A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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A Message from FHWA Associate Administrator for Safety, Joe Toole 

After nearly 36 years with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), I have 

decided the time has come to make a change. When I joined FHWA in 1975, I 

could have never foreseen the experiences and opportunities that have filled 

these past decades. It has truly been a privilege. 

During my tenure, I had the honor of serving as the first 

Associate Administrator of the Office of Professional and 

Corporate Development and as the Associate Administrator 

for Safety in the Office of Safety. Furthermore, I was 

pleased to hold the positions of Acting Executive Director 

where I oversaw the Agency operations, Director of the 

Office of Technology Applications and Deputy Regional 

Administrator in the Agency’s former Mid-Atlantic Region. 

Throughout the years I kept finding things that I could be really passionate about and feel 

extraordinarily lucky to have worked in an environment that allows people to show that passion. 

While there are a number of things I plan to pursue, I look forward to staying engaged with the 

transportation community. I'm proud of my work at FHWA because I know what we do here not only 

improves transportation, but saves lives too. I’d like to see what can happen from here. 

My thanks to all of you who have made this time so special, particularly all of you who I have worked 

with in safety. I don’t think there is anything that we can do that is more important than helping 

prevent deaths and serious injuries. You are a committed team and you have truly made a 

difference. Note: Joseph Toole retired on June 3, 2011.

Welcome Tony Furst as Acting Associate Administrator for Safety

Tony Furst will serve as the Acting Associate Administrator until this key position is filled. Tony 

currently serves as the Director of the Office of Freight Management and Operations, leading FHWA 

efforts in freight policy, freight performance and technology, truck size and weight, and freight 

capacity building. Tony has 25 years experience with USDOT including the Coast Guard, the 

Maritime Administration, and the Transportation Security Administration. Please extend a warm 

welcome to Tony as he begins his new position with the Office of Safety. 

 SAFETY COMPASS

H I G H W A Y S A F E T Y S O L U T I O N S F O R S A V I N G L I V E S

“I always felt Joe 

was the consummate 

professional,” said 

Peter Kissinger of the 

AAA Foundation for 

Traffic Safety. “He is 

one of the most 

passionate people I 

know regardless of 

the mission.” 

“The magnitude of 

your impact at FHWA 

has been 

tremendous.....you 

developed and 

delivered policies and 

programs that 

improved highway 

safety contributing to 

historic lows in traffic 

fatalities. Your 

accomplishments 

leave an enduring 

legacy at FHWA and 

with the individuals 

and organizations 

affected by our 

Agency.” 

Jeffrey F. Paniati, 

FHWA Executive 

Director

In this Issue of Safety Compass ... 

A Message from FHWA Associate Administrator for Safety (Joe Toole) .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Welcome Tony Furst as Acting Associate Administrator for Safety .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 

Images from Joe Toole’s Retirement Party ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 

National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse Update (Lisa McCluskey) ........................................................................................................................................... 2 

ASAP Projects Announced for FY 2011 (Mark Sandifer) .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

FHWA Launches Facebook and YouTube Sites .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

El Paseo Road Safety Audit (RSA) Exemplifies How Livability Starts with Safety (Becky Crowe) .................................................................................................................... 3 

Effects of Yellow Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons on Yielding at Multilane Uncontrolled Crosswalks (Ann Do) ...................................................................................... 4 

Safety Effectiveness of the HAWK Pedestrian Crossing Treatment (Ann Do) .................................................................................................................................................. 5 

Update to the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) – Highway Safety Manual (HSM) Predictive Method 2010 Release (Clayton Chen) .................................. 5 

Free Defensive Driver Training (Ken Kochevar) ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 

HSIP Noteworthy Practices Series (Ben Gribbon) ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 

Design-Build Push-Button: From Concept to Construction in a Hurry (Hussein Sharifpour) ............................................................................................................................. 7 

Indiana LTAP Center Poised for the Local Road Safety Challenge (Rosemarie Anderson) ............................................................................................................................. 8 

New Manuals Target Local Rural Road Safety (Rosemarie Anderson) ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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Images from Joe Toole’s Retirement Party 

Joe Toole was honored at a retirement party on June 1, 2011. We thank him for dedication and service to USDOT and 

FHWA and wish him well in his new endeavors. 

