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Abstract

Midsized metropolitan areas (200,000 to 600,000 population) face challenges and transportation planning issues different from those faced by larger metropolitan areas. This is especially true in the area of safety-conscious planning (SCP). Conflicting organizational cultures and limited staff and technical tools are major challenges in SCP efforts for midsized metropolitan areas. Midsized metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) were surveyed, and three case studies of midsized metropolitan areas were prepared to understand better the challenges and opportunities facing SCP in such a context. The national survey and case studies focused on long-range planning, data collection, human resources, technical analysis, and collaboration aspects of SCP as applied today. The majority of midsized MPOs have incorporated safety considerations into their long-range transportation plans, but some midsized MPOs are more proactive than others in the quantitative analysis of project safety outcomes. The institutional and technical issues faced by midsized MPOs can be overcome by identifying a safety champion in the management ranks, encouraging state departments of transportation to provide midsized MPOs with more tools and training in SCP, promoting a stronger relationship between the governor's safety representative and the MPO, and creating a more comprehensive forum for collaboration among safety professionals.

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Safety-Conscious Planning in Midsized Metropolitan Areas

Abstract

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