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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMISC - 2020 Accident Study PrelimCity of Oshkosh – Transportation Department 1 City of Oshkosh - Transportation Department 926 Dempsey Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 232-5342 (920) 232-5343 fax MEMORANDUM TO: TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD FROM: JIM COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION DATE: March 1, 2021 RE: 2020CRASH STUDY This memorandum provides a summary and review of the 2020 preliminary crash data. Data was collected using the University of Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory’s WisTransPortal database and using East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s GIS mapping. 2020 was an unprecedented year due to the COVID19 pandemic therefore; traffic volumes and patterns are considered irregular. Crash Trends Table 1 lists the total number of reportable crashes in the City of Oshkosh from 2005 to 20201 excluding deer. The number of crashes in 2020 is lower than it has been which is expected a least partially based on reduced traffic due to the COVID19 pandemic. Table 1: Total Number of Crashes Year Intersection Non- Intersection Total 2005 788 437 1,225 2006 669 367 1,036 2007 718 461 1,179 2008 857 498 1,355 2009 697 463 1,160 2010 839 497 1,336 2011 823 490 1,313 2012 936 433 1,369 2013 870 504 1,374 1 This year’s crash report once again is based on data from the WisTransPortal crash database. Due to differences in methodology for crash reporting, there may be some discrepancies between this year’s report and those of previous years. The data excludes deer crashes. 2020 Accident Study / March 2021 City of Oshkosh – Transportation Department 2 2014 750 449 1,199 2015 694 480 1,174 2016 807 536 1,343 2017 769 576 1,345 2018 638 580 1,218 2019 673 586 1,259 2020 575 434 1.009 The number of injuries and possible injuries in crashes continued the downward trend. The decreased injury rate is an expected outcome of roundabout usage as right angle impacts are greatly reduced. Roundabouts were introduced in the city in 2012. Improved vehicle safety features can also contribute to a reduced injury rate as well as city initiatives such as road diets. Table 2: Number of Injuries and Fatalities in Vehicle Crashes Year Injuries Fatalities 2005 630 0 2006 579 2 2007 642 3 2008 588 1 2009 490 1 2010 609 1 2011 518 1 2012 549 1 2013 398 1 2014 332 3 2015 350 2 2016 412 1 2017 419 2 2018 350 2 2019 354 3 2020 313 2 Table 3: Number of Reportable Crashes with Bike or Pedestrian involved 2020 Accident Study / March 2021 City of Oshkosh – Transportation Department 3 Year No. Involving Bicycles No. Involving Pedestrians 2005 33 14 2006 25 17 2007 27 18 2008 24 14 2009 15 12 2010 26 22 2011 24 25 2012 39 21 2013 22 18 2014 23 19 2015 25 8 2016 25 25 2017 16 19 2018 23 12 2019 16 23 2020 11 16 The number of crashes involving bikes and pedestrians decreased. Reduced movement during the pandemic may have had an impact on these numbers as well. However; the city has invested heavily in pedestrian crossing infrastructure in the last few years. Rectangular Rapidly Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) with overhead LED pedestrian crossing signs (along with speed boards in some cases) have been installed at many intersections. This past year, RRFBs were installed at the roundabout intersection of W. 9th Ave. and S. Washburn Street. The city also has been using the updated “continental” crosswalk painting style for mid-block crossings and higher volume crossings like the one on Congress Avenue at Arboretum Drive and Summit Avenue. This is the crosswalk that has the thick, bold horizontal lines making it more visible. The city in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh installed a “HAWK” signal in 2013. Additionally when Main Street was reconstructed it was made more pedestrian friendly with wider sidewalks and pedestrian crossing bump outs. The city also installed pedestrian held flags at the 9th and Witzel Avenue roundabouts. The city in conjunction with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, held pedestrian safety days in September 2017 and 2018 to educate the public about the laws related to pedestrian safety. Additionally, the Oshkosh Police Department began a motorcycle unit that spends time educating and enforcing motorists on pedestrian laws. These preventative measures utilize some of the latest technology and methods available to improve pedestrian safety. This year, there are planned safety improvement on Jackson Street for pedestrians including additional continental crosswalks and RRFBs. 2020 Accident Study / March 2021 City of Oshkosh – Transportation Department 4 High Crash Locations In order to improve traffic safety, it is helpful to identify locations where the rate and/or frequency of crashes is higher than might be expected. A higher than average crash rate indicates a location for which some countermeasures might be implemented that could result in an overall safety benefit. A higher than average crash frequency can provide a clearer picture of potential causes of safety challenges at a location. Used in combination, these measures can help to target safety improvements to those locations where the biggest potential benefit might be achieved. This year I worked with the East Central Wisconsin Plan Commission and their GIS coordinator and we were able to map the top 10 crash locations using the data from the Wisconsin TOPS Lab 2020. This is the source we have used for about the last 11 years to pull crash data. The attached map shows the top 10 crash locations from 2020. The locations are mapped within 100’ of an intersection. This map is based on data in the WisTransPortal which gets its’ data from law enforcement agencies. The accuracy of this data is based on the accuracy of the crash reports which are constantly improving. My goal each year is to analyze a couple of high crash intersections to see if there are safety measures that can be implemented to mitigate the crash frequency and/or rates in these areas. For Example, we have implemented road diets and restricted left turns during afternoon peak hours help reduce crash frequency at some intersections. Effectiveness of Recent Traffic Safety Measures Jackson and New York Intersection – There were only 3 crashes in 2019 and 4 crashes at this intersection in 2020. There were no angle crashes in 2020 and 2 of the crashes were due to brake issues. There were 7 crashes at this intersection in 2018. There were 66 crashes from 2014-2018 so an average of approximately 11 per year. We implemented no left turns during peak hour in July 2018. That restriction has had a positive effect on the number and severity of crashes at this intersection. Analysis of 2020 High Crash Locations The roundabouts including those at the I-41 interchanges have the highest crash frequency however; that is not unexpected as they carry the highest volume of traffic. The roundabouts at the I-41 interchanges are under WisDOT jurisdiction. The roundabouts that are not part of the I- 41 interchanges are under city jurisdiction however; they are still relatively new and additional safety measures at these locations are difficult without costly physical reconstructions which are unlikely at this time. There were two other areas in the top 10 for 2020 crash frequency. Knapp Street and 9th Avenue Half of these crashes were vehicles rear-ending others stopped at the intersection. The causes ranged for distracted driving to foot slipped off the brake. The other half of the crashes were 2020 Accident Study / March 2021 City of Oshkosh – Transportation Department 5 vehicles disobeying red lights and/or flashing red lights. Distracted driving continues to be an issue. I will put this intersection on the list to see if we can actuate the intersection in the future which would eliminate the need to put the intersection in flash overnight. Bowen Street and Merritt Avenue This is a busier area with a gas station on the corner. Two of these crashes were the result of drivers running flashing red lights. As stated above, we are trying to eliminate overnight flash wherever and whenever budgets and projects allow. I will keep this intersection on the list. The other crashes didn’t have a common theme. Other Notes The recommendations of the Jackson Street Safety study were approved and will be implemented this year. This will result in speed board, additional crosswalks, RRFBs and a road diet. It will be interesting to see how these improvements improve the safety of the corridor.