The FHWA Roadway Data Improvement Program (RDIP) offers assistance from national subject matter experts (SME) to States, local roadway owners, and Tribal data stakeholders. The RDIP can provide roadway data training, recommend opportunities for enhancing data and analysis systems, and improve interagency coordination and communication. The RDIP has assisted 15 State agencies to review and improve their roadway data programs since its introduction in 2013 (see map). States may request RDIP assistance from the FHWA Office of Safety at any time.

Roadway Data Improvement Program participants include Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. A quote from Robert Rocchio at Rhode Island Depoartment of Transportation states: The RDIP was a tremendously helpful learning experience and will definitely lead to an improved safety program.

Although the program has a roadway safety data focus, the RDIP often reviews data sets and procedures related to roadway and intersection inventories, crash data, traffic monitoring and operations data, construction project records, roadway and roadside asset data, data security and accessibility, and data quality management.

Roadway Data Improvement Program Benefits

The RDIP helps agencies in the following key areas:

  • Roadway Data Collection:
    • Highlight potential redundant data collection efforts.
    • Identify potential data collection tools and techniques.
    • Suggest solutions to integrating roadway, crash, and traffic data.
    • Improve integration of State, Tribal, and local data.
    • Help the State meet the Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) fundamental data elements (FDE) requirement.
  • Data Analysis Tools and Uses:
    • Assist the State with expanding roadway inventories.
    • Establish a State-based safety countermeasures database.
    • Present analytic techniques to State DOT staff.
  • Data Management and Governance:
    • Develop data standards.
    • Identify data needs.
    • Help establish a quality assurance/quality control process.
    • Establish better communication among data collectors/users.
    • Develop performance measures.
  • Data Sharing and Integration:
    • Develop an enterprise system.
    • Use linear referencing system/geographic information system programs more effectively.
    • Encourage better communications between State and local agency staff.

By: Robert Pollack, FHWA Office of Safety, Tim Harmon and Catherine Chestnutt, VHB; Nancy Lefler, UNC HSRC