VISION ZERO

Vision Zero is not a slogan or tagline, it is a fundamentally different way to approach traffic safety. Communities that want to succeed at Vision Zero need to acknowledge that business as usual is not enough and that systemic changes are needed to make meaningful progress.

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COMMITTING TO VISION ZERO WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES

• Building and sustaining leadership, collaboration, and accountability
• Collecting, analyzing and using data to understand trends and potential impacts of traffic deaths
• Managing speed to safe levels
• Setting a timeline to achieve zero traffic deaths and serious injuries

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*Vision Zero Network

It is anticipated the new MUTCD will strengthen the horizontal curve sign, advisory speed and assessment mandate as it has been identified as one of the least expensive measure to take in saving lives on the nation’s roadways. It is even referred to on the first page of the FHA 2020 budget summary:

“FHWA is using innovative approaches to reduce rural roadway departures, which account for one-third of traffic fatalities, by championing the systemic deployment of proven roadway departure countermeasures, which help keep vehicles in their travel lanes, reduce the potential for crashes, and reduce the severity of those crashes that do occur.”

It is also important to note that courts will refer to the most recent 2009 MUTCD when evaluating court cases. Since the 2009 MUTCD mandated all roadways with more than 1000 ADT be evaluated for proper advisory speeds, signs and the new chevron placement by the end of 2019, an agency may be at risk of negative judgements if they have not complied with the mandate. Quality Counts has the system in place and the experience to help any agency or engineering firm with any portion of the process in evaluating horizontal curves (data collection, processing of the data, existing sign inventory and quality assurance). It is our goal to have a safer roadway system in all communities and provide a cost-effective way to complete the assessment mandate.

QC can help you on your Vision Zero journey. Below are communities who have taken a step in the right direction by having QC collect their horizontal curve and sign inventory data. For more information visit https://www.qualitycounts.net/Services/17 or contact Jay McComb at jmccomb@qualitycounts.net

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OHIO DOT HORIZONTAL CURVE DATA COLLECTION AND ASSESSMENT

QC performed the data collection and analysis work for this statewide project. More than 20,000 centerline miles including all interstates, U.S. highways, state routes, and associated ramps in Ohio were surveyed. This project resulted in more than 15,000 curve reports and an inventory of approximately 34,000 curve warning signs. Using Rieker’s CARS system on ODOT’s contract allowed for continuous recording with spatial and progressive linear measurement. For each route, two passes in each direction were made for data collection. GPS and BBI data were provided and a GPS fit of 96% or greater was required. We used a team of 10 Field Technicians each of whom were Rieker certified.

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SCDOT HORIZONTAL CURVE DATA COLLECTION AND ASSESSMENT

Quality Counts was awarded this statewide Horizontal Curve Data Collection and Assessment contract in July of 2018, comprised of 4,300 CLMs. QC completed two passes required for this contract, compiled the data for delivery to the state, and conducted all redrives that did not have satisfactory curve data in a short five-month period. This effort has since been extended through a supplemental solicitation to include an additional 11,226 CLMs and 611 interstate ramps.

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CALTRANS DISTRICT 5 HORIZONTAL CURVE DATA COLLECTION

QC conducted data collection for horizontal curve assessments on all interstates, state routes, and U.S. highways within Caltrans District 5 using Rieker’s CARS system. The project objective was to provide data necessary to replace and supplement existing and/or place horizontal alignment signs (curve warning signs) in new locations on all state routes and ramps in compliance with the 2014 CA MUTCD. The network consisted of all roads maintained by Caltrans in District 5 which totaled approximately 1,100 centerline miles of roadway and 100 miles of freeway ramps. QC used GIS on the road network provided by Caltrans for efficient route planning and project tracking. QC performed post-processing using the CARS online portal to produce more than 3,000 curve reports complete with sign inventory including on-site georeferenced sign images. Publishing a web map with the data collection schedule helped to coordinate the timing of surveys and to account for segments affected by mudslides during the project.

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WSDOT SW REGION CURVE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Quality Counts provided horizontal curve data collection and analysis comprehensively on all state-maintained roads in WSDOT’s Southwest Region to allow WSDOT to meet the stipulations for horizontal curves mandated by the 2009 MUTCD. Approximately 960 centerline miles of roadway and 50 miles of freeway ramps were surveyed for the project. WSDOT required three passes in each direction of each curve with a 95% confidence interval or higher for each pass. Our team of analysts with advanced CARS certification used the CARS web portal for post-processing, resulting in almost 2,000 curve reports complete with recommendations for proposed horizontal alignment signs in accordance with MUTCD requirements.

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NEW YORK HORIZONTAL CURVE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS SERVICES

Quality Counts was awarded New York’s statewide curve and sign data collection contract in early 2019. This effort includes collecting horizontal curve and sign data on the NYSDOT highway system from beginning to end, totaling 16,550 CLMs and 5,000 ramps. QC is also tasked with assessing and providing recommendations for signage based on the MUTCD and NYS Supplement. QC is using Rieker’s CARS technology for the horizontal curve assessments and the SignProx application to perform the sign inventory.

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KENTUCKY CURVE DATA AND EXISTING SIGN INVENTORY

QC was awarded this statewide curve data and sign inventory contract for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Project tasks include driving, collecting, and processing 27,000 CLMs of horizontal curve data using the CARS system. Quality Counts is also tasked with driving, collecting, and processing 27,000 CLMs of existing sign inventory data. The sign inventory component of the project will be accomplished using vehicle-mounted cameras and processed using the SignProx application.

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DODGE COUNTY, WI HORIZONTAL CURE ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

QC provided Dodge County with Horizontal Curve Assessments and recommended curve warning signs and advisory speeds on all 540 CLMs of the county roads in 2019. This helped the county to meet the 2009 MUTCD mandate of having their roads assessed by the end of 2019. By tagging on to the Dodge County contract, Washington County was able to get their 186 CLMs assessed and save almost $2,800 in CARS licensing fees.

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