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Home My WebLink AboutII. A. COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL SAFETY ACTION PLAN 8.27.24Comprehensive Local Road Safety Action Plan Katie Shannon PE, Engineer V Ric Lowman PE, Traffic Engineer Devin Simpson PE, Kimley-Horn August 27, 2024 •Comprehensive roadway safety plan •Aims to improve safety for all road users •Data-driven, equitable approach •Result of combination of two initiatives: •Citywide need for Comprehensive Roadway Safety Plan •Identify safety improvements for Future State and Federal grant eligibility, Compliance with the U.S. DOT Safe Streets and Roadways for All (SS4A) program. Local Road Safety Action Plan Overview 2 July 11, 2023 – Safety Update to Council •Noted traffic fatalities are increasing despite total crashes decreasing •Identified a need for action and a comprehensive approach to safety August 2023 – Local Road Safety Action Plan Kickoff •Builds upon existing traffic safety improvements program by identifying systemic improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes •Example Systemic Countermeasures: •Pedestrian-Related: Leading Pedestrian Intervals, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons •Speed-Related: Lane Width Reductions in Urban Areas, Wider Edge Lines Initiatives for Roadway Safety 2023 3 National Roadway Safety A 2021 news article for Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported: •“Pandemic lockdowns made rush- hour speeding, risky driving the new normal” •A total of 42,939 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021, which is a 10% increase from 2020 •The per capita death rate increased 9% compared to 2020 4 Virginia Beach Safety 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 Fatalities per YearCrashes/Injuries per YearCrashes, Injuries and Fatalities in Virginia Beach, 2012-2022 Crashes Injuries Fatalities 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Fatalities per YearCrashes/Injuries per YearSpeed-Related Crashes, Injuries and Fatalities in Virginia Beach, 2012-2022 Crashes Injuries Fatalities Source: Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Traffic Crash Facts – 2012-2022; Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles 5 Virginia Beach Safety – Pedestrians 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 Crashes/Injuries per YearPedestrian Fatalities in Virginia Beach, 2013-2022 Crashes Pedestrian Fatalities 6 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) •Introduced as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill •Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation Program •Provides grants to local, regional, and Tribal communities as part of a systematic approach to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways •$5 Billion in Funding Over 5 Years (2022-2026): •Safety Action Plans (Step 1) •Implementation Grants (Step 2) SS4A Requirements: Target Goal Task Force Safety Analysis Equity Analysis Engagement  Plan Adoption 7 Plan Timeline Kickoff (August 2023) Data Collection (September 2023) Safety and Equity Analysis (November 2023 to January 2024) Community Meeting #1 (November 2023) Countermeasure Identification (February 2024) Countermeasure Prioritization (March 2024) Community Meeting #2 (March 2024) Stakeholder Workshop (March 2024) Documentation (April to July 2024) Public Comment (August/September 2024) Adoption of Plan by Planning Commission into Comp Plan (September 2024) Adoption of Plan by City Council (October 2024) 8 1.Goals and Objectives 2.Engagement and Collaboration 3.Safety Analysis 4.Equity Considerations 5.Project Identification and Prioritization 6.Progress and Transparency Plan Components DOCUMENTATION 9 Goals and Objectives TARGET GOAL The City of Virginia Beach aims to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by half by 2055 with an aim toward zero beyond 2055. OBJECTIVES 1.Reduce Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes 2.Maximize Opportunities to Fund Safety-Related Roadway Improvements 3.Promote Public Awareness of Roadway Safety 