<p> NCHRP 20-7 Proposed Research Needs Statement Technical Committee on Roadside Safety Keith Cota, Chair Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety Rudy Malfabon, Chair April 29, 2016</p><p>TITLE Addressing Roadside Safety: A Systemic Approach to Hardware Replacement Analysis to Support MASH Implementation</p><p>BACKGROUND / NEEDS STATEMENT With the joint FHWA-AASHTO plan for implementing the 2016 edition of the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) and the existing need to upgrade “pre-NCHRP 350” devices, states need a method to support their decisions on prioritizing hardware upgrades and replacements to reduce crash risk and increase investment benefits. As states strive to optimize performance in highway safety programs, additional emphasis is needed in determining the order in which upgrading and/or replacing roadside safety features will maximize crash reduction efforts. In addition, state and local highway agencies recognize the inherent value roadside safety efforts provide and often place emphasis on implementation of roadside safety hardware as part of their safety programs. Significant opportunities exist to improve roadside safety performance as roadside hardware continues to evolve, and as new research develops higher performing devices utilizing new crash testing criteria. In addition, new quantitative approaches have advanced the field of safety management, and research continues to develop tools for assessing risk and determining the most cost-effective ways to manage that risk. To this end, transportation agencies need a risk- and cost-based assessment resource to support decisions regarding how to systemically upgrade roadside safety hardware so that return on safety investment can be maximized in terms reducing the severity of crashes. While roadside safety improvements will in part be driven by the need to upgrade a roadside safety system because crash test criteria are no longer met, it is beyond its normal service life, or it is being considered for replacement, other investment questions still remain. For instance, of the multiple roadside systems and needs, which type of system should be replaced first, and what specific system should be prioritized first? The need to upgrade multiple types of hardware systems across networks (guardrail, terminals, bridge rail, barrier systems, gaps in rail, etc.) with limited resources to rapidly address all of these types of hardware creates an increasing investment dilemma. </p><p>RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objective of this project is to develop an analytical risk-based tool to help states develop a prioritized approach to upgrading roadside safety hardware based on an assessment of cost and risk tradeoffs. </p><p>WORK TASKS Tasks anticipated in this project include the following:  Perform a literature search to determine whether similar tools have been developed for other transportation disciplines or other areas of transportation systems.  Assess potential risks and opportunities related to systemic roadside safety hardware investment and decision making.  Develop a risk-based draft tool and pilot the use of the tool in one or more highway agencies.  Revise the tool as needed based on pilot use and user feedback.  Develop training and/or outreach materials as needed to promote use of the tool, including presentations to one or more AASHTO committees. </p><p>URGENCY The new joint implementation agreement raises many questions about how to balance considerations of roadside safety hardware age, cost, condition, crashworthiness, safety performance benefits, and other program and project-related factors. A tool is needed to allow states to prepare for the NCHRP 350 sunset dates, while at the same time continuing to upgrade existing hardware as appropriate to optimize crash reductions across the transportation network. </p><p>FUNDING REQUESTED AND TIME REQUIRED It is estimated that this research will take 12 months to complete and will require $100,000. </p><p>CONTACT PERSON SCOHTS John C. Milton, Ph.D, PE Washington State Department of Transportation Director of Quality Assurance and Transportation System Safety Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 704-6363</p><p>TCRS Chris Poole, P.E. Iowa Department of Transportation Safety Programs Engineer Ames, IA 50010 (515) 239-1267</p><p>SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS TRB Highway Safety Performance Committee </p>