National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse Update 

A new print ad campaign featuring Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez and other 

transportation leaders is delivering messages about the importance of safety in roadway construction 

zones and helping boost utilization of the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. In the 

full-color ads, a prominent photo of Mendez is juxtaposed with text that reads: “FHWA Administrator 

Victor Mendez knows safety on the job saves lives down the road. That’s why he recognizes the 

importance of the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.” The public services 

announcements direct people to the Clearinghouse website (www.workzonesafety.org) to access 

webinars, best practice materials, laws and regulations, statistics, training, and public education 

campaigns. The ads will appear in Transportation Builder, Better Roads, Roads & Bridges, and other 

industry publications. 

The Clearinghouse also has produced free educational resources for the 

roadway construction community and motoring public. The latest in a series, 

the “Know Flagging” poster is designed to educate workers on flagging best 

practices, basic temporary traffic control rules and common hazards. In 

response to the growing number of Spanish-speaking road construction 

workers, a series of basic brochures are being developed. The first is “Basic Spanish for Safety 

and Emergencies,” which provides phrases for common emergency situations. 

The Clearinghouse is owned and operated by the American Road & Transportation Builders 

Association’s Foundation. It is supported by the Federal Highway Administration, and the Texas 

Transportation Institute, which manages day-to-day operations. Today, the facility is serving 

more than 200,000 users annually. 

For a complete list of all Clearinghouse resources, visit www.workzonesafety.org. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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El Paseo Road Safety Audit (RSA) Exemplifies How 

Livability Starts with Safety 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Livability Initiative enhances the 

economic and social well-being of all Americans by creating and maintaining a safe, 

reliable, integrated, and accessible transportation network that enhances choices for 

transportation users, provides easy access to employment opportunities and other 

destinations, and promotes positive effects on the surrounding community. 

Secretary LaHood identified livability as a key priority for transportation, and his 

vision is that “transportation policies focus on people and communities who use the 

transportation system.” 

In the spirit of incorporating safety into livability projects, the FHWA Office of Safety 

partnered with the FHWA Office of Planning and Environment in October 2010 to 

sponsor an RSA on the El Paseo Road Corridor in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The El 

Paseo Road corridor is one of four selected from across the country to receive an 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) technical assistance grant. It also is the 

only corridor to have EPA partnering with the 

Department of Housing and Urban Development 

(HUD) and FHWA. The EPA technical grant 

focused on guiding the planning process to a 

shared vision of a revitalized transportation 

corridor. The RSA was geared to accomplishing 

a safety examination that would ultimately help 

assist the City create a transportation plan. In 

addition, the agencies involved wanted to 

develop a comprehensive planning approach 

and a potential working model for future use. 

A multidisciplinary team consisting of transportation professionals from 

RoadRUNNER Transit, Las Cruces Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Las 

Cruces Public Works, Las Cruces Police Department, the New Mexico Department 

of Transportation, the FHWA New Mexico Division Office and RSA technical experts 

performed the RSA. The team spent two days studying the corridor using aerial 

photographs and on-site visits. As part of the field review, the team took guided 

driving tours both during the day and at night to record issues faced by drivers. The 

team met with the Director and staff from the Public Works Department to discuss 

many of the corridor’s long-term problems, as well as proposed projects. The team 

also met with representatives from Las Cruces Public Schools to outline short- to 

long-term issues and projects at Las Cruces High School. 

The RSA Final Report summarized the issues identified 

during the audit and provided short-, medium-, and longterm recommendations to resolve them. The RSA was a 

major success as the Las Cruces City Council endorsed 

the Final Report at their meeting on Tuesday, February 

22, 2011. The Public Works Department is already 

moving forward with several of the proposed 

improvements, and the Traffic Operations section is 

replacing deficient mast arms and signs and scheduling 

the additional signal head installations at some of the 

traffic signals. In addition, the Project Development 

section is reviewing median design at specific 

intersections and is pursuing funds for an improvement 

project. Andy Hume, Planner with the Las Cruces MPO, summarized that “the RSA 

clearly identified some safety issues and led to enacting well-designed 

countermeasures. It definitely generated a lot of momentum along the corridor.” For 

more information about the El Paseo RSA, please contact Andy Hume at the Las 

Cruces MPO, (575) 528-3047 or ahume@las-cruces.org. 

