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

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Chapter 5: ROAD SAFETY As stated in Chapter 4, a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation study found that the annual cost of road - related crashes in Hawaii State for 2006 was $338,310 per mile of road, which is the highest in the nation. The more conservative TRIP cost estimate of $261 per motorist per year for road - related crashes when multiplied by 122,087 licensed drivers in Hawaii County equals a total estimated cost of $31,864,707 per year to Hawaii County drivers for crashes in which roadway design was an important factor. [Sources: On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2009, p.8; and Paying the Price for Inadequate Roads in Hawaii: The Cost to Motorists in Reduced Safety, Lost Time and Increased Vehicle Wear, TRIP, Washington D.C., 2005, p.17.] Traditionally, the County itself has budgeted significant resources to departments for providing emergency services to respond to crashes. However, with the implementation of a comprehensive Transportation Safety Plan as recommended by the FHWA, and more effort being directed toward effective prevention of road - related crashes in keeping with the Plan, fewer accident response services may be required. FINDING: Historically, inadequate planning and performance budgeting, coupled with a lack of objective data, has resulted in insufficient Insufficient budgeting and delayed implementation of traffic safety measures. If tannin t0 the County had a plan and forecast expenditures in advance, it planning could also be more proactive in securing available private, state, or permit timely federal funding for projects, such as with the High Risk Rural Roads Program or current "Stimulus" funds. If adequate data to permit application for objective analysis and project identification were available, and State and Federal planning and resource allocation were based on prioritized need and preventative maintenance, the County's outlay of resources funds. over time could be leveled and reduced, and especially in times of economic downturn, DPW would be better able to meet its stated mission and goals for the Highway Fund W