Transportation 2035 - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

December 2012locations. RIDOT then works with local governments and planning bodies to develop a detailed improvement planfor the selected locations focused on delivering low-cost and high benefit safety and mobility improvements.RISTARS first major initiative centered on Aquidneck Island and was based on the recommendations of theAquidneck Island Transportation Corridor Study. RISTARS was selected to commence design work on selectrecommended improvements to problem areas related to congestion and safety identified from the AquidneckIsland Corridor Study. The corridor study was funded through a FHWA and RIDOT administered by StatewidePlanning and directed by the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. RISTARS is now focusing on data scanning forcongestion and traffic safety problems in other travel corridors of the state. In addition, the program will begearing up to conduct similar corridor studies in other regions of Rhode Island.Finally, RIDOT has deployed Road Safety Audit (RSA) teams to several corridors and selected roadways around thestate to address high hazard and other safety and intersection operational improvements. A Road Safety Audit(RSA) is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by anindependent, multidisciplinary team. A RSA qualitatively estimates and reports on potential road safety issues andidentifies opportunities for improvements in safety for all road users. The FHWA works with state and localjurisdictions and Tribal Governments to integrate RSAs into the project development process for new roads andintersections, and also encourages RSAs on existing roads and intersections.The aim of an RSA is to answer the following questions:• What elements of the road may present a safety concern: to what extent, to which road users, and underwhat circumstances?• What opportunities exist to eliminate or mitigate identified safety concerns?Road Safety AuditPerformed by a team independent of the projectPerformed by a multi-disciplinary teamConsiders all potential road usersAccounting for road user capabilities and limitations is an essential element of an RSAAlways generates a formal RSA reportA formal response report is an essential element of an RSAAquidneck Island, the Warwick Interlink area, Atwells Avenue in Providence, and the I-95 corridor in Rhode Islandare the most recent RSA study areas. The RSA is a new tool which will be a staple of the RIDOT and the CMP.LAND USE MANAGEMENTACCESS MANAGEMENT TASK FORCEUnder the charge and leadership of the state’s Congestion Management Task Force, the Access Management TaskForce was formed to review and formulate recommendations for RIDOT and local governments to improve thePhysical Alteration Permit Process (PAP) regulations and process, and in turn, existing conditions on stateroadways through the application of best practices in access management.Transportation 2035 (2012 Update)State Guide Plan Element 611Rhode Island Statewide Planning ProgramA-15