Safety Planning & Legislation

What is the role of the metropolitan planning organization in transportation safety?

Transportation planning takes safety considerations into account by identifying high-crash locations and giving them high priority for improvements. Many state and local transportation agencies have developed safety management systems that monitor crash locations. The MPO can participate in data collection for these systems or coordinate the development of a regional safety management system. In addition, MPOs play a key role in integrating safety into the metropolitan transportation planning process by coordinating with transit, state highway and motor carrier safety agencies.

What are the requirements for incorporating safety into transportation planning?

Federal transportation legislation such as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (known as TEA-21) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (known as SAFETEA-LU) include safety as one of the main planning factors to be considered in transportation planning. Specifically, the planning process should consider projects and strategies that will "increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users."

This means that both short and long-range plans include safety as a key area of focus. Safety is also a factor when rating projects and strategies for possible inclusion in short range plans and programs. In addition, it encourages regional, state, and local agencies to work together to save lives by improving engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency response services.

Safety Planning in the Baltimore Region

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board continuously explores ways to incorporate safety into the regional transportation planning process through Safety Conscious Planning. SCP is a proactive approach to preventing unsafe transportation conditions and includes areas such as:

• Improving area management and operations strategies (i.e. emergency response management, traveler information services, etc.)
• Identifying additional data needs and collection methods
• Increasing coordination with state and federal planning efforts

The BRTB works with state and local agencies in the development of long and short range plans. Each plan goes through a process of technical analysis and review.

The following diagram details how safety planning can be integrated into the planning process in state and local planning initiatives.

Figure 1 – The Essential Eight (source NHI/NTI Transportation Safety Planning)

Safety and Transportation Outlook 2035

In the current long-range transportation plan, Transportation Outlook 2035, safety was considered through the prioritization process. Working in coordination with the State Highway Administration, the BRTB obtains crash data including total number of crashes, fatalities, and injuries for each of the jurisdictions.

Legislation

Every year, the General Assembly is in legislative session from January to April. Safety advocates prepare an agenda and continue support to delegates and senators to strengthen the rules and regulations that make the Baltimore region a safer place to live, work, play and learn.

Members of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board deal with safety issues within their jurisdictions or at a state level. As a Board the members have directed staff to track pertinent legislation moving through the Maryland General Assembly. Each year, the Maryland General Assembly meets for 90 days in Annapolis to act on more than 2,300 bills including the State's annual budget. During the session, staff publishes a Legislative Weekly Report on the status of transportation, air quality and community development related legislation introduced in the general assembly.

In 2010, there were 3 highway safety bills that passed that will become effective October 1, 2010.

• SB 624 – Shoulder rule bill
• SB 51 – Three foot bill
• SB 351 - Ban on Texting / require hand free devices

For more information:

Links within this web site:

Traffic Safety in Maryland


Links to other web sites:

Bicycle Safety it’s a two-way street (pdf)

Maryland Laws pertaining to Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Bicycle FAQ (SHA) (pdf)

Bicycle Rights and Responsibilities (SHA) (pdf)

Graduated Driver Licensing Program (MVA) (pdf)

State Highway Office of Traffic and Safety

Safety Initiatives and Information (SHA)

FHWA Safety Conscious Planning

Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 July 2010 17:33