HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series

SHSP Stakeholder 

Involvement

About the HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series

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

primary purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public 

roads. Many states and local agencies are successfully implementing innovative approaches to HSIP 

planning, implementation, and evaluation. The HSIP Noteworthy Practices Series presents case 

studies of these successful practices organized by specific HSIP topics. The individual case studies 

provide summaries of each practice, key accomplishments, results, and contact information for those 

interested in learning more.

SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

Legislation (23 U.S.C. 148) and Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) guidance is quite 

specific as to the recommended stakeholder 

representatives for developing a statewide 

strategic highway safety plan (SHSP). Those 

recommendations include the state department of transportation (DOT), the Governor’s 

Representative for Highway Safety, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning 

organizations, representatives of the major 

modes of transportation, state and local traffic 

enforcement officials, persons responsible for 

administering 23 USC Section 130 (Highway Rail 

Grade Crossing Program), Operation Lifesaver, 

motor carrier safety, and other major state and 

local safety stakeholders.

Stakeholder involvement is necessary for an 

effective SHSP process because of the wide 

range of programs and disciplines necessary for 

improving transportation safety on all public 

roads. Establishing collaborative arrangements 

where partners regularly work together builds 

trust, understanding, and coordinated solutions. Working together to examine data and 

identify appropriate safety improvement strategies can help break down jurisdictional and 

programmatic barriers and foster widespread 

understanding and support for common safety 

priorities. Collaboration among a wide variety 

of stakeholders results in a wiser use of limited 

resources and provides opportunities to leverage 

resources to achieve a broader range of program objectives. Collaboration can also result 

in new and innovative safety strategies that may 

not otherwise be realized through the traditional 

program silos.

For many states, developing the original SHSP 

involved broad-based collaboration among 

safety agencies and organizations engaged 

in safety. States have established a myriad of 

ways to implement their SHSPs in partnership 

with these stakeholders, and in some cases have 

reached out to new participants. Some local 

entities have also developed and are implementing safety plans akin to statewide SHSPs. 

Agencies facilitate internal collaboration through 

policies and procedures and support external 

collaboration through a variety of interagency 

communication strategies and organizational 

frameworks. Combinations of various practices 

have proven most effective at garnering and 

maintaining SHSP stakeholder involvement. 

However, following the heightened levels of 

enthusiasm during the initial SHSP development phase, some states have found it difficult to 

maintain or broaden stakeholder involvement on 

a regular basis while implementing and updating 

their plans. 

 FHWA-SA-11-02
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

Noteworthy Practices

The following cases demonstrate noteworthy practices several states are using in revisiting SHSP emphasis areas:

• A key element of Missouri’s SHSP, titled Blueprint for Safer Roadways (now the Blueprint to Arrive Alive) involved organizing 

10 regional safety coalitions designed to work in concert with the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety (MCRS) to deploy 

targeted strategies at both the state and regional level. Together, the MCRS and Regional Coalitions have embraced the elements of the Blueprint and implemented a comprehensive, coordinated, and focused effort to reduce fatalities and disabling 

injuries on Missouri roads. Regional Coalitions have expanded the number of partners and the regional safety plans include 

a wider variety of localized safety programs. (read more)

• In April 2010, 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 and educate them about the SHSP, provide an opportunity for 

input into the SHSP update, and market the October SHSP Summit. Combined, the four road show meetings engaged over 

100 stakeholders representing different disciplines and levels of government. Participants learned about the SHSP process, 

their interest was piqued, and it created opportunities for potential synergies among the various safety groups. (read more)

• Washington State actively engaged tribes in discussions and safety planning, which has resulted in explicit consideration of 

Native American traffic safety issues in the update of Washington State’s Target Zero SHSP. The State held a Tribal Traffic 

Safety Summit, carried summit results forward in the SHSP update process, included strategies from the national Strategic 

Highway Safety Plan for Indian Lands, and consulted tribes to develop and review the draft Target Zero update. (read more)

