road Safety Assessment

Other-Safety Management Plans
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Identify any program methodology practices used to implement the HSIP that have changed since the 

last reporting period.

Other-none

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

would like to elaborate. 

In a Memorandum dated July 29, 2015, from Tony Furst, Associate Administrator for Safety - FHWA, 

Nevada was identified as a 2015 Focus State for Intersections. Because of this designation, we have 

continued to incorporate into our program systemic and spot treatments at intersections such as 

Retroreflective Back Plates and Flashing Yellow Arrows. NDOT is currently updating their access 

management manual. As recommended in this draft access management manual update, Traffic Safety 

Engineering is incorporating into their projects medians that will provide better access management. 

In July 2016, staff from NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering and Traffic Operations, attended a Peer-to-Peer 

workshop on Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) in Chicago, IL. Nevada is continuing to pursue this 

methodology to evaluate intersection safety mitigation, as well as promoting roundabouts wherever 

possible. Nevada is currently working with the FHWA to hold a peer-to-peer exchange on ICE with 

western states in early 2017.

Also in 2016, NDOT created a draft “NDOT Complete Streets Policy” which is awaiting approval. The 

purpose of this policy is to include enhanced accommodation for people riding bicycles, walking, using 

transit, and other users, in addition to the traditional accommodation for vehicles. Provisions for all 

users will be integrated into the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of new and 

retrofit transportation facilities through the development of appropriate design features. NDOT will 

implement the Complete Street elements as appropriate. This will enable safe access and mobility of all 

users including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users of all ages and abilities.

In June, 2016 NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering Division (TSE) completed an update to their Highway 

Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Manual. The purpose of this manual is to:

• Define the parameters of the HSIP.

• Define the roles of different parties involved with this program.

• Define and describe HSIP processes.

• Provide a solid understanding of how the HSIP is managed within the state of Nevada by 

NDOT.

The manual discusses the process by which HSIP infrastructure projects are conceived, selected, and 

implemented. This process is the same for Intersection Safety projects, Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety 

projects, and Corridors and/or Extended Roadway Safety projects. The process outlines the selection 

process to select projects and then move them through to construction. Each of the intermediate 

processes from planning to evaluation is discussed in the subsequent sections.

NDOT received approval from FHWA to experiment with red rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFB) 

to be used with wrong way driver countermeasures on freeway off-ramps. NDOT has identified a 

number of freeway off-ramps in the Reno and Las Vegas areas where the wrong driver countermeasures 
2016 Nevada Highway Safety Improvement Program

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will be included in a number of freeway projects. The countermeasure package will include Wrong Way 

signs, red RRFB, vehicle detection, cameras and a communications unit that can communicate a wrong 

way movement to the local traffic control center and the Nevada Highway Patrol dispatch.

Progress in Implementing Projects

Funds Programmed

Reporting period for Highway Safety Improvement Program funding.

Federal Fiscal Year

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

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

$2,411,738.00

How much funding is obligated to local safety projects?

$2,411,738.00

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

$1,406,000.00

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

$1,406,000.00

Funding Category Programmed* Obligated

HSIP (Section 148) $19,348,258.00 78 % $19,771,848.00 75 %

State and Local Funds $5,514,624.00 22 % $6,637,097.00 25 %

Totals $24,862,882.00 100% $26,408,945.00 100%
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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

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

overcome this in the future.

NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering did not experience any impediments to obligating our Highway Safety 

Improvement Program funds.

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

progress on which you would like to elaborate.

After the FAST Act was implemented, the behavior programs (non-infrastructure safety projects) that 

we had obligated funds to, were no longer eligible for HSIP funds. NDOT Traffic Safety Engineering was 

able to utilize other funds to keep this program going, (mainly state gas tax funds) and continue our 

program obligations.
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General Listing of Projects

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

Project Improvement 

Category 

Output HSIP 

Cost

Total 

Cost

Funding 

Categor

y

Functional 

Classificatio

n

AADT Spee

d

Roadway 

Ownershi

p

Relationship to SHSP

Emphasis 

Area

Strategy

US6 Shoulder 

Widening 

and Slope 

flattening

Shoulder 

treatments 

Widen 

shoulder -

paved or 

other

25.1 

Miles

577960

8

608379

8

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Rural 

Principal 

Arterial -

Other

1700 70 State 

Highway 

Agency

Roadway 

Departure

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Roundabout 

Pahrump 

Valley Blvd

Intersection 

traffic control 

Modify 

control - twoway stop to 

roundabout

1 

Number

s

214631

1

276052

7

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Minor 

Arterial

1100

0

35 State 

Highway 

Agency

Intersection

s

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Roundabout 

Blagg Rd

Intersection 

traffic control 

Modify 

control - twoway stop to 

roundabout

1 

Number

s

212552

4

272411

1

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban 

Minor 

Arterial

1100

0

45 State 

Highway 

Agency

Intersection

s

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Multiple 

Intersections 

- Signal 

System 

Modificatio

Intersection 

traffic control 

Modify traffic 

signal - add 

flashing 

yellow arrow

458273 482393 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Multiple 0 0 Various Intersection

s

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries
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Summerlin 

