Synthesis Study: Effectiveness of Safety Corridor Programs in Region 7 States
Researcher(s)
Principal investigator: Charles Nemmers, University of Missouri-Columbia
Other authors: Charles J. Nemmers, Derek Vap, Thomas J. McDonald
Project status
Completed
Start date: 03/01/07
End date: 07/31/08
Publications
Report: July 2008, Synthesis Study: Effectiveness of Safety Corridor Programs, Report on Tasks 1-3 718 kb (*pdf)
Related publications: Evaluating State Safety Corridor Programs 143 kb *pdf (Tech transfer summary) July 2008
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Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s):Midwest Transportation Consortium
University of Missouri - Columbia
About the research
Abstract: This report synthesizes the safety corridor programs of 13 states that currently have some type of program: Alaska, California, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. This synthesis can help Midwestern states implement their own safety corridor programs and select pilot corridors or enhance existing corridors. Survey and interview information about the statesÂ’ programs was gathered from members of each state department of transportation (DOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) division office.
Topics discussed included definitions of a safety corridor; length and number of corridors in the program; criteria for selection of a corridor; measures of effectiveness of an implemented safety corridor; organizational structure of the program; funding and legislation issues; and engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical service strategies. Safety corridor programs with successful results were then examined in more detail, and field visits were made to Kansas, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington for first-hand observations.
With the survey and field visit information, several characteristics of successful safety corridor programs were identified, including multidisciplinary (3E and 4E) efforts; selection, evaluation, and decommissioning strategies; organization structure, champions, and funding; task forces and Corridor Safety Action Plans; road safety audits; and legislation and other safety issues. Based on the synthesis, the report makes recommendations for establishing and maintaining a successful safety corridor program.