RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was recently honored with two National Roadway Safety Awards, recognizing the agency’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and Strategic Guardrail Management Program. Both efforts are focused on using research and technology to implement measurable improvements at identified safety challenges.
The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is a statewide strategy that identifies high-risk areas for pedestrian safety, then develops funding solutions and installs safety improvements at those locations based on the severity and extent of the risk areas. The program’s interactive web-based tool is a national model for analysis to identify project needs for pedestrian safety improvements.
The Strategic Guardrail Management Program is improving roadway safety and maintenance efficiencies of the state’s guardrail system by prioritizing improvements at high-risk locations using data, technology and business-process enhancements. The VDOT Guardrail Tracker Tool enables information input and performance monitoring via a single, agency-wide, cloud-based GIS platform.
“Both of these VDOT programs are implementing data-driven solutions to make our roads safer for everyone,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich. “We are building efficiencies and expanding data through these tools, but more importantly, we are directly implementing enhanced safety improvements across the state. Our team’s solutions are keeping Virginia families, friends, co-workers and neighbors safer whether they are traveling by foot or by car.”
The National Roadway Safety Award projects were evaluated on three criteria: effectiveness, innovation and efficient use of resources. “Safety is always our top priority and these tools are addressing key safety challenges,” said VDOT Chief Deputy Commissioner Rob Cary. “Our teams are developing innovative, datacentric solutions to address safety and build efficiencies, and I am proud to see them honored for the difference they are making on Virginia roadways.”
The National Roadway Safety Awards program is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation. The biennial awards program recognizes roadway safety initiatives that work toward the goal of zero highway deaths and reduce seriousinjury crashes. In total, seven projects across the country were recognized with awards.
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