4.Implement an Equitable Approach to Safety Improvements 10 Collaboration: Task Force Task Force •Formed to guide the plan development and support implementation •Included representatives from: •Public Works •Planning and Community Development •Parks and Recreation •Police •HRTPO 11 •Meetings  Plan Introduction and Goal Setting  Engagement Input and Preliminary Findings  Emphasis Area Analyses and Scoring  Countermeasures and Strategies  Engagement Input and Plan Framework Engagement: Community Meetings A hybrid approach to community engagement was taken for this plan, which included in-person meetings and online activities. Community Meeting #1 •November 16, 2023 •Solicited input on transportation-related safety needs via a survey and interactive mapping activity •Generally, concerns noted were diverse but several including pedestrians and speeding Community Meeting #2 •March 20, 2024 •Solicited input on the proposed systemic countermeasures •Generally, majority of input was positive and supportive 12 Engagement: Stakeholder Workshop Stakeholder Workshop •Held March 22, 2024 •Provided businesses and organizations the opportunity to provide their unique perspectives •Coordinated with representatives from: •Hampton Roads Transit •U.S. Navy •Bayfront Advisory Group •Resort Advisory Group •Central Business District Association •Sentara Health •Southern VB – Rural •Virginia Beach Public Schools 13 What We Heard •Desire for more pedestrian and bicycle facilities •Desire for increased enforcement and traffic calming measures •Desire for improved roadway lighting Project Identification Location-Targeted Countermeasures 1.Selected top 5 intersections and top 6 segments for further review in collaboration with traffic engineering 2.Performed desktop review of historical crash patterns and existing conditions 3.Identified proven countermeasures to reduce crash potential at each location Systemic Countermeasures •Intended to be applied broadly across the City •Aimed to cover each Emphasis Area •A blend of engineering treatments and strategic initiatives 14 Identified Systemic Countermeasures MOTORCYCLISTS [Enhance Traffic Signal Detections, High Friction Surface Treatment of Curves] HEAVY VEHICLES [Protected Left-Turns, Access Management Improvements] PEDESTRIANS [Crosswalks, LPIs, Sidewalks, Median Barriers] IMPAIRED DRIVING [Traffic Safety Checkpoints, Impaired Driver Campaigns] BICYCLISTS [Greenways and Trails Multimodal enhancements, Pedestrian Safety Campaigns] UNPROTECTED OCCUPANTS [Seatbelt Enforcement, Child Restraint Resources] ROADWAY DEPARTURES [Guardrails, Improve Clear Zones, Rumble Strips] UNSIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS [Enhance Pavement Markings, Lighting, Improve sight distance, Innovative Intersections] SCHOOL ZONES [Recommend Optimal Crossing Guard Staffing and Circulation Plans] YOUTH AND INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS [Enforcement of Virginia Laws For Youth and Inexperienced Drivers] RURAL ROADWAY [Upgraded Guardrail, Pavement Markers, Enhance Intersections] SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS [Enhanced Detection, Pedestrian Amenities, Left Turn Phasing, Restricted Rights on Red] SPEEDING [Traffic Calming Measures; Speed Cameras] ADULT AND AGING ROAD USERS [Transit options in Mayor’s Commission on Aging - Senior Housing & Resource Guide, Microtransit] EMPHASIS AREA [ENGINEERING TREATMENT COUNTERMEASURES] EMPHASIS AREA [STRATEGIC INITIATIVE COUNTERMEASURES] 15 High Priority Intersections and Segments Holland Rd & Rosemont Rd Birdneck Rd & Virginia Beach Blvd Newtown Rd & Baker Rd Lynnhaven Pkwy & Salem Rd Ferrell Pkwy & Pleasant Valley Rd Bonney Rd [Independence Blvd to Boggs Ave] Salem Rd [Landstown Rd to North Landing Rd] Pacific Ave [5th St to 16th St] Pacific Ave [16th St to 31st St] Sandbridge Rd [Flanagan’s Ln to Colechester Rd] Northampton Blvd [Diamond Springs Rd to Norfolk Line] Signalized Intersections Upgrade Lighting, Access Management, Flashing Yellow Arrows, Extend Median Signalized Intersections Increase All-Red Clearance