• The Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Wyoming independently developed and is implementing 

a Transportation Safety Management Plan (TSMP) akin to statewide SHSPs. The MPO has built and sustained safety 

stakeholder engagement in the process through MPO leadership, identifying and funding safety projects, and working 

with partners on project implementation. Safety stakeholders have been involved in six emphasis areas, a law enforcement 

summit, a legislative briefing, and other projects. (read more)

To access these full case studies, click on the individual links above or visit the FHWA Office of Safety on-line at: 

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

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

FHWA-SA-11-02

The Focus is Results
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series

Statewide and 

Regional SHSP Coalitions

Missouri

In November 2004, Missouri’s SHSP, titled Blueprint for 

Safer Roadways, was developed in consultation with many 

safety advocates, including engineers, law enforcement, 

educators, and emergency responders. Prior to the 

Blueprint, Missouri never had a statewide safety goal. The 

Blueprint established the fatality reduction goal of 1,000 or 

fewer fatalities by 2008. 

One of the key principles guiding development of the 

2004 Blueprint was deploying targeted strategies at both 

the state and regional level. The document outlined a 

strategy to organize 10 regional safety coalitions designed 

to work in concert with the Missouri Coalition for 

Roadway Safety (MCRS). As soon as the Blueprint was 

published, champions pushed very hard to sell the goal 

and promote shared responsibility through individual 

meetings within each region. Presentations promoted 

the “Essential Eight” strategies Missouri must implement 

to make significant progress in reaching the projected 

goal. The Champions helped establish regional coalitions 

and provided the coalitions with safety planning toolkits, including data packages, copies of the Blueprint, and 

copies of the National Cooperative Research Program 

(NCHRP) 500 Series. 

Before the Blueprint, no forum existed for regional multidisciplinary discussions on safety. Purpose and procedural 

guidelines now document the organizational structure 

and activities of the MCRS and Regional Coalitions. The 

10 regional coalitions are charged to: 

• Assist with the implementation of the Blueprint;

• Conduct regional data analysis to guide highway 

safety activities;

• Expand regional safety network and partnerships; 

• Actively participate in MCRS meetings, campaigns, 

and promotions;

• Develop a localized safety plan for the region; and

• Facilitate the expenditure of allocated funds.

Participation in the coalitions is open to any national, state, 

regional, or local organization and any individual. The 

MCRS includes an Executive Committee with representatives from over a dozen agencies and organizations, and is 

presided over by a chair and vice chair. Nine subcommittees 

were also established to effectively address the mission of 

the Coalition on a statewide level, including: Commercial 

Motor Vehicle, Elder Mobility and Safety, Enforcement, 

Impaired Driving, Infrastructure, Legislative, Public 

Information, Strategic Planning and Implementation, and 

Traffic Records Coordinating.

In each regional coalition, the corresponding Missouri 

Department of Transportation (MoDOT) district office 

and Missouri State Highway Patrol troop help facilitate 

meetings, expand coalition membership, develop and 

implement regional strategic highway safety plans, and 

distribute funding. In addition, MoDOT trained a representative from each district to provide data analysis 

support to each regional coalition. 

Two-million dollars of state road funds are offered each 

year to support regional safety plans activities. Annual grant 

applications are submitted to MoDOT for enforcement 

and education programs supporting Blueprint priorities. 

Previously, such programs had been supported exclusively 

through Federal Section 402 funds with project selection 

by the MoDOT Highway Safety Office. Regional safety 

plans developed by local stakeholders can provide more 

targeted programs. MoDOT also utilizes district safety 

funds to support regional engineering projects.

Key Accomplishments

•	 Established collaborative, multidisciplinary, regional

partnerships pursuing common safety goals.

•	 Funded localized safety programs addressing

Blueprint priorities via 10 annual regional

safety plans.

SHSP Stakeholder Involvement
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

The MCRS meets quarterly, including an Executive 

Committee meeting and discussion with regional coalition 

contacts before an afternoon meeting with the broader 

statewide coalition. Every other year the MCRS holds a 

Blueprint Conference and uses state funds to bring up to 

10 representatives from each regional coalition. The conferences combine presentations with participatory working 

groups. Statewide and regional coalition members played an 

active role in the 2008 update, Blueprint to Arrive Alive, which, 

among other changes, expanded the original “Essential 

Eight” to the “Targeted Ten” strategies to improve safety. 

