2009-02-AU Limited Scope Performance Audit of the Highway Fund

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Chapter 5: ROAD SAFETY unique road identifiers, coordinated the reporting and exchange of crash data with unique location identifiers or GPS coordinates, facilitated tracking road improvements completed by all Divisions, or established an information system to track safety issues and the effect of safety improvements on reducing crash rates on all County roadways. DPW Administration has not provided sufficient and timely coordination among its own Divisions, even when safety improvements such as realigning a roadway may require resources from its Engineering, Traffic, and Highway Maintenance Divisions. Furthermore, DPW Administration has not coordinated with other County agencies tasked with road and traffic safety related programs. DPW lacks sufficient coordination with the Planning Department, whose role affects roadway and pedestrian safety; the Police Department, whose role involves response to traffic accidents, tracking of crash data, and enforcement of traffic laws; the Fire Department, whose role involves response to traffic injuries and knowledge of crash severity at roadway locations; and the Office of Liquor Control, which oversees alcohol regulations. Taking an integrated, "big picture" approach by coordinating safety improvement planning with enforcement and education would provide an opportunity for Hawaii County to be more effective in increasing road and traffic safety while maximizing its limited resources. FINDING: Adequate budgeting for planned safety improvements is necessary to improve road safety, but relies upon timely and relevant Insufficient information, including identification of safety issues and information to determination of what corrective measures are required, so that annual budget allocations for safety improvement projects are permit adequate prioritized on greatest need rather than dictated by a strict formula of road miles in a District. For example, because road segments or budgeting and intersections have not been sufficiently identified and prioritized for resource installation of safety improvements (such as roadway realignment and traffic signalization), funds have not been consistently included allocation for in the Capital Improvement Projects Budget. road safety As part of the budgeting process and in keeping with an integrated measures. County approach, research and application for other funding sources could be more actively pursued within DPW (with the assistance of the Department of Research and Development). For example, the High Risk Rural Roads Program, a federal set -aside provision of the Highway Safety Improvement Program for construction and operational improvements on high -risk rural roads, accrues approximately $450,000 each year for projects in the State. However, while a prior DPW Administration received written notification from the HDOT requesting that counties strongly consider participation in the program, a HDOT employee reported that DPW had not requested any of these funds. 27