Search for the word or phrase: Help    Advanced

Search in: this manual only. all manuals.

• ♦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
    • ♦Introduction
    • ♦On-System SER Form Instructions
    • ♦Off-System 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

Chapter 1: Highway Safety Improvement Program

Anchor: #i1030968

Section 1: Overview

Anchor: #i1030973

Introduction

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) raised the stature of the highway safety program by establishing highway safety improvement as a core program, tied to strategic safety planning and performance.

SAFETEA-LU established the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) as a core program, separately funded for the first time, with flexibility provided to allow states to target funds to their most critical safety needs. The HSIP requires states to develop and implement a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The purpose of the SHSP is to identify and analyze highway safety problems and opportunities, include projects or strategies to address them, and evaluate the accuracy of data and the priority of proposed improvements. The goal is to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads.

The Texas SHSP identifies the serious crash types that the HSIP will focus on in order to meet the state’s goals and objectives of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes in Texas.

Anchor: #i1030997

Program Funding

The HSIP is federally funded. Program funds are eligible to cover 90 percent of total project costs. The remaining 10 percent of project costs must be covered by state or local participation. Authorization to receive federal funds is found in Title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C.), Section 148. The federal requirements outlining the HSIP structure are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Section 924.7.

Anchor: #i1031007

Program Categories

The Texas HSIP is made up of two safety construction programs, the Hazard Elimination (HES) and the High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) programs.

The HES program focuses on construction and operational improvements for locations both on and off the state highway system (excluding interstate highways).

The HRRR program focuses on construction and operational improvements on high-risk rural roads. High-risk rural roads are paved roadways functionally classified as rural major or minor collectors, or rural local roads with a fatal and incapacitating injury crash rate above the statewide average for those functional classes of roadways.

Both the HES and HRRR programs are administered by the Traffic Operations Division (TRF). They are part of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Unified Transportation Program (Category 8). TRF requests proposed highway safety projects from the districts through a statewide program call as funds are available. Questions regarding the HSIP should be addressed to the TRF, Traffic Engineering (TE) Section.

Anchor: #i1031032

Eligible Work Types

Funding of projects under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) will be focused on areas identified as having the greatest need in the most current Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

There are also some items of work that may address a serious crash type, but that are not eligible for HSIP funding. Some of the types of work ineligible for HSIP funding are:

• all work on interstate highways (unless specified in the call for project proposals)
• bridge replacement
• general maintenance (maintenance of roadways, signs, signals, pavement markings, markers, etc.).

Anchor: #i1031061

Time Limit for Letting

Each HSIP has a specified funding lapse date. Programmed projects must be let to contract by this date. Each program lapse date will be included in the “All District Engineer” call for project proposals and notification of project selection memos. Due to the loss of federal funds not obligated by the program lapse date, there will be no extensions of these dates. Projects should not be submitted that cannot be let to contract by the specified lapse date.

Anchor: #i1031075

Confidentiality of Data

Federal statute 23 USC 409 makes data and reports confidential if they are compiled for the purpose of evaluating the safety of federal-aid highways. Data used in the HSIP should not be released. Any written request must be routed through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Office of General Counsel (OGC).