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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 19 - Local Road Safety Plan19)Local Road Safety Plan Approve and adopt the Local Roadway Safety Plan. Page 1 of 2 REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From:Jason Simpson, City Manager Prepared by:Remon Habib, City Engineer Date:February 27, 2024 Subject:Local Road Safety Plan Recommendation Approve and adopt the Local Roadway Safety Plan. Background A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze roadway safety problems and recommend safety improvements accordingly. An LRSP offers collaborative and proactive approach towards addressing roadway safety needs and demonstrates agency responsiveness towards safety challenges. Federally funded grants such as Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) have made it a requirement for all state, county, and local agencies to adopt an LRSP to be eligible to receive grant funds. On June 13, 2023, City Council has authorized Fehr & Peers to prepare the City’s LRSP. Discussion The LRSP is the second comprehensive safety plan developed by the City; the first completed in 2019. The LRSP proactively identifies and evaluates hot spots and system risk factors throughout the City and identifies proven countermeasures that can be implemented through roadway design changes and partnerships with stakeholders. LRSP applies a Safe System approach, an international best practice framework. This LRSP builds on the City’s prior roadway safety efforts and will serve as a resource for the City when it applies for future safety infrastructure funding. The Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) distributed through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) implementation grant program distributed through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) both require a recently completed LRSP to be eligible for grant funding. Local Road Safety Plan Page 2 of 2 1 0 5 7 The collision analysis presented in the LRSP examines injury collisions acquired from the Transportation Injury Mapping Systems (TIMS) from 2018 through 2022. Collision data was paired with geographic roadway and other contextual data to develop collision profiles. By merging roadway and intersection features with collision data, relationships can be uncovered between contextual factors and the risk of frequent and severe collisions. The process for developing the LRSP took equity into consideration through data analysis, stakeholder engagement, selection of priority locations and projects, and recommendations for implementation of programs and evaluation. The City received valuable input from multidisciplinary group (i.e., safety task force) on roadway safety concerns, priority locations, collision trends, and partnership opportunities. Fiscal Impact No additional funding is needed at this time. Attachments Attachment 1 - Local Road Safety Plan City of Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan 2024 Prepared By: Statement of Protection of Data from Discovery and Admissions This study applies a systemic safety approach that identifies certain features on particular roadways that are correlated with specific collision types and frequencies. This broad approach is necessitated by the inherent nature of covering an entire agency’s facilities in one study and the limited scope/budget available to prepare Local Road Safety Plans. Limited time is available to perform field observations throughout the study area to contextualize the data, and therefore, it is beyond the scope of work to perform in-depth “hot spot” evaluations at all locations. Section 148 of Title 23, United States Code REPORTS DISCOVERY AND ADMISSION INTO EVIDENCE OF CERTAIN REPORTS, SURVEYS, AND INFORMATION — Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or data compiled or collected for any purpose relating to this section, shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages arising from any occurrence at the location identified or addressed in the reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or other data. Acknowledgments The 2024 City of Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan was developed through a task force consisting of staff from the City Public Works Department, partner public agencies, and local stakeholders. Fehr & Peers assisted the City of Lake Elsinore in preparing the plan. This report is dedicated to the more than 100 people who lost their lives on roadways within the City of Lake Elsinore over the past seven years. Their loss reminds us that every life is precious and inspires us all to continue our efforts toward the vision of zero traffic deaths. Task Force Members Lonny Olson CAL FIRE – Riverside County Fire Department Traci Williams CAL FIRE – Riverside County Fire Department Scott Wetherholt CAL FIRE – Riverside County Fire Department Captain Jim Rayls Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Brad Foster Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Mauricio Alvarez Riverside Transit Agency Chris Tzeng Western Riverside Council of Governments City of Lake Elsinore Project Management Remon Habib City Engineer Bradley Brophy Traffic Engineer Fransico Diaz Public Works Superintendent Rick de Santiago Public Works Manager Daniel Saavedra Public Works Supervisor Streets Division Nicole McCalmont CIP Specialist Fehr & Peers Team Steve Brown, PE, RSP1 Diwu Zhou, PE, RSP1 Raymond Poss, EIT Sean Reseigh Maria Nguyen Glossary AB Assembly Bill ADA American with Disabilities Act AHSC Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities ATP Active Transportation Program AWSC All Way Stop Control AV Autonomous Vehicles B/C Benefit/Cost BIL Bipartisan Infrastructure Law BTA Bicycle Transportation Account BUILD Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development CA California CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Caltrans California Department of Transportation CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CIP Capital Improvement Program CRF Crash Reduction Factor DUI Driving Under the Influence EIT Engineer-In-Training FHWA Federal Highway Administration HSIP Highway Safety Improvement Program IIJA Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers ITS Intelligent Transportation System KSI Killed or Severely Injured LED Light-emitting Diode LPI Leading Pedestrian Interval LPP Local Partnership Program LRSM Local Road Safety Manual LRSP Local Road Safety Plan LSRP Local Streets and Roads Program LTF Local Transportation Funds MUTCD Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration OTS Office of Traffic Safety PDO Property Damage Only PE Professional Engineer PHB Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon RAISE Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity RSP Roadway Safety Professional RRFB Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon RTA Riverside Transit Agency RTP Regional Transportation Plan SB Senate Bill SCAG Southern California Association of Governments SHSP Strategic Highway Safety Plan SRTS Safe Routes to School SS4A Safe Streets and Roads for All SWITRS Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System TAP Transportation Alternatives Program TCC Transformative Climate Communities TDA Transportation Development Act TIGER Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery TIMS Transportation Injury Mapping System TNC Transportation Networking Company USDOT United States Department of Transportation WRCOG Western Riverside Council of Governments V2I Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 – Visions & Priorities ................