The current TPF-5(343) Roadside Safety Research for MASH Implementation pooled fund study expires in 2023. Road to Zero has targeted a goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our roadways. This strategic call to action and collaboration is built on the belief that not a single death is acceptable on our roadways. Every life matters.

Unfortunately, recent trends indicate a continued increase in highway fatalities. Data (2017-2019) from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) indicates that 45% of fatalities on the nation’s roadways are a result of roadway departure crashes. The FHWA has identified RwD Safety as one of three critical focus areas with the greatest potential to reduce highway fatalities using infrastructure-oriented improvements. As a result, RwD safety is an element of. Roadside safety devices are a key element of an effective roadway departure safety strategy. This includes development of both new and improved systems along with their proper implementation (selection and placement). 

One of three main initiatives identified by the National Safety Council’s Road to Zero Coalition to reduce roadway fatalities is “Advancing life-saving technology in vehicles and infrastructure.” While advancements in vehicle design will be a significant part of the solution, it is an area exclusive to vehicle manufacturers to develop and implement.  Conversely, roadway and roadside infrastructure is an area that can be directly impacted and improved through collaboration of researchers, transportation engineers, and designers. Given their role and responsibility with respect to SHSP implementation, state DOTs have a direct interest in the continuing advancement of roadside safety research and technology associated with that component of SHSP implementation.

In addition to their SHSP role, state DOT's also encounter numerous roadside safety issues related to hardware performance and policies that have a direct impact on the traveling public. Many of the research needs associated with hardware performance are common to more than one state, making the pooled fund approach to combining resources an ideal way to address these issues through coordinated engineering and research. This Pooled Fund is focused on organizing and coordinating this work to ensure maximum impact and optimum application of resources to meet the roadside safety research and functional needs of the participating states.

The objective of this Pooled Fund is to assist transportation agencies in achieving their Roadway Departure (RwD) related  all state Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSPs) goals through development, evaluation and deployment of life-saving roadside safety devices and countermeasures in accordance with AASHTO and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted standards such as the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). It will also support continuation of MASH implementation in roadside hardware categories that have lagged in achieving MASH compliance (special barrier applications, sign supports, work zone traffic control devices, luminaire poles, etc.) due to various design and performance challenges and other related factors. These activities will directly support and impact state efforts to achieve Target Zero by helping reduce the frequency and severity of roadway departure crashes.

Given their common interest in SHSP implementation, all states would benefit from participation in this Pooled Fund program.  However, the FHWA Roadway Departure Focus States may particularly benefit from the roadside safety research, collaboration, and information sharing that will constitute the framework of the program.

Representatives of participating states will be convened as a technical committee to identify common research needs, select and prioritize projects for funding, and oversee research and testing. Specific activities include the design, analysis, testing, and evaluation of crashworthy roadside safety devices, and the development of guidelines for the use, selection, and placement of these devices. Devices to be considered for research include bridge rails, guardrails, transitions, median barriers, portable concrete barriers, end treatments, crash cushions, culverts, breakaway support structures (e.g., sign supports, luminaire supports, mailboxes), and work zone traffic control devices. Research will also address the influence of roadside features such as driveways, slopes, ditches, shoulders, medians, and curbs on vehicle collision performance. Computer simulation, full-scale crash testing, analysis of real-world crash data, and cost effectiveness analysis are the primary tools that will be employed in these investigations. The identification, description, selection, and prioritization of research issues will be made by the technical committee on an annual basis, unless emerging issues require committee decisions in the interim.

WSDOT will serve as the chair of the technical committee and will enter into an agreement with Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to perform the research works associated with the projects selected by the technical committee. TTI will report back to the committee on a regular and as needed basis, seeking the committee's guidance when appropriate. TTI anticipates offering a reduced overhead rate for projects conducted under this pooled fund project at 35% of modified total direct costs. Participating states are invited to commit $65,000 per year for at least three years to participate in the pooled fund project. Those states that have already posted their [$50k] commitments for 2023 as well as those considering committing for the current TPF-5(343) study may want to move their commitments to this new Phase 3 solicitation at the $65k level.