Pkwy, Las 

Vegas

Roadside 

Barrier -

cable

125000

0

236027

0

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Urban Local 

Road or 

Street

3050

0

65 City of 

Municipal 

Highway 

Agency

Roadway 

Departure

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Carson City 

Signal 

Modification

s and ADA 

improveme

Intersection 

traffic control 

Modify traffic 

signal - add 

flashing 

yellow arrow

474338 499303 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Multiple 0 0 Various Intersection

s

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

SR431/Moun

t Rose

Highway -

Construct 

Truck Escape

Miscellaneou

s 

1 

Number

s

491294

7

550289

3

HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Rural Minor 

Arterial

4700 45 State 

Highway 

Agency

Roadway 

Departure

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Te-Moak Low 

Cost Safety 

Improvement

s

Pedestrians 

and bicyclists 

Miscellaneou

s pedestrians 

and bicyclists

694768 731335 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

Rural Local 

Road or 

Street

0 0 Indian 

Tribe 

Nation

Pedestrians Reduce 

crash 

frequenc

y

Safety 

Engineering 

Design 

Services

Noninfrastructure 

Transportatio

n safety 

planning

912000 960000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

0 0 All critical 

emphasis 

areas

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries

Road Safety 

audits -

Consultant 

Services

Noninfrastructure 

Road safety 

audits

399000 420000 HSIP 

(Section 

148)

0 0 All critical 

emphasis 

areas

Reduce 

fatalities 

and 

serious 

injuries
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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* 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Number of fatalities 265 245 232 241 250

Number of serious injuries 1505 1348 1275 1230 1050

Fatality rate (per HMVMT) 1.33 1.22 1.14 1.14 1.16

Serious injury rate (per HMVMT) 7.05 6.41 6.07 5.85 5.61

*Performance measure data is presented using a five-year rolling average.
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To the maximum extent possible, present performance measure* data by functional classification and ownership. 

Year - 2015

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

RURAL PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - INTERSTATE

19 34 0.96 1.7

RURAL PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER

29 41 1.97 2.85

RURAL MINOR 

ARTERIAL

7 28 1.83 7.03

RURAL MINOR 

COLLECTOR

1 2 0.8 0.91

RURAL MAJOR 

COLLECTOR

9 25 2.37 6.36

RURAL LOCAL ROAD OR 

STREET

4 5 0.95 1.03

URBAN PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - INTERSTATE

18 58 0.49 1.54

URBAN PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER 

FREEWAYS AND 

EXPRESSWAYS

11 19 0.67 1.16
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URBAN PRINCIPAL 

ARTERIAL - OTHER

51 237 1.72 8.05

URBAN MINOR 

ARTERIAL

64 392 1.43 8.81

URBAN MINOR 

COLLECTOR

19 91 0.97 4.56

URBAN LOCAL ROAD 

OR STREET

18 118 0.43 2.27
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Year - 2015

Roadway Ownership Number of 

fatalities

Number of serious 

injuries

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

Serious injury rate (per 

HMVMT)

STATE HIGHWAY AGENCY 151 497

COUNTY HIGHWAY AGENCY 55 417

CITY OF MUNICIPAL HIGHWAY 

AGENCY

50 256
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Describe any other aspects of the general highway safety trends on which you would like to elaborate.

We were not able to calculate the Fatality and Serious Injury Rates (per HMVMT) on the Roadway 

Ownership section because we could not obtain volumes for the roadway categories as requested.

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

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Fatality rate (per capita) 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.008

Serious injury rate (per 

capita)

0.014 0.02 0.024 0.028 0.02

Fatality and serious injury 

rate (per capita)

0.018 0.026 0.032 0.036 0.026

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

Fatalities and serious injuries were divided by the number of people 65 years of age and older. Nevada 

Projections from 2013 to 2032 were released October 2013. Individual years were entered into the 

table.
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Does the older driver special rule apply to your state? 

No

Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Improvements (Program 

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

Safety Improvement Program?

Other-Decrease in Fatal and Serious injury crashes over the last several years

What significant programmatic changes have occurred since the last reporting period? 

None

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

None
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SHSP Emphasis Areas

For each SHSP emphasis area that relates to the HSIP, present trends in emphasis area performance measures. 

Year - 2015

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

Lane Departure All 102 316 0.43 1.34

Intersections All 62 485 0.26 2.06

Pedestrians All 63 139 0.24 0.55
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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 - 2015

HSIP Sub-program 

Types

Target 

Crash Type

Number of 

fatalities

Number of 

serious injuries

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

Serious injury rate 

(per HMVMT)

Other1Other2Other3

Crash Data All 254 1079 1.06 4.51

Intersection All 126 774 0.51 3.2

Segments All 152 758 1.64 8.19

Pedestrian Safety All 71 181 0.28 0.71

Rural State 

Highways

All 37 82 0.89 0.4
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Systemic Treatments
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Present the overall effectiveness of systemic treatments.

Systemic 

improvement

Target 

Crash Type

Number of 

fatalities

Number of 

serious injuries

Fatality rate (per 

HMVMT)

Serious injury rate 

(per HMVMT)

Other1Other2Other3

SKIP We currently do not have a way to calculate fatalities and serious injury crashes by these mitigation types.
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Describe any other aspects of the overall Highway Safety Improvement Program effectiveness on 

which you would like to elaborate. 

Due to the increase in pedestrian fatalities in our state, the Transportation Board directed NDOT's 

Director to allocated additional funds for pedestrian safety improvements. As a result, $10 million of 

state gas tax funds have been allocated for pedestrian safety improvement projects within the state.
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Project Evaluation

Provide project evaluation data for completed projects (optional). 

Location Functional 

Class

Improvement 

Category

Improvement 

Type

BefFatalBefSerious 

Injury

Bef-All 

Injuries

BefPDOBefTotalAftFatalAftSerious 

Injury

Aft-All 

Injuries

AftPDOAftTotalEvaluation 

Results 

(Benefit/ Cost 

Ratio)

na na
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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. 

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.