Interval, Protected LT, Innovative Intersection Signalized Intersections Increase All-Red Clearance Interval, Flashing Yellow Arrows, Upgrade Crosswalks Signalized Intersections Increase All-Red Clearance Interval, Restrict RT Signalized Intersections Increase All-Red Clearance Interval, Restrict RT, Upgrade Lighting Signalized Intersections Innovative Intersection, or Protected Left TurnsRoadway Departures Shoulder Widening, Raised Pavement Markings, Guardrail Along Curves Unsignalized Intersections Upgrade Lighting, Sight Distance Improvements Unsignalized Intersections Lighting Upgrades, Pedestrian Refuges, LT Lanes at 17th and 22nd Unsignalized Intersections | Roadway Departures Lighting, Roadway Widening, Pavement Markings Pedestrians | Speeding Median Fence/Barriers, Wider Edge Lines, Speed Reduction Strategies High Ranking Intersections Scored by Priority Matrix Countermeasures High Ranking Segments Scored by Priority Matrix Countermeasures 16 Project Prioritization Category Category Weight Points Available Subcategory Evaluation Metric Points Safety 65 35 Safe System Approach Promotes the Safe System Approach (Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Safer Roads, Post-Crash Care, Safer People)5 Does Not Promote the Safe System Approach (Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, Safer Roads, Post-Crash Care, Safer People)0 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Experienced 15% or More Fatal or Serious Injury Crashes 15 Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Experienced 5% or More Fatal or Serious Injury Crashes 10 Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Experienced Less Than 5% Fatal or Serious Injury Crashes 5 Risk Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Accounts for 15% or More of Citywide 5-Year Crashes 15 Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Accounts for 5% or More of Citywide 5-Year Crashes 10 Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Accounts for Less Than 5% of Citywide 5-Year Crashes 5 Maximum Points Available =35 Equity 15 30 Disadvantaged Communities Project Location is in or Adjacent to an HDC, APP, or is a Systemic Countermeasure 5 Project Location is not in or Adjacent to an HDC, APP, or is a Systemic Countermeasure 0 Transportation Stress Project Location is Above 90th Percentile for Traffic Proximity and Volume, and Above 65th Percentile for Low Income or is a Systemic Countermeasure 10 Project Location is Above 90th Percentile for Traffic Proximity and Volume, or Above 65th Percentile for Low Income 5 Project Location is Not Above 90th Percentile for Traffic Proximity and Volume, or Above 65th percentile for Low Income 0 Disproportion ate Impact Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Experiences Higher Fatal and Serious Injury Rate in Local Disadvantaged Communities 5 Applicable Emphasis Area(s) Does Not Experience Higher Fatal and Serious Injury Rate in Local Disadvantaged Communities 0 Vulnerable Road Users Project is Applicable to Pedestrians and/or Bicyclists 5 Project is Not Applicable to Pedestrians and/or Bicyclists 0 Accessibility Project Eliminates a Barrier or Gap in Connectivity or Improves Transit Access 5 Project Does Not Eliminate a Barrier or Gap in Connectivity or Improve Transit Access 0 Maximum Points Available =30 Benefit to Cost 20 15 Planning-Level Benefit to Cost Ratio Planning-Level Benefit to Cost Ratio is 2.0 or Greater 15 Planning-Level Benefit to Cost Ratio is 1.0 or Greater 10 Planning-Level Benefit to Cost Ratio is Less Than 1.0 5 Maximum Points Available =15 17 Tentative Adoption Schedule August 14 - Planning Commission Briefing August 27 - City Council Briefing →August 28 - Post Plan for Public Comment →August 29 - Transportation, Parking, and Pedestrian Committee (TPPC) Briefing →September 9 - Active Transportation Advisory Committee Briefing →September 11 - Planning Commission Agenda Item for Adoption into Comp Plan →Public Hearing during Planning Commission Adoption →September 17 - City Council Public Hearing →October 1 - City Council Adoption 18 Questions? 19