ASAP Projects Announced for FY 2011 

The Accelerated Safety Activities 

Program (ASAP) helps FHWA Division 

Offices promote safety innovation. As the 

name implies, ASAP provides funding to 

accelerate the advancement of safety 

efforts across the nation. 

Program funds are awarded as seed 

money to help build on successful efforts, 

expand on partnering opportunities, and 

provide an avenue of outreach for local 

practitioners to exchange successful 

practices. In 2011, $100,000 is available. 

In 2010 and 2011 the Office of Technical 

Services (OTS) Safety and Design Team 

received funding from the Headquarters 

Office of Safety for program stewardship 

and oversight. Each year OTS sends a 

solicitation out to FHWA Division Offices 

and their safety partners for candidate 

projects. A panel of safety experts from 

various FHWA offices scores and ranks 

the projects. Funds are distributed 

according to their ranking. 

ASAP is very competitive. In the last 2 

years, Division Offices and/or their 

partners have submitted 90 project 

nominations. Ultimately, 34 of these 

projects received funds. Selected projects 

are producing valuable products and 

results. A successful ASAP project from 

2010, Rumble on the Reservation, was 

featured in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of 

The Safety Compass. We are looking 

forward to similar successes in 2011. 

For additional information on this 

program, please contact Patrick Hasson 

at patrick.hasson@dot.gov or Mark 

Sandifer at mark.sandifer@dot.gov. 

FHWA Launches Facebook and 

YouTube Sites 

Recognizing the immense benefits and 

impacts of social networking, FHWA 

officially launched its Facebook and 

YouTube sites on March 17. FHWA plans 

to use both sites to quickly share 

information, tools, resources, updates, 

best practices, and highway success 

stories with transportation industry 

stakeholders and the general public. 

FHWA Executive Director, Jeff Paniati, 

stated “Facebook and YouTube offer the 

opportunity to share a wide range of 

information with diverse audiences,” and 

FHWA is excited about the opportunity to 

expand its audience and continue the 

dialogue on ways to improve highway 

transportation. 

FHWA is a proud proponent of 

innovation, and believes that social media 

is an excellent way to advance core 

messages and offer greater transparency 

and accountability to the traveling public. 

FHWA encourages stakeholders and 

those interested in highway information to 

link to their social media sites and share 

with other industry partners. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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Effects of Yellow Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons on Yielding at Multilane 

Uncontrolled Crosswalks 

Drivers generally do not yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks at 

uncontrolled sites. One alternative to in-roadway signs and yellow flashing beacons is to 

add yellow LED Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB) to pedestrian warning 

signs. These LED RRFBs are similar in operation to emergency flashers on police 

vehicles. The photo to the left shows an RRFB mounted below a W11-2 pedestrian 

warning sign at a crosswalk. 

To provide a more objective understanding of the effects of RRFBs, FHWA conducted a 

study of these pedestrian warning devices to determine whether they increased driver 

yielding to pedestrians. This study was part of a larger FHWA research effort to quantify 

the effectiveness of existing and new engineering countermeasures in improving safety 

and operations for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

The study report presents the results of five RRFB experiments, comparing variations in 

the features or installation of RRFBs. The report can be found at the following website: 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/pedbike/10043/index.cfm. 

Key findings are as follows: 

 Experiment 1 – Two- and Four- Beacon Systems. Installation of the two-beacon RRFB system increased 

yielding compliance at multilane uncontrolled crosswalk locations from 18 to 81 percent. Yielding compliance 

increased from 81 to 88 percent following the installation of the four-beacon system at these sites. 