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 3 – Task Force ................................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 4 – Existing Safety Efforts ............................................................................................ 15 Chapter 5 – Safety Analysis ........................................................................................................ 23 Chapter 6 – Countermeasure Toolbox ...................................................................................... 41 Chapter 7 – Systemic Trends and Countermeasures ............................................................... 71 Chapter 8 – Implementation and Evaluation ............................................................................ 85 1 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Introduction 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction The City of Lake Elsinore is committed to prioritizing safety and eliminating traffic related deaths and serious injuries on City- maintained roadways. This Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) proactively identifies and evaluates hot spots and systemic risk factors throughout the City of Lake Elsinore and identifies proven countermeasures that can be implemented through roadway design changes and partnerships with stakeholders. This plan applies a Safe System approach, an international best practice framework that provides the foundation for this LRSP. Local Road Safety Plan Background A Local Road Safety Plan is a means for providing the City of Lake Elsinore with an opportunity to address targeted roadway safety needs while contributing to the success of the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan and statewide safety goals. The process of preparing an LRSP creates a framework to systemically 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 is a proactive approach to addressing safety needs and demonstrates City of Lake Elsinore’s responsiveness to safety challenges. This will be the second comprehensive safety plan for the City of Lake Elsinore; the first was completed in 2019. This LRSP builds on the City's prior roadway safety efforts and will serve as a resource for the City when it applies for future safety infrastructure funding. The Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) distributed through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program requires an action plan, such as a LRSP, to be eligible for Implementation Grant funding. This LRSP satisfies the requirements outlined in the SS4A Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet. What is the Safe System approach? The Safe System approach aims to eliminate fatal and serious injuries for all road users by reducing impacts on the human body and accommodating human mistakes. Embedded in this approach is an effort to address every aspect of crash risks through the five elements of the Safe System and promoting a holistic approach to safety across the entire roadway system. Each day, people are killed and seriously injured on our roads. Crashes can irreversibly change the course of human lives, touching victims, their families and loved ones, and society as a whole. A Safe System acknowledges the vulnerability of the human body—in terms of the amount of kinetic energy transfer a body can withstand—when designing and operating a transportation network to minimize serious consequences of crashes. According to the World Health Organization, the goal of a Safe System is to ensure that if crashes occur, they “do not result in serious human injury.”1 2 The Safe System approach is founded on the principle that people make mistakes, and that the road system should be adapted to anticipate and accommodate human mistakes and the physiological and psychological limitations of humans.2 Countries that have adopted the Safe System approach have had significant success reducing highway fatalities, with reductions in fatalities between 50 and 70%.3 The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Road to Zero Coalition’s Safe Systems Explanation and Framework articulate that to anticipate human mistakes, a Safe System seeks to: • Separate users in a physical space (e.g., sidewalks, dedicated bicycle facilities); • Separate users in time (e.g., pedestrian scramble, dedicated turn phases); • Alert users to potential hazards; and • Accommodate human injury tolerance through interventions that reduce speed or impact force. Creating a Safe System means shifting a major share of the responsibility from road users to those who design the road transport system. “Individual road users have the responsibility to abide by laws and regulations”4 and do so by exhibiting due care and proper behavior on Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Introduction 3 the transportation system. While road users are responsible for their own behavior, this is a shared responsibility with those who design, operate, and maintain the transportation network: including the automotive industry, law enforcement, elected officials, and government bodies.5 In a Safe System, roadway system designers and operators take on the highest level of ethical responsibility. The Safe System approach is the foundation for the National Safety Strategy released by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2022. The new federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program takes steps to formalize the Safe System approach in local safety planning documents through its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan requirements. The Safe System approach is also the foundation for the Caltrans Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has adopted a Vision Zero goal for California. The Safe System approach addresses the five elements of a safe transportation system – safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care – in an integrated manner, through a wide range of interventions. Safe Roads Prioritize roadway design changes throughout the City of Lake Elsinore that address the factors contributing to severe injury and fatal collisions, including improvements that separate modes in time and space, and reduce severity if collisions do occur. Safe Road Users Focus on human vulnerability when planning and implementing street safety strategies, with an emphasis on people who travel by