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The
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century was enacted
June 9, 1998 as Public Law 105-178. TEA-21 authorizes the
Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway
safety, and transit for the 6-year period 1998-2003. TEA-21
provides safety incentive projects to states if they qualify
under specified criteria. MDOT currently shares with the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) the Section 163 program
funds due to Maine's 0.08 OUI law and other qualifying requirements.
To date, these funds have averaged about $1.0 million per
year for the state, with about 40% going to MDOT under its
agreements with DPS.
Listed below are MDOT projects currently receiving safety
incentive grants through TEA-21.
Work Zone
Safety Initiatives
Systems Safety
Improvements
Traffic Safety
Public
Information & Education
Work Zone Safety Initiatives
Public
Information & Education
Budget
to date: $161,019
Administrator:
Safety Management Section
Objective is to contract with a media consultant to help
develop a strategy and implement plans to change driver
behavior and inform the public on work zone safety and transportation
safety issues.
Work Zone Speed Enforcement
Budget
to date: $55,000
Administrator:
Regional Programs
Objective is to improve safety in Work Zones by changing
driver behavior through funding for increased enforcement
of safe speeds. Projects have been identified and State
Police have been used. The expended amount is significantly
greater than this project provided, since MDOT funds speed
enforcement directly with construction funds on select projects.
Stop/Slow
Paddles
Budget
to date: $30,000
Administrator: Community Services Division
Objective is to increase visibility of flaggers in Work
Zones by providing funding to communities for Stop/Slow
paddle purchases and flagger training. About 200 paddles
have been purchased, with a local co-share of $25 each.
Flagger training must be completed in order to be eligible
for the discounted Stop/Slow paddles. Regional training
has been done with interest expressed from municipalities
and contractors.
Flagger Training/Certification
Budget
to date: $16,000
Administrator: Community Services Division
Objective
is to improve flagger safety by developing an Internet self-driven
flagging tutorial website. Initial desire was that the site
would be interactive, but due to software problems, an alternate
means has been developed. This is intended to initiate a
requirement for certified flaggers on all MDOT projects.
Variable Message Signs/Changeable Message Signs
Budget
to date: $28,500
Administrator:
Research Division
Objective is to install a variable or changeable message
sign with speed radar in a highway construction work zone,
as a tool to keep traffic at a safe, constant speed. Effects
that sign use has on traffic behavior will be monitored
to measure the benefit. This sign has been purchased
and will be installed in the 2001 construction season at
select project locations.
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8719.20 System Safety Improvements
Safety Sign Packages & Training
Budget
to date: $50,000
Administrator: Community Services Division
Objective is to upgrade or install new regulatory and warning
signs on local roads in small to medium size towns. Towns
pay 25% of the material cost. Workshops have been conducted
in Knox, Waldo and Penobscot counties. Other opportunities
are being considered in Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock
counties. Municipalities must receive Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) training in order to be
eligible for the reduced-rate signs.
Traffic Signal Maintenance Training
Budget
to date: $4,000
Administrator: Community Services Division & Traffic
Engineering Division
Objective is to improve signal maintenance capabilities
of municipalities, allowing them to more efficiently make
routine signal repairs. Training for signal personnel was
provided by a Maine signal company through a workshop. The
state workshop was attended by 37 people from 17 towns.
The list of attendees was given to MDOT Division Traffic
Engineers so that follow up field reviews could be conducted.
Intersection Collision Warning Devices
Budget
to date: $60,000
Administrators: Safety Management Section & Research
Division
Objective is to make motorists aware of potential vehicle
conflicts at intersections where severe sight distance restrictions
exist and traffic signal installation warrants are not met.
Intersection Collision Warning Signs can be used in addition
to standard signing to alert drivers on the major legs of
entering vehicles and also on the minor legs of approaching
vehicles. Norridgewock was selected as the initial pilot site.
Pre and Post-sign installation traffic conflict studies are
being conducted to determine the acceptability and effectiveness
of the new sign. An additional pilot location is expected
to be selected in late Spring 2001.