 Experiment 2 – RRFBs vs. Traditional Overhead and Side-Mounted Yellow Flashing Beacons. Installation of 

a standard yellow overhead beacon increased yielding compliance from 11 to 16 percent. When side-mounted 

RRFBs replaced the overhead beacon, yielding compliance increased to 78 percent. Adding the RRFB to the 

median island increased yielding compliance to 88 percent. 

The installation of standard yellow side-mounted beacons increased yielding compliance from zero to 16 percent. 

The installation of side-mounted RRFBs increased yielding compliance to 72 percent. The increases produced by 

the RRFB system were statistically significant. 

 Experiment 3 – RRBD Effectiveness Over Time. RRFBs were effective at 22 sites and showed that the effects 

were maintained over time at each location. 

 Experiment 4 – LEDs Pointed at Traffic and Momentary Light Bars. LEDs pointed at oncoming traffic 

increased yielding compliance. Further increases in yielding were not achieved by adding momentary light bars 

(MLB). 

 Experiment 5 – Advance Warning Devices. Using advance warning devices placed before the crosswalk along 

with RRFBs did not increase yielding compliance due to RRFBs alone, but may have increased the distance that 

drivers yielded in advance of the crosswalk. 

These experiments show that the rectangular LED yellow rapid-flashing beacon appears to be an effective tool for 

increasing the percentage of drivers yielding right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks at sites where drivers rarely yield to 

pedestrians. 

For more information contact Ann Do, 202-493-3319, ann.do@dot.gov. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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Safety Effectiveness of the HAWK Pedestrian Crossing 

Treatment 

In the late 1990s, Tucson, AZ, developed the High intensity Activated crossWalK

(HAWK), a beacon to assist pedestrians in crossing major arterials. Early evaluation 

seemed very promising, indicating driver yield percentages greater than 95 percent, 

even on major streets with multiple lanes or higher speeds. A decade later with few 

pedestrian crossing treatments having high yield rates on major arterials, FHWA 

sponsored a study to objectively evaluate the HAWK’s safety effectiveness. This 

study confirmed the earlier indications of the effectiveness of the HAWK. 

The HAWK is a pedestrian-activated beacon located on the roadside and mounted 

on mast arms at intersections (see photo below). The HAWK head consists of two 

red lenses over a single yellow lens. The HAWK beacon is dark until it is activated 

by a pedestrian. Activation triggers the warning flashing yellow lens on the major 

street. After a set time, the indication changes to a solid yellow light to inform drivers 

to prepare to stop. The beacon then displays a dual solid red light to drivers on the 

major street and a walking person symbol to pedestrians. At the conclusion of the 

walk phase, the beacon displays an alternating flashing red light, and pedestrians 

are shown an upraised hand 

symbol with a countdown display 

informing them of the time left to 

cross. During the alternating 

flashing red lights, drivers can 

proceed after coming to a full stop 

and checking that pedestrians have 

already crossed their lane of travel. 

Each successive driver is legally 

required to come to a full stop 

before proceeding during the 

alternating flashing red phase. 

The alternating flashing red phase allows the delay to traffic to match the actual 

crossing needs of the pedestrians. Drivers can proceed with a stop-and-go 

operation during the flashing red phase. If pedestrians need more time, then the 

drivers remain stopped until they finish crossing. The ability to balance the 

pedestrian needs with driver delay is a valuable component of the HAWK treatment. 

The study applied a before-after Empirical Bayes method which combined actual 

crash data before and after the installation of the HAWK beacon with what is known 

about crash frequencies under other similar circumstances. This is a well-proven 

way to estimate changes in safety resulting from the application of a safety 

countermeasure. The study found that after the installation of a HAWK unit: 

 There was a 29 percent reduction in total crashes.1

 

 There was a 69 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes.1

 

 There was a 15 percent reduction in severe crashes.2

The HAWK pedestrian crossing beacon is a useful tool for improving pedestrian 

safety under appropriate conditions. Just like any other warning traffic control 

device, it may not work as effectively if it is overused. In addition, the high crash 

reductions identified in this study may not be achieved at other locations if the site 

has different characteristics, such as reduced pedestrian activity. 

