All the States that provided feedback agreed that ISIPs serve a valuable purpose in introducing the concept of systemic approaches.
One of the key tools that falls under this program is the Intersection Safety Implementation Plan (ISIP), which can be instrumental in helping transportation agencies reduce intersection-related traffic injuries and fatalities.
For example, States often cite limited data as one of the most common barriers to developing an ISIP The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working with local agencies to address this issue--a strategy other States might be able to replicate.
Yet their stories--from development to implementation and evaluation--highlight the notion that all States can apply and adapt the ISIP process to their needs.
One of the earlier documents on using a systemic approach, FHWA's Intersection Safety Implementation Plan Process (FHWA-SA-10-010), provides a template for developing an ISIP. The template details the activities, countermeasures, strategies, deployment levels, implementation steps, and funding scenarios needed to advance intersection safety.
Similarly, Florida found that integrating the ISIP into its Strategic Highway Safety Plan was a useful strategy for advancing low-cost countermeasures into the plan.
Florida's neighbor is another example: Before the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) finalized its plan in 2010, the State had established a strong partnership with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety--a relationship that established engineering as a key piece of the State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan and enabled seamless integration of the ISIP.
An ISIP is a data-driven plan, and the systemic approach to intersection safety requires accurate and up-to-date roadway, crash, and other data files.
For example, TxDOT initiated its ISIP in 2015 using its robust Crash Records Information System[R] as the basis for prioritizing projects.
"Crash data currently drive the effectiveness of our ISIP, and we will continue to collect roadway characteristic data from the local transportation agencies and [metropolitan planning organizations]," says Carol Rawson, director of traffic operations with TxDOT.
By integrating the ISIP within the Strategic Highway Safety Plan and detailing an implementation strategy, PennDOT was poised for action when the funding became available.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) took a slightly different approach in developing its ISIP, providing a degree of flexibility that could be useful to States like Pennsylvania.