Details
Type: Bulletin
Topic or Program: Access Management | Crash Rates
Final Number: AM13-10B
Effective Date: 05/23/2013
Updated Date: 03/22/2018
Signature on File: Larry McKinley, Access Management Program Manager
Purpose
The purpose of this Technical Services Bulletin is to provide direction on how to calculate and compare crash rates and determine whether the crash rate is a safety or traffic operations concern when applying OAR 734-051-4020(3)(c) in the evaluation of an approach. The crash rate is reviewed for indication of potential safety issues related to a connection or proposed approach.
Guidance
This bulletin is for use by the department’s Access Management staff and may be shared with members of the general public. However, the crash data are from secured data sets available only on the department’s internal website. Members of the general public should contact the appropriate ODOT Region Traffic Office to obtain copies of the current reports.
Definitions
- Crash Rate
- The calculation of crash frequency for a given highway segment or to the average frequency for similar highway segments. The crash rate is calculated based on the number of crashes per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in a given year.
- Local Crash Rate
- The crash rate for the study segment published in the annual ODOT Crash Reporting Publication listed by highway and mile point, or the crash rate calculated for a custom study segment using the Crash Summary Report or calculated manually.
- Statewide Average Crash Rate
- A composite comparison of the state highway crash rates by functional classification and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as prepared by the ODOT Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit and available on the department’s website.
- Study Segment
- The portion of highway selected for crash rate comparison to the statewide average crash rate.
Background/Reference
In earlier versions of OAR 734-051, safety factors for highway approaches were generally described as:
- Roadway Character.
- Traffic Character.
- Geometric Character.
- Environmental Character.
- Operational Character.
These earlier rules did not quantify or set standards for when these safety factors are concerns. This was problematic for members of the general public who had no way of knowing how ODOT would make its determination. Senate Bill (SB) 264, which became law in January 2012, amended ORS 374 and established six explicit safety and operations criteria that ODOT can consider in its permitting decisions. This bulletin addresses crash rates set forth in OAR 734-051-4020(3)(c) of the rule:
“(3) Safety and Operations Concerns. The department has the burden of proving safety and highway operations concerns that it relies upon in requiring mitigation or in denying an application based on those concerns. The department may deny an application where the applicant is unable to provide adequate improvements to mitigate documented safety or highway operations concerns; safety and highway operations concerns that the department may consider are limited to (a) through (f), below:
(c) Location of the proposed approach within a highway segment with a crash rate that is twenty (20) percent or higher than the statewide average for similar highways.”
Explanation
There are multiple steps to determining the crash rate comparison described in OAR 734-051-4020(3)(c). Attachment A provides a detailed explanation of the calculation and evaluation procedures. Attachment B illustrates values selected for the example used in Attachment A. Attachment C is a flowchart illustration of the calculation and evaluation procedures described in Attachment A.
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Responsibilities
Department staff members in the following positions are responsible for carrying out the guidance in this bulletin as it relates to their assigned duties and authority:
- Region Managers.
- District Managers.
- Region Access Management Engineers.
- Development Review Coordinators.
- Access Management Coordinators.
- Permit Specialists.
- Other staff as assigned by management authority.
Action Required
Implement this bulletin upon the effective date.
Special Instructions
If problems or concerns develop in implementing this bulletin or if further clarification is needed, contact the Access Management Program Manager.
Attachments