For more information, contact Ann Do, 202-493-3319, ann.do@dot.gov or view the 

report (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safetdoy/10045/index.cfm). 

 1

 Statistically significant at the 95 percent confidence level. 

2

 Not statistically significant at the 95 percent confidence level.

FHWA Announces Update to the 

Interactive Highway Safety Design 

Model (IHSDM) – Highway Safety 

Manual (HSM) Predictive Method 2010 

Release 

Features in several evaluation modules, 

the graphical user interface, Highway 

Viewer, and output/reporting capabilities 

have all been improved in the update. 

The updated software is available for 

downloading at no charge, although 

downloading requires user registration. 

A suite of software analysis tools for 

evaluating the safety and operational 

effects of geometric design on highways, 

IHSDM includes six evaluation modules: 

Crash Prediction, Policy Review, Design 

Consistency, Traffic Analysis, 

Driver/Vehicle and Intersection Review. 

For a general overview, see: 

http://www.ihsdm.org/w/images/a/aa/IHS

DM_Overview_March_2011.pdf. 

To the extent possible, the Crash 

Prediction Module (CPM) implements 

Part C (Predictive Method) of AASHTO's 

1st Edition Highway Safety Manual (June 

2010) for evaluating rural two-lane 

highways, rural multilane highways and 

urban/suburban arterials. The Design 

Consistency Module (DCM) applies both 

to lower-speed (posted speed 25 to 40 

mph) and to higher-speed (posted speed 

greater than 40 mph) highways. The 

software includes extensive reporting 

capabilities, and the tutorial includes 

lessons on data entry and 

output/reporting. The Crash Prediction 

Module Lesson includes exercises for 

rural two-lane and rural multilane 

highways, as well as an urban arterial. 

IHSDM is well supported through a helpline, e-mail, and a National Highway 

Institute Course (Course Number FHWANHI-380071). The two-day NHI training 

course will provide participants an 

understanding of the principles underlying 

IHSDM evaluations and hands-on 

exercises using the software. The course 

will instruct highway design project 

managers, planners, designers, and 

traffic and safety reviewers in the 

application of the IHSDM software and 

will provide guidance on interpretation of 

the output. 

Free Defensive Driver Training 

The National Safety Council has 

partnered with GSA to provide free 

training to any agency that operates 

government vehicles. The online course 

allows you complete the training at your 

own pace (up to one year after 

registration). Upon successful completion 

(80% or better) you will receive a 

Certificate of Completion, which you can 

present to your insurance company for a 

possible discount of up to 15%. 

For more information please contact 

Debra Ann Ferris, National Safety 

Council, (703) 244-5996. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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HSIP Noteworthy Practices Series 

Six years after the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 

Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), advances in the science of safety have 

ushered in noteworthy approaches for States, regions, and localities to address safety 

issues and challenges, and the difference is clear. In 2010, motor vehicle fatalities fell to 

the lowest levels since 1949. 

SAFETEA-LU requires that States develop and implement Strategic Highway Safety 

Plans (SHSP) as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). HSIPs 

became part of a broader vision involving multiple stakeholders and integrating safety 

into the planning process, with the common goal of achieving significant reductions in 

traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. Toward that end, new noteworthy 

practices emphasize multidisciplinary, multimodal, system-wide strategies for planning, 

implementing, and evaluating safety projects and programs. The Noteworthy Practices 

Series documents and shares these practices. 

In developing the HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series, FHWA examined safety programs 

around the country to identify and document successful, innovative, and effective HSIP 

practices. The objective is to share experiences and inspire States to incorporate new strategies and continue improving 

their safety programs toward the end goal of further reducing fatalities and serious injuries. 

States are proud of their successful practices and want to share this information with agencies that are eager to learn 

about what others are doing and explore opportunities to adopt such practices into their own programs. Many States are 

participating in safety peer exchanges, which provide opportunities for collaboration and information sharing. States are 

adding to the knowledge base on countermeasure effectiveness by contributing to research activities and submitting their 

evaluation results for broader application through such resources as the 

Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse. In addition, many States 

participate in efforts to document their experiences and the knowledge they 

have gained through the implementation of their safety programs. 

