New Jersey 2006 Five Percent Report
This report is in response to the Federal requirement that each state describe at least 5 percent of its locations currently exhibiting the most severe highway safety needs, in accordance with Sections 148(c)(1)(D) and 148(g)(3)(A), of Title 23, United States Code. Each state’s report is to include potential remedies to the hazardous locations identified; estimated costs of the remedies; and impediments to implementation of the remedies other than costs. The reports included on this Web site represent a variety of methods utilized and various degrees of road coverage. Therefore, this report cannot be compared with the other reports included on this Web site.
Protection from Discovery and Admission into Evidence—Under 23 U.S.C. 148(g)(4) information collected or compiled for any purpose directly relating to this report 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. |
Additional information, including the specific legislative requirements, can be found in the guidance provided by the Federal Highway Administration,
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/fiveguidance.htm.
New Jersey 5% Report
The following Table presents the locations deemed to be in most need, or had been in most need of safety improvements. These locations were developed from the NJDOT Crash Records Database and are on the respective priority list for improvements. The locations are grouped by the type of crash reduction or improvement program currently existing at NJDOT. Some of the locations have been completed; others are slated to be improved within our Capital Program; and others have had interim improvements through our Maintenance Program. Following the Table is a description of the methodologies for each of the programs contained in the 5% Report.
State Highway Intersections Exhibiting Safety Needs as Identified by Safety Management System Data
| Location | Implemented or Proposed Remedies | Actual/Estimated Costs | Status of Implementation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEDESTRIAN PROGRAM | |||
| RT 1&9 @ CR 612 (JERSEY ST) | Installed vehicular and pedestrian signal upgrades, including revised operation and signs and markings. Additional upgrades will follow via Capital project. | $50,000/$59,000,000 | Interim project complete. Final project under construction. No Impediments |
| RT 9 @ FAIRWAY AVE | Installed vehicular and pedestrian signal upgrades, including revised operation and signs and markings. | $40,000 | Complete |
| RT 1&9 @ MAPLE AVE | Intersection's SE corner geometry will be revised to reduce curb radius and corresponding highway crosswalk length. | $60,000 | Safety project currently undergoing electrical design. No Impediments |
| RT 439 @ CR 610 (W GRAND ST) | Interim Intersection upgrades in terms of revised lane use signing and striping completed. Final upgrades to signal, including pedestrian countdown signals and new crosswalk between northerly corners are currently under development. | $35,000 | Safety project currently undergoing signal plan development. No Impediments |
| INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM | |||
| RT 1 @ RT 130 | Previously signalized and highly complex intersection was grade separated. | $20,000,000 | Complete |
| RT 4 @ RT 17 | Significant modifications were made to the existing interchange. | $20,000,000 | Complete |
| RT 70 @ RT 73 (MARLTON CIRCLE) | Complex signalized Traffic Circle will receive interim signing and striping modifications to reduce side swipe crashes. Circle will be eliminated via Capital Project currently in final design. | $10,000/$41,800,000 | Interim and Final projects in design. No Impediments |
| RT 1&9 @ CR 624 (NORTH AVE) | Installed vehicular and pedestrian signal upgrades, including revised operation and signs and markings. Additional upgrades are currently under construction via Capital project, including the installation of a far-side jughandle to accommodate NB U and left turn movements. | $87,366 | Interim project complete. Final project under construction. No Impediments |
| RT 35 @ RT 36 | Interim safety project upgraded the traffic signal to include improved signal displays and signing and striping to reduce improper turn movement crashes. Final Capital Project is in final design and will straighten out the approach geometry of the Route 35 legs, provide a far-side jughandle for EB U and left turn movements, and also eliminate the SB jughandle in favor of double left turn slots to match the NB approach. | $70,000/$13,900,000 | Interim project complete. Final project in final design. No Impediments |
| LEFT TURN CRASH REDUCTION PROGRAM | |||
| RT 17 @ CR 12 (ESSEX ST) | High left turn and right angle crash frequency locations (both ramp intersections) will be signalized as part of a Capital Bridge Replacement Project. | $30,600,000 | Project is nearing the submission date for P,S&E submission. No Impediments |
