Roadway safety planning traditionally relied on historical crash data to identify high-risk locations. While useful, this reactive approach does not reflect current traffic volumes, speed patterns, or emerging risks, limiting proactive decision-making and efficient resource allocation.
The County identified the need for a forward-looking, data-driven approach that integrates risk-based prioritization with real-time traffic exposure data to better target and prioritize safety improvements.
The County implemented a data-driven roadway safety prioritization program integrating the Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) tool with BlacCAT radar-based traffic monitoring technology.
The program combines:
- LRSP risk scores to identify roadway segments with elevated safety risk factors
- BlacCAT traffic data to measure real-time Average Daily Traffic (ADT), vehicle speeds, and headway patterns
By integrating these datasets, the County developed a system that prioritizes roadway safety improvements based on both risk and exposure, enabling more strategic decision-making and proactive intervention.
The program was implemented collaboratively by Public Works, Transportation Engineering, and GIS staff in four phases:
Phase 1: LRSP Assessment
- Evaluated county roadway segments using the LRSP tool
- Assigned safety risk scores
- Identified high-risk locations for potential intervention
Phase 2: BlacCAT Traffic Monitoring
- Deployed radar-based monitoring equipment
- Collected ADT, vehicle speed, and headway data
- Mapped traffic patterns across roadway segments
Phase 3: Data Integration
- Combined LRSP risk scores with traffic exposure data
- Developed dashboards and reporting tools
- Created prioritization workflows for safety improvements
Phase 4: Deployment and Training
- Trained staff to interpret integrated datasets
- Established ongoing data update and maintenance procedures
- Institutionalized data-driven prioritization practices
The program leveraged existing LRSP tools, BlacCAT technology, and internal staff resources.
Costs were limited primarily to staff time for:
- Data collection
- Analysis
- Dashboard development
- Workflow integration
By improving prioritization accuracy, the program is expected to generate long-term cost savings through better allocation of safety funds and more effective interventions.
The program shifted the County’s roadway safety planning from a reactive to a proactive model.
Key Outcomes:
- Identification of high-risk road segments not previously flagged by crash history alone
- Prioritization of improvements based on both risk and traffic exposure
- Enhanced decision-making capabilities for engineers and planners
- Improved allocation of limited safety resources
- Development of visualization dashboards to support stakeholder communication
The integrated system provides a repeatable and scalable framework for ongoing roadway safety management.
This program represents an innovative advancement in roadway safety management by integrating:
- Risk-based LRSP prioritization
- Real-time traffic monitoring technology
Rather than relying solely on historical crash data, the County now evaluates both systemic risk factors and current traffic exposure. This hybrid model allows for earlier intervention, optimized resource deployment, and improved safety outcomes.
The approach is:
- Cost-effective
- Scalable
- Replicable by other counties
- Sustainable with existing staff and tools