The Blueprint appendices include data for each coalition, 

which are updated annually. MCRS also sends out a weekly 

e-mail with updated statewide and regional fatality counts. 

All of the above activities are designed to keep safety on 

the forefront and to maintain regular communication and 

collaboration among safety stakeholders.

Results

Together, the MCRS and Regional Coalitions have embraced the elements of the Blueprint and implemented a comprehensive, coordinated, and focused effort to reduce fatalities and disabling injuries on Missouri roads. Missouri’s 

original fatality reduction goal of 1,000 or fewer fatalities by 2008 was met one year early. Regional Coalitions have 

expanded their number of partners and regional safety plans include a wider variety of localized safety programs.

Contact

Leanna Depue, Ph.D.

Highway Safety Director

Missouri Department of Transportation 

573-751-7643

leanna.depue@modot.mo.gov

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

 FHWA-SA-11-02 The Focus is Results
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

SHSP 

Road Shows

Nevada

The Nevada Departments of Transportation and Public 

Safety published the State’s first Strategic Highway Safety 

Plan (SHSP) in September 2006. In April 2010, the 

Departments conducted a series of road show meetings 

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

opportunity for input into the SHSP update, and market 

the October 2010 SHSP Summit.

Nevada has created a master SHSP e-mail list that 

includes engineers, law enforcement officers, transportation planners, education specialists, health care 

providers, injury prevention practitioners, emergency 

responders, citizen activists, and anyone else concerned 

about traffic safety. In April 2010, more than 100 people attended the meetings held in four locations. The 

format for each of the Road Show meetings involved 

presentations from the two state leaders of the SHSP 

and a facilitated discussion with participants.

During the meetings, Road Show participants learned 

about Nevada’s new zero fatality goal. They were also 

given an opportunity to describe existing programs that 

address the critical emphasis areas of the SHSP. This 

exercise in enumerating programs was also used as an 

opportunity to promote the Nevada Big Book of Safety 

and identify programs not documented in this clearinghouse for Nevada’s traffic safety-related projects 

and programs. The Big Book of Safety is on-line and 

intended to be a quick-access, searchable list for agencies and the public to use as-needed for research, contact 

information, and details on Nevada’s traffic safety initiatives. The Big Book is a living document and will be 

updated as feedback is received from participating agencies and stakeholders about program details, additions, 

removals, or corrections.

Road Show participants provided ideas and suggestions 

for safety programs and activities that could be included 

in the SHSP update. Finally, participants heard about 

funding and other resource opportunities. 

Key Accomplishments

•	 Engaged over 100 stakeholders representing 4Es

of safety and different levels of government.

•	 Held 4 road show meetings to collect stakeholder

input to inform SHSP update process.

•	 Renewed enthusiasm for the statewide safety

efforts.
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

Results

Presenters and attendees agreed the meetings were a success and accomplished the objectives – stakeholders 

learned about the SHSP process, their interest was piqued, and it created opportunities for potential synergies 

among the various safety groups. It was also a good way to get people energized and interested in the upcoming 

Traffic Safety Summit. Not one of the meetings ended early and most people wanted to continue to talk. The 

press attended two meetings, including a local Las Vegas television station.

Contact

Chuck Reider

Chief Safety Engineer

Nevada DOT

775-888-7335

creider@dot.state.nv.us

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

 FHWA-SA-11-02 The Focus is Results
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

Engaging Native American 

Tribes in the SHSP

Washington

Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) and 

Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 

have led the development, implementation, and update 

of Washington’s SHSP (Target Zero) in collaboration 

with Washington State Patrol (WSP), the Department 

of Licensing, and others state and local agencies. More 

recently, these SHSP leaders have made efforts to garner 

additional participation from more local agencies, private 

industry, nonprofit groups, and Native American Tribes.

