Original publication: N/A

Roadway Safety Issue, Problem, or Gap:

Between 2002 and 2005, Tennessee experienced 777 total fatalities at intersections across the state. In 2005, Tennessee was identified as a Focus State in Intersections by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety. A focus state in intersection is defined as one of several states that contribute to having the highest number of intersection fatalities nationwide.

Description of Practice

Following a 2007 Intersection Safety Plan Workshop, the FHWA Tennessee Division and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) collaborated to develop an Intersection Action Plan. In 2010, TDOT began implementing the plan with the following process improvements:

• Institute no-plans contracts to expedite the award of contracts based on pre-established safety requirements.
• Develop an agreement with TDOT Environmental Division to allow TDOT to submit intersection locations prior to site visits to gain NEPA approval in eight weeks.
• Develop an Intersection Implementation Guide to standardize the steps for completing intersection projects.

Challenges in Implementing the New Practice

After the plan was developed in 2007, TDOT encountered challenges in the implementation of the Intersection Safety Action Plan, including:

• Lack of trust in systemic application: TDOT did not want to deploy the action plan without going to every site and reviewing all crash data to identify issues.
• No true ownership: No TDOT office had the time to implement the plan.

How Challenges Were Overcome

• In November 2009, the FHWA Office of Safety Intersection Team contacted TDOT and the TN Division to develop a strategy to implement the Intersection Safety Action Plan.
• The TDOT Project Safety Office was created in 2010. This office implemented the Intersection Safety Action Plan.

Benefits Realized From the Practice

Tennessee has reduced intersection safety fatalities by at least 26% across the state. Tennessee is no longer a FHWA Focus State for Intersections. Furthermore, Tennessee has become more innovative with intersection designs by implementing alternative intersection designs including roundabouts, J-Turns, and Diverging Diamond Interchanges.

Contact

Brian Hurst
Tennessee Department of Transportation
615-741-2208
Brian.Hurst@tn.gov