Connecticut 2007 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.
5 Percent Report
Background
SAFETEA-LU created a new Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) as a "core" FHWA program with separate funding, replacing the Hazard Elimination Program, effective October 1, 2005. The purpose of the HSIP is to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads. As part of the new HSIP, States are required to submit an Annual Report describing not less than 5 percent of their highway locations exhibiting the most severe safety needs. The intent of this provision is to raise public awareness of the highway safety needs and challenges in the states. It is the intention of the FHWA to make each state "5 Percent Report" available to the public on a USDOT web site.
Procedure Used to Develop the 5 Percent List
Identification and surveillance of locations displaying a higher than expected accidents rate on the highway system are accomplished primarily through a computerized surveillance system (SLOSSS) utilizing traffic record files maintained by the Department's Division of Systems Information. These files consist of: a crash record file; an average daily traffic file; a roadway characteristic inventory file. The inventory file identifies locations as being either rural or urban, as either a section of highway, section of expressway, intersection with another state highway, intersection with a town road (or unsignalized drive) or expressway interchange, and further by number of lanes and control of access. The basic search of the accident file to identify locations that may have an abnormal crash history can take many forms. In the case of this year's 5 Percent Report, the entire State highway system is surveyed based upon fatal and injury accidents occurring during the latest available period. A computer program utilizing the previously mentioned data files is run with average accident rates computed. Based upon these average values, a threshold of abnormally high rates is developed. Locations with rates equaling or exceeding the threshold value appear on the list.
The list generated for the three year time period covering January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005 yielded two-hundred seventy five (275) locations. The top five percent of these locations are described in sequential order in the table following this narrative.
It is recognized that Connecticut's five percent list considers all reported state road injuries and does not include local roads. In accordance with FHWA guidance, it is anticipated that by August 31, 2009, improvements to Connecticut's accident data system will permit future 5 Percent Reports to include local roads and to focus on serious (Type A) injuries.
Highway Segments/Intersections Exhibiting the Most Severe Safety Needs
2006 – 2007
| Location | Potential Remedies | Estimated Costs | Implementation Impediments | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town | Route | ||||
| #1 Middletown |
Route 17 at Main St Extension and Route 9 interchange | Construction of a Single Point Urban Interchange to replace the existing partial free-flow directional interchange. | $200 million | Difficulty maintaining traffic during anticipated staged construction and some local concerns. | The recommended improvement has been defined in State Project #82-279. This project was initiated in an effort to address existing deficiencies/safety issues and to proactively mitigate future problems that may occur along Route 9 and its interchanges in the City of Middletown. Preliminary design is expected to begin within the next year. |
| #2 East Haven |
Route 100 at US Route 1 | Realign Route 100 approach to US Route 1. | $200,000 | Impact on business access. | Location was on 2005-2006 5% Report. Traffic engineers from the Department of Transportation met with Town officials in May 2007 to discuss a concept plan to realign the intersection. Since the roadway realignment will impact access to businesses, the DOT needs to have further meetings with property owners to seek consensus before a project can be recommended. |
| #3 Bridgeport |
SR 700 at West Ave. #1 | Signalization to address angle accident pattern. | $100,000 | None | Need to discuss signalization with City officials before a project can be recommended. |
| #4 New Haven |
SR 706 at Route 10 | Re-align SR 706 and Route 34 with Route 10. Upgrade existing traffic control signal. | $2.7 million | Impact to abutting land. | An interim improvement that revised the lane use and signal operation was implemented in August of 2007. |
| #5 West Hartford |
SR 535 at Route 71 & the Route 71 connector | Possible modifications to the signal timing and phasing | $100,000 | None | Needs further study. |
| #6 West Haven |
US Route 1 at Brower Street and Route 122 | Realign Route 122 with Route 1, widen for exclusive left turn lanes and upgrade traffic signal | $10.83 million | None | Project 156-170 will accomplish the recommended improvements and is currently scheduled to be advertised in March 2008. |
| #7 Bridgeport |
Route 130 at Park Avenue Northbound & Southbound | Upgrade traffic signal equipment. | $9.5 million | None | Project 15-226 will accomplish the recommended improvements and is currently scheduled to be advertised in May 2009. |
| #8 Waterbury |
Route 69 Bet Lakewood Road and Shopping Center | Major corridor upgrade including construction of a raised median on Route 69 and roadway widening to provide additional lanes at adjacent signalized intersections. | $1.3 million (2002 dollars) – includes additional work on Route 69 southerly to Frost Road. | Private property acquisitions will be required to implement additional recommended improvements required to address safety concerns and to provide lane continuity within the corridor. | The “Route 69 Traffic Operations Study Final Report” prepared for the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley, October 2002, identified the above improvements as a “High Priority”. |
