| Abstract |
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit from 2005-2009. SAFETEA-LU establishes a new core Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) that is structured and funded to make significant progress in reducing highway fatalities and injuries. It also creates a positive agenda for increased safety on our highways. A considerable increase in funding is provided that is almost double the amount under TEA-21. States will be required to develop and implement an effective, integrated and coordinated Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) that involves a comprehensive, data driven approach to highway safety. Section 1401 of SAFETEALU includes the program and policy language for implementing the new HSIP which is coded in the new Section 148 of Title 23 of the United States Code (23USC148). The code continues Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program in Section 130, with dedicated set-aside funding, as part of the HSIP. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has developed a HSIP that involves the identification of problem safety areas, an analysis of problems and countermeasures, and the prioritization and scheduling of improvement projects. VDOT's HSIP program consists of the following programs: Highway Safety Program (HSP), Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program (H-RGCP), and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program (BPSP). |