The HSIP Noteworthy Practices Series documents 23 noteworthy practices 

within six HSIP-related topics. Some of these practices include the 

following: 

The Illinois Department of Transportation, with the assistance of the University of Illinois, developed safety 

performance functions (SPFs) for all State routes and intersections to use in the network screening process. This has 

enabled the State to shift the emphasis of the HSIP away from densely populated urban areas, resulting in more low-cost 

safety improvements or systemic improvements that may not have been identified using previous screening methods. 

The Nevada Departments of Transportation and Public Safety conducted a series of road show meetings across the 

State in an effort to further engage safety stakeholders, educate them about the statewide SHSP, and provide an 

opportunity for input into the SHSP update. 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is among the first DOTs to hire a Law Enforcement 

Expert (LEE) dedicated to working with law enforcement agencies on improving crash data collection. 

The Utah DOT used the HSIP flexible funding provision to support education and outreach programs linked to Utah’s 

Comprehensive Safety Plan (the State’s SHSP). 

Each HSIP Noteworthy Practices series includes an introduction to the topic and a collection of noteworthy practices. 

Details include practice summaries, key accomplishments, results, and contact information. States are encouraged to let 

us know about their successful experiences so we can continue to share; FHWA is working on new ways to communicate 

successful approaches. 

Download the HSIP Noteworthy Practices (Report No. FHWA-SA-11-02) online from the FHWA Office of Safety at: 

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/resources/fhwasa1102/toc.cfm. Copies also can be requested from FHWA’s report center 

at: report.center@dot.gov. For more information, please contact Ben Gribbon, FHWA Office of Safety Programs, 202-366-

1809, benjamin.gribbon@dot.gov. 

HSIP Noteworthy Practices Topics 

HSIP Project Identification. 

HSIP Project Evaluation. 

Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing. 

SHSP Stakeholder Involvement. 

Revisiting SHSP Emphasis Areas. 

Use of the HSIP Flexible Funding Provision. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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Design-Build Push-Button: From Concept to Construction in a Hurry 

The FHWA Florida Division Office and the Florida DOT District Seven have teamed up to develop and implement an 

innovative contracting process to speed up the delivery of traffic safety projects. These traffic safety projects are often too

large to be handled by maintenance crews and too small to incorporate individually into the FDOT standard five-year 

highway construction work program given the time and effort needed to hire consultants and contractors. This traditional 

process led to a large surplus of unused Federal-aid safety funds; therefore, a new way of doing business was needed. 

The FHWA and FDOT team focused on establishing a process that would expedite the safety projects while maintaining 

fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. Through their dedicated cooperative efforts, the team created the 

Design-Build Push-Button (DBPB) process. DBPB evolved from two things: 1) Florida’s 20 years of experience using 

design-build contracting, and 2) “pre-event” contracts used to expedite hurricane repair. 

DBPB combines the time-saving benefits of the design-build process with the quickturnaround of push-button contracts. The result is a very quick and efficient process 

to go from “concept to concrete” in delivery of traffic safety projects. This innovative 

contracting method allows for safety projects to be developed, designed, and built 

in less than one half the time of traditional contracting methods. Timely contracting 

was especially important to the Tampa area because during 2009, 388 people died 

in motor vehicle traffic crashes including 104 pedestrians and bicyclists. That 

amounts to one person killed every day and one pedestrian or bicyclist killed every 

three days. 

One of the challenges of making these small projects eligible for Federal-aid is that 

since the location of the work is not known in advance, the planning and NEPA steps are not complete. In addition, the 

team had concerns about fitting these projects into a design-build contracting method because the locations and scopes 

of the projects were unknown. After several rounds of discussions, the team determined that FHWA would review and 

approve the RFP, which would include a list of potential pay items. FHWA authorized safety funds for the initial task work 

order based on locations known at that time. Additional tasks would be added and funds authorized as the planning 

processes and NEPA evaluation steps are completed. The fee for design is a set percentage of construction costs. 