| #9 New Haven |
Route 1 at Howard Avenue | 50% of the 22 accidents were rear-end crashed which were evenly distributed on all four approaches. | N/A | N/A | The intersection has been investigated and does not exhibit a correctable accident pattern. |
| #10 Bridgeport |
SR 722 at Route 8 ramps, Reservoir Ave & Chopsey Hill Rd. | Revise traffic signal | $50,000 | None | More than half of the 91 accidents were rear end crashes. Dilemma zone protection will be evaluated. |
| #11 Wallingford |
Route 5 at SR 702 & Toelles Rd. | Widen Route 5 to provide opposing left turn lanes at SR 702 and Toelles Road | $1.34 million | None | Project 148-190 will accomplish the recommended improvements and is currently scheduled to be advertised in October 2007. |
| #12 Stamford |
Route 1 Bet. Blachley & Standish Rds. | Construct raised islands to limit business access | TBD | Impact on business access. | Needs further study. |
| #13 Waterbury |
I-84 Bet. Route 69 & Harpers Ferry interchange | Provide additional travel lanes, additional shoulder width and improved geometry | $216 million – (incl. improvement on I-84 from Washington St. to Pierpont Rd.) | None | Project 151-273 will accomplish the recommended improvements and is currently scheduled to be advertised in January 2009. |
| #14 Hamden |
Route 10 Bet Route 22, Dickerman Street and Woodruff St. | Widen Route 10, Route 22 and Dickerman street to provide left turn lanes. | $2.16 million | None | Project 61-143 will accomplish the recommended improvements and is currently scheduled to be advertised in August 2007. |
Assessment of 2005-2006 5 Percent List
During the previous reporting year (2005-2006) fifteen (15) locations were identified as the top five percent of SLOSSS locations in Connecticut. Of those fifteen (15) locations, six (6) were identified for further study to determine appropriate corrective measure. Actions to date for those six (6) locations are discussed as follows:
Location #4 - Town of East Haven - Route 100 at Route 1
Traffic engineers from the Department of Transportation met with Town officials in May 2007 to discuss a concept plan to realign the intersection. Since the roadway realignment will impact access to businesses, the DOT needs to meet with property owners to seek consensus before a project can be recommended.
Location #5 - Town of East Haven - SR 735 at Forbes Place and Kimberly Avenue
The Department of Transportation is investigating possible signalization and geometric improvements. Once a concept plan is developed, the next step is for traffic engineers to meet with the local officials to discuss alternatives.
Location #6 - Town of Newington - SR 505 Between CDR S.C. and Holly Drive
The Department of Transportation has developed a concept plan for construction of a raised median island to prohibit left turns into and out of the gas station located within the study area. A meeting is to be set up with the Town for municipal review and support. A state project is anticipated for construction of the median island to reduce the angle accident pattern.
Location #8 - City of New Britain - Route 71 Between Route 9 ramp & McDonalds
The Department of Transportation has developed a concept plan to construct a raised median to prohibit left turns into and out of the development drives located on the north side of Route 71 within the study area. These properties are intentionally connected and full access is provided at an existing signalized drive located east of the study area. The median island will control access to the development on the south side of the study area by prohibiting left turns into and out of the gas station, however, a left turn pocket opposite the shopping center drive will be provided to preclude u-turns at the next signalized median break which is an expressway off-ramp. Meetings have been held with the State and Local officials to discuss the concept plans and endorsement of the proposed has been received. A state project is to be recommended for construction of the median islands to reduce the cycle accident pattern.
Location #10 - City of Meriden - Route 5 between Town Line Plaza and Broad Street
A new McDonald's restaurant that will be constructed within an existing shopping center, Town Line Plaza, was recently approved by the State Traffic Commission. The existing McDonald's restaurant located within the study section will be closed, thereby reducing the amount of potential turning conflicts in the area. No further action is recommended at this time.
Location #13 - City of New Haven - Route 69 at Pond Lily & Route 15 SB ramp
In addition to the location identified as #13 on the 5% Report there were seven identified SLOSSS locations from the 2002-2004 list in the same general area. Due to the complexity of the area and the interrelation between the study sites, it was determined that the entire area should be studied as a whole rather than as individual SLOSSS locations. It has been recommended that a comprehensive planning study of Route 15 (interchange 59), Route 63, Route 69 and SR 749 be undertaken. The study will identify existing conditions and make practical cost-efficient improvement recommendations. The study would also identify anticipated social and environmental issues and constraints that must be considered in evaluating alternatives and developing recommended action(s). Once the study is complete, it is anticipated that individual projects will be recommended.