| RT 30 @ CR 686 (CLEMENTON-GIBBSBORO RD) | Low cost safety improvement project is currently in design which will attempt to alleviate the severe left turn crash problem on the highway approaches. Head-to-head left turn lanes will be installed for Route 30 and an additional through lane provided for WB and NB. The larger Capital Project is being placed on hold pending the success of the low cost alternative. | $25,000 | Low cost safety project in plan development. No Impediments |
| RIGHT ANGLE CRASH REDUCTION PROGRAM | |||
| RT 1&9 @CR 624 (NORTH AVE) | See above | See above | Interim project complete. Final project under construction. No Impediments |
| RT 1 @ RT 130 | See above | See above | Complete |
| RT 70 @ RT 73 (MARLTON CIRCLE) | See above | See above | Interim and Final projects in design. No Impediments |
| RT 1&9 @ RT 1&9T AND RT 139 (TONNELLE CIRCLE | Highly complex signalized traffic circle is to be modified via a two-stage Capital project. The first, which has been completed, added a SB approach lane to the signal and performed some minor signal upgrades, including timing and operational enhancements to reduce congestion and right angle crashes. Second stage of project will considerably modify the intersection layout and geometry as part of the replacement of the St. Paul's bridge directly above the intersection. | $169,000,000 | |
PROGRAM METHODOLOGIES
Pedestrian Program
Methodology: Locations will be considered for further evaluation/study upon reaching or exceeding the annual or three year crash criteria as follows:
--3 or more in any 3-year period at any intersection exceeding selected severity minimum (severity weightings are skewed in more of an exponential manner towards higher severity crashes as opposed to the straight line weighting methodology utilized for the intersection program).
Public Road Coverage: Crashes are collected and analyzed for all public roads in New Jersey.
Years used in Data Analysis: 1998 - 2000; new pedestrian list has been generated using 2003-2005, but is currently in draft.
Contact: Wilbur Dixon, Manager, Bureau of Safety Programs, 609-530-3474
Intersection Improvement Program
A methodology was developed to reduce the number and severity of crashes occurring at intersections on all New Jersey roadways. These programs consider the total number of crashes and crash severity. These factors are combined through a systematic process to establish a "Severity Index" which aids in the prioritization of intersection improvements.
The initial identification criteria are in terms of Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) crashes. This is derived by summing the EPDO values of every crash at each intersection location throughout the state. The EPDO values were developed using engineering judgment so that both the number and severity of crashes will influence the determination of the "Severity Index". The EPDO values given to each severity level which are listed on the New Jersey State Police Crash Report Form NJTR-1 are as follows:
| SEVERITY LEVEL | EPDO VALUES |
|---|---|
| Fatal Injury | 5 |
| Incapacitating Injury | 4 |
| Moderate Injury | 3 |
| Complaint of Pain | 2 |
| P.D.O. | 1 |
The EPDO values for each crash are summed over a three-year period for a specific route and milepost associated with each "at" intersection location.
All potential project locations will also be screened for overrepresented crash types as compared to the statewide averages for similar route sections/facilities or excessive frequencies of certain crash types as applied against applicable reference guides (e.g. MUTCD or TCDH) to help focus investigative efforts towards mitigating the dominant crash patterns.
Public Road Coverage: Crashes are collected and analyzed for all public roads in New Jersey.
Years used in Data Analysis: 1998 - 2000
Contact: Wilbur Dixon, Manager, Bureau of Safety Programs, 609-530-3474
Left Turn Crash Reduction Program
Methodology: Locations will be considered for further evaluation/study upon reaching or exceeding the annual or three year crash criteria as follows:
--4 per year on one or any pair of opposing approaches.
Public Road Coverage: Crashes are collected and analyzed for all public roads in New Jersey.
Years used in Data Analysis: 1998 - 2000
Contact: Wilbur Dixon, Manager, Bureau of Safety Programs, 609-530-3474
Right Angle Crash Reduction Program
Methodology: Locations will be considered for further evaluation/study upon reaching or exceeding the annual or three year crash criteria as follows:
--5 per year.
Public Road Coverage: Crashes are collected and analyzed for all public roads in New Jersey.
Years used in Data Analysis: 1998 - 2000
Contact: Wilbur Dixon, Manager, Bureau of Safety Programs, 609-530-3474
