Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) and Systemic Safety Analysis Report Program (SSARP)

Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) 

NOTE:

all LRSP funding has been awarded to local agencies. Caltrans does not accept new LRSP applications.

Developing or updating a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan) is eligible under USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. By completing the Action Plan, the agency is considered meeting the LRSP requirement in order to apply for the HSIP funds (see below “2. LRSP requirement for applying to the HSIP funds”). Currently the SS4A is open for applications. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 29, 2024. Please visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A for details.

1. What is an LRSP?

Federal regulations require each State has a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). An SHSP is a statewide data-driven traffic safety plan that coordinates the efforts of a wide range of organizations to reduce traffic accident fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. In coordination with federal, state, local and private sector safety stakeholders, the SHSP establishes goals, objectives, and emphasis (or challenge) areas. The SHSP address the 4Es of traffic safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Services.

While the SHSP is used as a statewide approach for improving roadway safety, A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) can be a means for providing local and rural road owners with an opportunity to address unique highway safety needs in their jurisdictions while contributing to the success of the SHSP. The process of preparing an LRSP creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze safety problems and recommend safety improvements. Preparing an LRSP facilitates the development of local agency partnerships and collaboration, resulting in a prioritized list of improvements and actions that can demonstrate a defined need and contribute to the statewide plan. The LRSP offers a proactive approach to addressing safety needs and demonstrates agency responsiveness to safety challenges.

An LRSP provides a framework for organizing stakeholders to identify, analyze, and prioritize roadway safety improvements on local and rural roads. The process of developing an LRSP can be tailored to local protocols, needs, and issues.

2. LRSP requirement for applying to the HSIP funds

In order to apply for the HSIP funds, an agency must have completed their LRSP or an equivalent of the LRSP, such as Systemic Safety Analysis Report (SSAR) or Vision Zero Action Plan. Other equivalents of the LRSP may be reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis. The LRSP or its equivalent must be updated and validated at least every five years. When an agency submits an HSIP funding application, the agency must self-certify that an LRSP or its equivalent has been completed. The agency must provide a copy of the safety plan upon request.

It is strongly recommended that the LRSP (or its equivalent) and its update be approved by the agency's Board or Council. If an agency has finalized their LRSP at the application due date of the call-for-projects but the LRSP has not yet been approved by the Board or Council, the agency is eligible to submit project applications.

3. Useful documents and links:

• National Association of County Engineers (NACE) – A Template for Local Roadway Safety Plan (Word File)
• FHWA - Local and Rural Road Safety Briefing Sheets: Local Road Safety Plans
• FHWA - Developing Safety Plans: A Manual for Local and Rural Road (2012)
• FHWA - Local Road Safety Plan Do-It-Yourself Website
• FHWA, Systemic Safety Project Selection Tool (2013)
• FHWA – Local and Rural Road Safety Program
• California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
• Two identical LRSP webinars were held on September 9^th and 11^th , 2019. Click here for the handouts and the webinar recordings.

4. Call for LRSP Applications:

In addition to the $10 million that CTC has allocated in 2019, CTC allocated another $8 million of state funds in June 2020, for the purpose of assisting local agencies in developing their local roadway safety plans. The funds will be awarded to the applicants on a "first come first serve" basis. There is no application deadline. Caltrans will continue to accept applications as long as the funding is available.

NOTE: As of October 20, 2021, all LRSP funding has been awarded to local agencies. Caltrans does not accept new LRSP applications.