Highway Safety Improvement Program Manual: Hazard Elimination Program

♦Manual Notice
▼1. Highway Safety Improvement Program
- ►1. Overview
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Program Funding
  - ♦Program Categories
  - ♦Eligible Work Types
  - ♦Time Limit for Letting
  - ♦Confidentiality of Data
- ►2. Design Guidelines
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Design Guidelines
  - ♦Design Considerations
  - ♦Design Exceptions or Design Waivers
- ▼3. Hazard Elimination Program
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Eligible Roads
  - ♦Nature of Hazard Elimination Projects
  - ♦Program Process Overview
- ►4. High Risk Rural Roads Program
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Eligible Roads
  - ♦Nature of High Risk Rural Road Projects
  - ♦Program Process Overview
- ►5. Project Submission
  - ♦HSIP Specific Rules
  - ♦Field Evaluation
  - ♦Additional Off-System Project Information
  - ♦Submission Form
  - ♦Filling Out the SER
- ►6. Using the Safety Improvement Index
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦The SII Formula
  - ♦Obtaining SII Data
  - ♦SII Results
  - ♦SII Calculator Available
- ►7. Obtaining Crash Data
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Source of Crash Data
  - ♦Crash Data and the HSIP
  - ♦Off - System Crash Data
- ►8. SER Form Instructions
- ►9. HSIP Work Codes Table
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Signing and Signals
  - ♦Roadside Obstacles and Barriers
  - ♦Resurfacing and Roadway Lighting
  - ♦Pavement Markings
  - ♦Roadway Work
- ►10. Preventable Crash Decoding
  - ♦Introduction
  - ♦Part of Roadway No. 1 Involved
  - ♦Roadway Related
  - ♦Intersection Related
  - ♦First Harmful Event
  - ♦Vehicle Movements & Manner of Collision
  - ♦Object Struck
  - ♦Bridge Detail
  - ♦Other Factor
  - ♦Light Condition
  - ♦Surface Condition
  - ♦ Vehicle Type

Section 3: Hazard Elimination Program

Introduction

The Hazard Elimination (HES) Program is part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The basic objective of the HES Program is to reduce the number and severity of crashes. The program objectives are accomplished through “highway safety projects.”

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Eligible Roads

HES projects may be for locations both on and off the state highway system.

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Nature of Hazard Elimination Projects

HES projects may accomplish any of the following:

correct or improve high-hazard locations
eliminate roadside obstacles
treat roadside obstacles
improve highway signing and pavement marking
install traffic control or warning devices at locations with a high number of crashes.

These projects may range from spot-safety improvements and upgrading of existing conditions to new roadway construction (such as grade separations). Highway safety projects should be small in scope, low in cost, and can be let to contract within three years.

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Program Process Overview

The following table summarizes the process by which highway safety projects obtain HES Program funding.

Anchor: #i999217Hazard Elimination Program Funding Process
Step	Responsible Party	Action
1.	TRF	Requests project proposals through a statewide program call to the districts.
2.	District	Notifies local governments of program call.
3.	District	Identifies potential highway safety projects using historical crash data and other data. Works with local governments to identify potential off-system highway safety projects.
4.	District	Determines the needed highway safety improvements and their costs. >> See Section 2 of this manual, “Design Guidelines,” for details.
5.	District	Fills out a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) form for each proposed highway safety project and submits the forms to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Traffic Operations Division (TRF) along with the necessary backup data (typical sections, layouts, etc.) in response to the program call. >> See Section 5 of this manual, “Project Submission,” for details.
6.	TRF	Analyzes the proposed highway safety projects for HES Program eligibility, data accuracy, and conformance with design standards. >> See Section 1 of this Manual, “Overview – Eligible Work Types,” for details.
7.	TRF	Subjects each eligible project to a benefit/cost analysis using the Safety Improvement Index (SII), then puts the projects into priority order based on the results. >> See Section 6 of this manual, “Using the Safety Improvement Index,” for details.
8.	TRF	Places projects in the HES Program according to priority and appropriated federal funding; then sends listing of highway safety projects selected for funding in the HES Program to the districts.
9.	District	Sets projects up in the Design/Construction Information System (DCIS) in the assigned work program and may include qualifying projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as appropriate.
10.	District	Notifies TRF of potential overrun of an HES project's authorized funds prior to Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) submittal.
11.	District	Submits PS&E for HES projects to the Design Division (DES) in accordance with standard PS&E submission schedule. >> See the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate Preparation Manual (Chapter 1, Section 3) for details on PS&E procedures.
12.	TRF	Handles overruns of project authorized funds at the divisional PS&E review stage in accordance with the current TxDOT policy. >> See Commission Minute Order 106788, March 28, 1996 or subsequent revisions.