There are 29 Federally Recognized Tribes located within 

the borders of Washington State. The fatality rate for 

Native Americans in the State is 3.3 times higher than 

for non-Native Americans and data from 1999 through 

2008 shows Native American fatalities are high across 

all types of motor vehicle crashes. Native American reservations in Washington often include a mix of Tribal, 

state, county, and city roads, which creates jurisdictional 

complexities with law enforcement, collision reporting, 

road maintenance, and capital safety projects. 

Several steps led to increased attention on these Tribal 

safety issues in the most recent update of Target Zero. 

Through the annual Centennial Accord (CA), the State 

of Washington and Tribes have formally committed to 

working together on a government-to-government basis. 

Issues addressed by the CA include transportation. 

During the October 2008 Tribal/State Transportation 

Conference, Tribal planners and representatives of 

WSDOT and WTSC discussed traffic safety concerns 

and partnership opportunities. This led to a larger role 

for tribes in the update of Target Zero than they had in 

previous editions.

In May 2009, the state held the Tribal Traffic Safety 

Summit (sponsored by the FHWA Office of Federal Lands 

Highway), where WSDOT, WTSC, FHWA, Washington 

State Patrol (WSP), Northwest Tribal Technical Assistance 

Program (TTAP), Tribal Transportation Planning 

Organization (TTPO), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), 

and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

(NHTSA) joined many tribes to discuss reducing traffic 

fatalities and serious injuries on reservation roads and 

among Native Americans in the state. During this summit, 

tribal, state, Federal staff, and partners focused on the 4 Es 

of traffic safety (engineering, enforcement, education, and 

emergency response) and made recommendations on how 

to elevate Native American priorities within the Target Zero

process, as well as recommendations for immediate next 

steps at the tribal level for stakeholders to take charge of 

safety issues. 

Key Accomplishments

•	 Held a Tribal Traffic Safety Summit.

•	 Reinforced relationship between State of

Washington and Tribes provides context for

addressing critical safety data challenges.

•	 SHSP Target Zero explicitly addresses tribal traffic

safety issues.
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

Leadership involved in the summit carried forward the results from that discussion for consideration during the 

annual CA on June 23, 2009. Four CA action items resulted, including focusing efforts of WTSC and TTAP 

to increase tribal involvement in the update and implementation of Target Zero. In addition to carrying forward 

recommendations from the summit, the new Target Zero update includes strategies from the national Strategic 

Highway Safety Plan for Indian Lands. 

WSDOT circulated draft Target Zero strategies to tribal transportation planners in January 2010 for comment. 

WSDOT and WTSC then released a preliminary version of the plan in April 2010 for formal tribal consultation, 

before presenting it to the Governor’s office in May 2010. 

Results

Actively engaging tribes in discussions and planning has resulted in explicit consideration of Native American 

traffic safety issues in the update of Washington State’s Target Zero SHSP. The new plan includes an entire section focused specifically on Native American Tribes. In addition, some recommended strategies from the Tribal 

Traffic Safety Summit are included under the respective emphasis area sections. WSDOT has also offered to 

collaborate with tribes on the reauthorization of the Federal surface transportation act.

Contact

Lowell Porter

Director

Washington Traffic Safety Commission

360-725-9899

LPorter@wtsc.wa.gov

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

 FHWA-SA-11-02 The Focus is Results
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

MPO Safety Management 

Planning

Cheyenne, Wyoming

In 2008, the Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning 

Organization (MPO) completed its first Transportation 

Safety Management Plan (TSMP), an MPO level plan 

akin to statewide SHSPs. The MPO has successfully 

engaged partners in developing and implementing the 

TSMP through a combination of activities.

As part of plan development, the MPO convened the 

first safety summit in the region, involving 60 stakeholders from multiple disciplines. The TSMP defined six 

emphasis areas requiring focus in the region: impaired 

driving, occupant protection, distracted driving, older 

drivers, younger drivers, and intersections. The plan 

also identified strategies in each area. 

Following completion of the TSMP, the MPO developed 

grant applications seeking funding from the Wyoming 

Highway Safety Office (HSO) for two safety strategies: 

a summit for law enforcement personnel to increase 

enforcement of the secondary occupant protection 

statute, and development of an intersection safety analysis. These efforts maintained engagement of the law 

enforcement community in preparation for the summit 

and the engineering community as they completed the 

safety study. The MPO submitted a second round of 

grant applications to the HSO for FY 2010. Activities 

proposed included a briefing of state legislators on 

safety issues and a Battle of the Belts competition to 

increase safety belt use among teens. 