Traffic safety projects can provide huge benefits in terms of reducing crashes, saving lives, and improving livability. The 

DBPB process delivers projects faster, cheaper, and more efficiently while creating jobs, resulting in people going back to 

work quickly. 

The DBPB process also works very well with the Florida DOT District Seven’s Road Safety Audit (RSA) process. An RSA 

is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. It qualitatively estimates and reports on potential road safety issues and identifies opportunities for 

improvements in safety for all road users. District Seven has been very aggressive in performing RSAs throughout the 

five-county Tampa Bay region. At the conclusion of the RSA process, the RSA findings can be turned over to the DBPB 

team so they can implement improvement projects quickly. 

In the first fiscal year of operation, the DBPB contract programmed 23 traffic operations and safety projects valued at 

more than $13 million. Nine of the projects were funded with Federal-aid safety funds and 14 projects were State funded. 

The projects included: over 50 miles of inverted profile markings to reduce nighttime run-off-road crashes; pedestrian 

enhancements at nearly 300 intersections; traffic signal improvements at 11 locations; and other safety enhancements. 

Future projects will include additional traffic signal improvements, pedestrian enhancements, access management 

improvements, and ITS improvements. The DBPB process also continues to serve as a way to implement the findings of 

the District Seven RSA program by providing a comprehensive approach for addressing safety issues. The DBPB process 

will continue to save time, money, and lives as well as put people back to work quickly. 

After implementing DBPB in Tampa, district staff presented their evaluation of the process to FDOT leadership. Those 

results were so well received that FDOT and the FHWA Florida Division will extend the use of DBPB from the Tampa area 

to other districts during a one-day workshop this summer. FDOT and FHWA Florida Division also will share their DBPB 

success with other States during a webinar presentation on June 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM EST. 

For more information about the Design-Build Push-Button contract, contact Hussein Sharifpour, 

hussein.sharifpour@dot.gov. 

Before After
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

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Indiana LTAP Center Poised for the Local Road Safety Challenge 

In the fall of 2010, the Project Manager for the Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program 

(LTAP) Center’s new Hazard Elimination Program for Existing Roads and Streets (HELPERS) 

spent several days shadowing veteran safety specialists at the Iowa and Louisiana LTAP 

Centers. The Indiana LTAP Center hired the HELPERS Project Manager to enhance its local 

road safety program. While the Project Manager came well-versed in roadway safety, certain 

aspects of the LTAP environment and the nuances of local and rural road safety were new. To 

give the Project Manager a head start, the FHWA Office of Safety Local and Rural Roads 

Safety Peer-to-Peer (LRR P2P) Program provided training assistance. 

The LRR P2P Program provides peer assistance in the development and delivery of local and rural road safety programs 

and projects. Experts with knowledge in local and rural road safety volunteer their time as peers to help local agencies on 

roadway issues. Peers can assist with crash data analysis and determining locations needing attention; identifying lowcost safety improvements that can be installed quickly; training on innovative safety strategies; and other topics. Some 

examples of peer assistance over the past year include sharing details of agency maintenance programs to comply with 

the new sign retro-reflectivity requirements and providing input and guidance on the installation of mid-block crossings. 

For the Indiana HELPERS Project Manager, peer assistance consisted of shadowing local and rural road safety 

practitioners from University-based LTAP Centers in other States. The LRR P2P Coordinator worked with the Project 

Manager to identify appropriate LTAP Centers, coordinated with Iowa and Louisiana to set up visits, and facilitated previsit discussions. The LRR P2P Coordinator also made all necessary travel arrangements. 

The Indiana HELPERS Project Manager shadowed two Iowa LTAP Center staff over two days. To help address the 

challenges associated with improving safety on low-volume, low-crash roadways, peers at the Iowa LTAP Center shared 

information on connecting with local agencies, identifying possible high hazard areas, conducting road safety audits 

(RSA), and implementing the Safety Edge. In Louisiana, the HELPERS Project Manager observed successful strategies 

in areas such as: 

 Systematic improvements, national resources, and program development; 

 Project development, relationships, and communications; 

 Low-cost, data-driven methods; 

 Development of a long-term strategic plan; and 

 Creating advisory groups to discuss ideas for the future of the HELPERS program. 

