This capability assessment will be part of FHWA's Roadway Safety Data Partnership and the Office of Safety's commitment to support improvements in the collection, analysis, management, and expansion of roadway data. Other related efforts include the Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE), the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), the Crash Data Improvement Program (CDIP), and the Roadway Data Improvement Program (RDIP). In addition, the Roadway Safety Data Partnership is engaged with safety data programs and efforts throughout FHWA and across DOT to ensure programs are complementary in nature and provide the best possible support to our partners at the State level. Other FHWA programs that are related to the RSDP include Interactive Highway Safety Design Module (IHSDM), SafetyAnalyst, and the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). DOT programs that have been engaged with the RSDP include NHTSA's 408 program and Traffic Records Assessments as well as the DOT Traffic Records Coordinating Committee. We are already leveraging the resources available from these other programs to reduce the time and effort needed by States to complete this capability assessment.
Throughout the assessment process, all of the information collected will be used for the sole purpose of assisting the States to understand where they currently are with their roadway data, where they may want to be, and how to get there. At the national level, FHWA will use the national gap analysis to guide us as we develop future program support, technical support and guidance to assist the evolution of data-driven systemic safety planning. The assessment results are for the benefit of the States to chart their progress. The States can, at their discretion, choose to share their results. At no point will the FHWA Office of Safety, an FHWA Division Office, or the partnership Website, release a State's results without prior written approval.
A Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a means for identifying phases of growth and development. CMMs originated in the information technology arena to track the development of computer systems. They are now seeing wider application as a means for identifying phases of growth and development from a combined qualitative and quantitative perspective.
Contact Heather Rothenberg (heather.rothenberg2@dot.gov or 202-366-2193) to find out whether your State's assessment has already been scheduled and who the project team contact is for your State. If your assessment hasn't been scheduled, she will put you in touch with your project team contact person to schedule your assessment.