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FHWA Home / Safety / Transportation Safety Planning (TSP) / Transportation Safety Planning

Transportation Safety Planning – National and Idaho Context

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Safety is a national transportation performance goal area, but more importantly, it is the number one priority for all transportation system users. For this reason, every state Department of Transportation (DOT) and metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is investing in programs and projects to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. Idaho is addressing transportation safety through a "Toward Zero Deaths" approach, which focuses on zero fatalities and the promise to move residents and visitors to their destinations safely. Many different stakeholders play a role in achieving this commitment, with transportation planners leading the way on stakeholder coordination, crash data analysis, prioritizing and programming investments, and tracking and evaluating results.  

To assist States and MPOs improve transportation safety, including progress toward zero deaths goals, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Offices of Safety and Planning sponsored a series of Transportation Safety Planning (TSP) Workshops. In April 2017, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) hosted a workshop with participants from the Idaho MPOs and the FHWA. The workshop provided an opportunity to collaborate on transportation safety and integrate safety in the transportation planning process. The effort consisted of a workshop to discuss strategies and opportunities for collaboration; a follow-up webinar to discuss further opportunities and challenges; and a peer exchange webinar to share successful practices in other states and broaden collaboration. 

Idaho's Transportation Safety Planning Strengths

Idaho's Best Practices in Transportation Safety Planning

Story Maps: Story maps allow the department to combine authoritative maps with narrative text, images, and multimedia content. They are also a good way to ensure stakeholders and the public easily understand ITD's goals and information. The maps are (and will be) used for long-range, corridor, and modal project planning activities. Safety, which is one component of the map, and allows end-users to understand the safety issues on a corridor in conjunction with other transportation needs. Story maps are available on the IPlan site, a collaborative site used by ITD to collect and distribute information on the system network.

Example of a map, which can be used as a resource by transportation planners, to locate corridors and hotspots in need of pedestrian safety improvementsHSIP Flow Charts:  ITD developed a flowchart to provide a transparent process, showing how Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) projects are selected and evaluated and how HSIP funds are distributed. One element of the chart detailed the process for identifying and funding safety projects through LHTAC and the other element described the same information for the ITD project identification process.

Local Assistance: LHTAC administers the Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (LHSIP) to provide local jurisdictions with resources to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on public roads. Approximately $3.7 million is available annually and to incentive participation, LHTAC develops a list of eligible jurisdictions, provides crash data, and supplies a toolbox of countermeasures for intersections, roadway departures, and traffic signals. LHTAC is also updating its data collection capabilities, using grant funds to collect volume data. In addition, they are also starting to put resources into local road safety plan development.

Next Steps for Transportation Safety Planning in Idaho

FHWA-SA-18-016

Page last modified on April 4, 2018
Safe Roads for a Safer Future - Investment in roadway safety saves lives
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000