Armed with knowledge from the two LTAP site visits, the HELPERS Project Manager returned to the Indiana LTAP Center 

to share this information with her co-workers and apply it to the day-to-day activities of the Center. The Project Manager 

currently assists local agencies with a range of road safety issues including Road Safety Audits, crash data analysis, and 

applications for safety funds. She plans to increase efforts to reach out to local agencies, law enforcement, and 

communities to educate and actively involve these organizations in local and rural road safety. She also intends to 

establish a systemic approach to increasing roadway safety by addressing intersections and curves with standard 

packages of improvements, promoting use of the Safety Edge to local agencies in Indiana, and keeping track of best 

practices for inclusion on the Indiana LTAP website. 

FHWA invites any public agency seeking assistance with local rural road safety projects or programs to contact the LRR 

Safety P2P Program. The type of assistance provided is dependent on the needs of the agency, but generally the 

Program can deliver technical assistance using the following mechanisms: 

 Referrals to an experienced peer or technical expert for support by telephone and e-mail; 

 On-site assistance from an experienced peer or technical expert; 

 Training workshops instructed by an experienced peer or technical expert; and 

 Facilitated peer exchanges. 

If you have experience with local and rural road safety and are interested in serving as a peer, we would appreciate 

hearing from you as well. Please send an email with your interest to Heather Rigdon at heather.rigdon.ctr@dot.gov. 

For information on the Local and Rural Roads Safety P2P program contact Rosemarie Anderson, 

rosemarie.anderson@dot.gov or visit our website, http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/local_rural/training/p2p/. 
A Publication of the Federal Highway Administration Safety Program Winter/Spring 2011: Volume 5 Issue 1

 9

 New Manuals Target Local Rural Road Safety 

The FHWA Office of Safety has developed three new manuals focusing on reducing 

crashes on rural roadways owned and maintained by local agencies. FHWA created 

these manuals in coordination with the local and rural highway agencies to resolve 

safety problems on the roads they maintain. 

In order to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our nation’s road network, local 

and rural highway practitioners have to integrate safety into their projects and 

programs routinely. The majority of the nation’s roadways are owned, operated, and 

maintained by numerous small agencies. These manuals provide access to road 

safety information and the resources needed to address the safety issues these 

practitioners face. 

The three individual manuals – Intersection Safety, Roadway Departure Safety, and 

Roadway Safety Information Analysis – provide the local practitioner with the 

procedures and processes to improve the safety of local rural roads and to reduce 

the potential for future crashes. The Intersection and Roadway Departure Safety 

Manuals provide a framework by which users may assess the safety of specific 

locations as well as the network and determine whether countermeasures should be 

installed. Each document presents proven countermeasures and a process for the 

planning and implementation of safety improvements. 

The Roadway Safety Information Analysis Manual provides data collection and 

analysis techniques as well as other processes applicable to the local practitioner to 

help improve the safety of local rural roads. The information will acquaint local 

practitioners – regardless of background or experience level – with the sources, 

calculations, tools, and methods to make data-supported decisions regarding local 

rural road safety. 

The manuals can be accessed from the Office of Safety website by the following link 

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/local_rural/training/. For general information on these 

manuals contact Rosemarie Anderson, rosemarie.anderson@dot.gov. 

Safety Compass Newsletter 

A publication of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Federal Highway 

Administration 

The Safety Compass newsletter is 

published for internet distribution three 

times a year by the: 

FHWA Office of Safety 

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, 

Room E71-105 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Safety Compass can also be viewed 

at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov. 

Editor-in-Chief

Karen Timpone 

karen.timpone@dot.gov 

Your comments and highway safetyrelated articles are welcomed. This 

newsletter is intended to increase 

highway safety awareness and 

information and to provide resources to 

help save lives. 

You are encouraged to submit highway 

safety articles that might be of value to 

the highway safety community. Send 

your comments, questions and articles for 

review electronically to Karen Timpone, 

karen.timpone@dot.gov.