In the fall of 2009, the MPO convened meetings of all 

six emphasis area teams, inviting individuals who had 

participated in the summit as well as new stakeholders. 

Each team reviewed the strategies in the TSMP, identified new ideas, and discussed implementation of the 

two planned efforts for FY 2010. The MPO convened a 

second set of team meetings in the spring of 2010. The 

teams developed action plans that are updated on an 

ongoing basis. HSO staff frequently attend events and 

are represented on most of the emphasis area teams. 

The legislative briefing addressed issues from three of the 

emphasis areas and engaged a number of stakeholders 

in its planning. Specifically, the briefing addressed a primary safety belt law, alternative transportation to reduce 

DUI, and a medical advisory board. Organization of 

the briefing resulted in engaging a new safety stakeholder, the Wyoming Seatbelt Coalition, which helped 

the group frame the case for a primary safety belt law 

at the legislative summit. The MPO has been invited 

to serve as a member of the coalition, ensuring ongoing communication about the issue. A private sector 

company in favor of a safety belt law was engaged for 

the legislative briefing to present the economic benefits 

of increasing safety belt use through passing a primary 

safety belt law and demonstrate support for such a 

change. The American Association of Retired Persons 

(AARP) served as a speaker given their support of the 

Medical Advisory Board proposal. A public safety officer from the Casper Police Department, which started 

a successful alternative transportation program, also 

served as a speaker and became engaged in sharing 

information with the Cheyenne Police Department on 

how to start such a program.

Key Accomplishments

•	 Engaged safety stakeholders in six emphasis

areas, a law enforcement summit, a legislative

briefing, and other projects.

•	 Implemented four major safety projects in under

two years with help from new stakeholders.
HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series SHSP Stakeholder Involvement

A second effort undertaken in the community in May 2010 was Battle of the Belts, a campaign to increase the 

rates of safety belt use in high schools. Each school held a contest to increase safety belt use and the winning 

school received a cash prize. Planning this event engaged members of the younger driver and occupant protection teams. The students on the Mayor’s Youth Council became highly involved in event planning and promotion 

of the competition at their schools. The project allowed the MPO to develop a strong relationship with the principals of the three high schools in town. The Wyoming Safety Council became involved by delivering Alive@25 

assemblies at the schools to kickoff the program. Community businesses donated prizes that were distributed to 

students during the week of the event to reward those students wearing safety belts. The Mayor and Police Chief 

presented the award to the winning school demonstrating their support of these efforts and helping to continue 

to build a culture of safety in Cheyenne. 

Plans for FY 2011 involve developing a year-round alternative transportation program. This effort will involve 

the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center’s Injury Prevention Program and the Cheyenne Police Department, which 

is in the initial stages of configuring an alternative transportation program in Cheyenne. 

Moving forward, the MPO is developing grant applications for safety projects to be conducted in FY 2012 based 

on ideas developed by the emphasis area teams. Smaller-scale safety efforts are also implemented on an ongoing 

basis, such as developing a fact sheet for law enforcement on the importance of issuing citations for violations 

by older drivers instead of warnings to ensure an accurate driving record is captured. 

Results

In Cheyenne, safety stakeholder engagement has been built and sustained through MPO leadership – identifying 

and funding safety projects and working with partners on project implementation. Based on the needs of each 

project, new safety stakeholders become engaged in the process. Stakeholder interest is sustained when partners 

have been involved hands-on in implementing a project and see the results. Safety belt use among high school 

students increased by 10 to 15 percent at each of the schools with the Battle of the Belts Program. An eight-fold 

increase in citations for nonuse of safety belts followed the safety belt law enforcement summit.

Contact

Sreyoshi Chakraborty

Transportation Planner

Cheyenne MPO 

307-638-4384

schakraborty@cheyennecity.org

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

 FHWA-SA-11-02 The Focus is Results