LRSP PROJECT SUCCESSES & CHALLENGES 2013 LA TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE Nick Verret, P.E.
PROJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED St. Tammany Trace Warning Signs New Iberia Sidewalks & City of Central Radar Speed Signs Caddo Parish Guard Rail Installation
ST. TAMMANY TRACE Advance warning system, including motion detection, installed at 7 local road crossings of 31- mile bicycle, pedestrian, & equestrian trail utilized by over 10,000 people monthly
PRE-PROJECT VIEW
PRE-PROJECT VIEW AT S CURVE LOCATION
After Early Warning System Installation Monitor Road North of intersection facing south West of intersection facing east
After Advance Early Warning System Installation S. Tranquility Road West of intersection facing east Southeast of intersection facing west
SPECIAL PROJECT FEATURES Motion detection [50 from road crossing] Powered by solar panels Total project cost of $155,650
TESTIMONIAL FROM SHERIFF JACK STRAIN Several near-misses prior to project Since completion of project, no cyclist or pedestrian crashes Motorists have slowed down considerably Thank you for your assistance... I want you to know what a difference these Early Warning Systems have made.
SPECIAL THANKS TO... Sue Rountree, Grants Manager Eddie Williams, Engineering Director Lisa Maddox
LRSP PROJECTS IN NEW IBERIA
JEFFERSON TERRACE Traffic Study of rapidly-developing corridor that included a high school, rehabilitation hospital, numerous doctors offices, & businesses including Wal-Mart 88 crashes since 2005
RESULT OF TRAFFIC STUDY
A SECOND PROJECT ON JEFFERSON TERRACE
CITY OF NEW IBERIA HAS RECEIVED... 3 LRSP projects, including a second Traffic Study [Lewis Street] Total of $291,591
MAYOR HILDA CURRY: LRSP has been a great benefit to the City of New Iberia. Through LRSP, municipalities have the opportunity to apply for [funding] that is essential for safe communities.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Elmire Elledge, City Clerk
LRSP PROJECTS IN CITY OF CENTRAL MR. DAVID BARROW, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
City of Central Background Incorporated in 2005 and officially separated from EBR Parish government in March 2008 Approx. 27,000 residents (2010 census) Approx. 66 sq. miles Annual budget: Approx. $6 million.
City of Central LRSP Projects First project submitted to Local Road Safety Program (LRSP) in October 2008 for safety improvements in curves on four local roadways. Plans call for centerline rumble strips, thermoplastic striping, raised pavement markers, and chevron signs Estimated project cost: $88,000 for construction and $31,000 for engineering. City of Central puts up 10% local match. Bids and engineering handled through state DOTD. Maximum funding of $500,000 per project.
Project Description Identify and describe the problem Symptoms Provide a detailed description of the project you propose to solve the problem.
Supporting Documentation Data Analysis Crash reports from the last 1-3 years (provided by LRSP engineers) Road Safety Audit Traffic Study Emergency Response Personnel, Law Enforcement Citizens
Sample Crash Data
Supporting Documentation 2 What other countermeasures have been attempted? How successful were they?
Supporting Documentation 3 Project Limits Map Traffic Counts/Volume Type of traffic on the roadway Time of Day Special events in the area # of lanes; speed limit How will your project reduce crashes?
Detailed Cost Estimate Materials to be purchased Engineering costs Right of Way acquisition Utility relocations Construction costs
Approval Process 3 copies of application sent to Local Road Safety Program office for evaluation in October 2008 Selected applicants notified within 3 months (January 2009) Contracts and funding approval (FHWA): approx. one year (March 2010) Engineering and design selection: approx. one year (May 2011) Engineering design completion: December 2011
Approval Process Scheduled for bid letting: March 14, 2012
2 nd Project Radar Signs Submitted application in October 2007 for two permanent radar display signs on a local residential road in which speeding was a problem, and accidents were occurring due to speeding vehicles Did study: 85 th percentile was 44 mph and speed limit was 30 mph in a residential neighborhood
2 nd project Radar Signs Submitted application in October 2007 for $12,350 to purchase two permanent radar display signs Approval granted in January 2008. Contract signed January 2010. Notice to proceed issued July 2010. Material purchase only 100% reimburseable. No local match required.
TESTIMONIAL FROM RESIDENT I have lived on Durmast Drive for the past 15 years and have seen the high rate of speed in the past. Since the signs have been installed, I have noticed a significant decrease in the speed... They have certainly been very beneficial in helping control the speed on the street. Lester Strange
3 rd Project: Curve Signs Submitted request for $3,000 in funding in October 2011 for advanced curve signs and chevron signs in curves on rural local roads Request approved in January 2012. Awaiting contract documents. 10% local match in the form of crew labor.
CADDO PARISH GUARDRAIL PROJECT Installed guardrails on multiple bridges Total cost of $348,154 Local Match of 10%
TESTIMONIAL FROM KEN WARD, CADDO P.W./ENGR. PROJECT MGR. The program is great to assist local governments in making the needed upgrades to provide citizens the safest conditions possible. The application process is easy and the award and construction process was efficient. The Parish of Caddo would use the program again in the future.
LRSP CHALLENGES
Despite widespread promotional efforts, many local agencies are still unaware that the program exists. Some juridictions do not have technical staff to research various funding sources Turnover in elected officials
Some local agencies are unable to participate in the program because they are unable to contribute the 10% local match. Other funding sources can be sought for the match, including grants or State Capital Outlay Remember, this is NOT a grant program!
Admittedly, it can be a long and cumbersome process for obtaining a relatively small amount of funding [<$500,000]. Same consultant selection process as for large projects LRSP staff working with DOTD and FHWA to possibly implement new procedures
Project management by Local Public Agencies is sometimes ineffective and results in delays in project delivery and lack of timely completion. This is being addressed by new DOTD Qualification training program for LPA s
BUT, IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES... LRSP remains a viable means for providing local agencies with the funding for making a variety of needed safety improvements on the local road system, to meet the end goal of -- Reducing crashes Reducing injuries and fatalities
THAT S ALL FOLKS! Thanks for your kind attention!