Traffic Records Strategic Planning
Budget
to date: $38,750
Administrators: Safety Management Section
Objective is to establish a multi-agency Traffic Records
Committee to identify, coordinate and implement improved
transportation safety information. The result of this effort
would be a more detailed and accurate understanding of transportation
safety records needs in Maine. The goal is to link transportation
system inventories with crash, emergency medical service,
hospital, licensing/registration, enforcement and court
records. A consultant will be needed to develop the strategic
plan, and additional funding will be required.
Pedestrian Research
Budget
to date: $18,000
Administrators: Research Division
Objective is to research and identify how pedestrian safety
can be cost effectively improved. A consultant is looking
at geometric layout, legislation, enforcement practices,
training of children and other educational activities to
improve pedestrian safety. The consultant will provide recommended
policies on crosswalk devices, a “Pedestrian Design Guide”
and presentations to MDOT, FHWA and municipal professionals
on the findings. A pedestrian safety “train the trainer”
workshop has been held in Bangor and a safety workshop has
been held in Norway-Paris.
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8719.40 Traffic Safety
Speed Actuated Warning Signs
Budget
to date: $40,000
Administrators: Traffic Engineering
Objective is to alert motorists of hazardous conditions
via speed activated detection with a flashing beacon on
a static sign. Route 201 in Moscow will be the first installation,
with a combination of three signs: “Trucks”; “Speed Too
Fast For Curve Ahead”; and “When Flashing”. Flashing is
activated by large trucks when traveling in excess of 30
mph. Two other applications are being considered at Route
16, Bingham and Route 2, Rumford.
Photo Enforcement
Budget
to date: $15,000
Administrators: Safety Management Section
Objective is to change motorist behavior in dangerous driving
situations. Work Zone speed limits are the MDOT application
being considered. Others could use this technology for red
light running, railroad grade crossings and general speed
enforcement. Implementing this project will require legislative
approval. A bill submitted by the Town of Ellsworth for
a traffic signal pilot project has been amended by MDOT
at the request of the Legislative Transportation Committee
and is pending full Legislative vote.
Commercial Vehicle Study
Budget
to date: $60,000
Administrators: Office of Freight Transportation
Objective is to provide a tool to better estimate vehicle
miles traveled by the various commercial vehicle classes
so that crash performance by commercial vehicle type can
be more accurately determined. A Request for Proposal (RFP)
was developed to create benchmark data on the number of
miles traveled by commercial vehicle class, weight, size
and commodity. From this benchmark, a method will be defined
to capture this same data on an ongoing basis. No bids were
received for the RFP and options are being investigated.
Division Driven Safety Improvements
Budget
to date: $168,225
Administrators: Maintenance & Operations
Objective is to allow MDOT’s seven divisions to implement
local highway safety improvements they deem to be most critical
that would not otherwise be funded by current programs.
These funds are being applied to a variety of safety projects
including Impact Attenuators for use in Work Zones, Dynamic
Warning Signs, Guard Rail upgrades, and drainage improvements
where icing created a safety problem.
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8719.50 Public Information
& Education
Bicycle Safety Education in Schools
Budget
to date: $37,500
Administrators:
Office of Passenger Transportation
Objective is to educate students in elementary and middle
schools about bicycle safety. A consultant has presented
the program to schools throughout the state. There were
105 school presentations made in 2000 reaching 12,297 school
children. Response has been very favorable.
Rail Trail Users’ Safety Brochure
Budget
to date: $10,000
Administrators: Office of Passenger Transportation
Objective is to affect safety behaviors through development
of a brochure and conducting presentations in area schools.
The Kennebec River Rail Trail has been selected as the first
project location. School presentations have been done in
three local municipalities. A contract has been signed for
development of a brochure for rail-trail users describing
appropriate safety behaviors.
Maine Transportation Safety Coalition
Budget
to date: $20,000
Administrators:
Safety Management Section
Objective is to support this independent, non-profit organization
of transportation safety advocates. Approved expenditures
included contractual services associated with General Administrative
Services; Newsletter development and distribution; transportation
safety brochure management and mailing; Annual Transportation
Safety Conference support and web page maintenance.
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