foot, bicycle or wheelchair, children, and seniors. Prioritize equitable strategies that will best serve the community. Identify funding opportunities to support local law enforcement efforts and establish metrics for tracking success. Safe Speeds Use a multidisciplinary approach - roadway design, policy, education, and enforcement strategies - that induces drivers to travel at safe speeds that will reduce injuries even when human error inevitably leads to collisions. Safe Vehicles Proactively plan for a connected and autonomous vehicle fleet, accounting for related safety considerations, prioritizing investments in advanced signal infrastructure and other ITS projects. ITE Safe System Framework: Focus on Safe Speeds The ITE Safe System framework provides important context for the focus on safe speeds within a Safe System approach. For vulnerable users speed is a determining factor in survivability – a human’s chance of surviving being struck by a vehicle increases from 20% at 40 miles per hour to 60% at 30 miles per hour to 90% at 20 miles per hour. Reducing speed in the presence of vulnerable users is a key Safe System strategy. Approaches include: - Physical roadway designs (width, horizontal alignment) to limit free flow speeds, - Traffic calming treatments that induce slower speeds, - Traffic signal timing that minimizes high speed flow, - Traditional or automated enforcement that discourages speeding. 4 Post-Crash Care Partner with law enforcement and emergency response to identify strategic investments in areas such as collision response, collision site assessment, and collision reporting and database management practices. What is Vision Zero? Vision Zero strives to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has proved successful across Europe — and now it’s gaining momentum in major American cities. Vision Zero is a significant departure from the status quo in two major ways: • Vision Zero recognizes that people will sometimes make mistakes, so the road system and related policies should be designed to ensure those inevitable mistakes do not result in severe injuries or fatalities. • Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together diverse and necessary stakeholders to address this complex problem. Vision Zero is a key component of implementing the Safe System approach. This plan includes a Vision Zero aspiration and a timeline for achieving that aspiration, which aligns with the recently adopted Caltrans 2050 Vision Zero goal. About Lake Elsinore The City of Lake Elsinore is home to approximately 72,000 people and is located within Riverside County, California. Lake Elsinore’s population is 60 percent Hispanic, 26 percent non-Hispanic white, 3 percent Black, 7 percent Asian, and 4 percent Other6. 42 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home.7 Approximately 13 percent of Lake Elsinore residents are living in poverty, and approximately 6 percent live with a disability. About 92 percent of workers in Lake Elsinore commute to work via car, about 1 percent walk, and less than 1 percent take public transportation.7 Two of the census tracts within Lake Elsinore fall within the State of California’s definition of Disadvantaged Communities, based on health, economic and environmental factors.8 11 of the census tracts within Lake Elsinore fall within the Federal Government’s definition of Disadvantaged Communities.9 Many of these areas often experience disproportionate burden in roadway safety outcomes. Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Introduction 5 6 Endnotes: 1. World Health Organization (2011). Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/ roadsafety/decade_of_ action/plan/plan_en.pdf, p. 9. 2. Belin, M.-Å., Tillgren, P., & Vedung, E. (2012). Vision Zero - a road safety policy innovation. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 19, 171-179. 3. World Resources Institute (2018). Sustainable and Safe: A Vision and Guidance for Zero Road Deaths. Retrieved from https://www.wri.org/publication/ sustainable-and-safe-vision-and-guidance-zeroroad-deaths. 4. World Health Organization (2011). Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/ roadsafety/decade_of_ action/plan/plan_en.pdf, p. 9. 5. World Health Organization (2011). Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/ roadsafety/decade_of_ action/plan/plan_en.pdf. 6. United States Census Bureau. 2022: American Community Survey 1-Year Estimate Data Profile of Lake Elsinore. Retrieved from https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0639486&tid=ACSDP1Y2022.DP05. 7. United States Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2020 Profile of Lake Elsinore. Retrieved from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lake-elsinore-ca. 8. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Maps. Retrieved from https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/maps-data. 9. United States Department of Transportation. Justice 40 November 2022 Version 1.0. Retrieved from https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=e9fe6175efb74613bfd5d4b33b3fa476. Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Introduction 7 This page intentionally left blank. 8 2 9 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Task Force Chapter 2 – Visions & Priorities Guiding Principles 1. Prioritize traffic safety programs and infrastructure investments at locations with high collision rates and severity. 2. Consistent with the Safe System Approach, foster a citywide culture of safety where all road users have a shared responsibility to exhibit due care and proper behavior on the roadway system. 3. Incorporate equity and considerations of accessibility in decision-making, with a focus on investment in underserved communities and reducing disparities in roadway safety outcomes. 4. Partner with a multi-disciplinary group, including emergency response, law enforcement, public health officials, education institutions, local businesses, and community members to achieve roadway safety goals. City of Lake Elsinore’s Vision Statement The City of Lake Elsinore will work, in collaboration with multi-disciplinary partners, to create a safe multimodal transportation system for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Vision Zero Aspiration The City of Lake Elsinore is striving towards zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways by 2050. 10 3 11 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Task Force Chapter 3 – Task Force The City of Lake Elsinore received valuable input from a multidisciplinary stakeholder group (i.e., safety task force) on roadway safety concerns, priority locations, collision trends, and partnership opportunities. The safety task was responsible for the plan's development and will oversee implementation and monitoring. City of Lake Elsinore Public Works The Lake Elsinore Public Works Department provides a broad base of services through its six divisions: Administration, Streets, Parks and Streetscape, Lake Operations, Facilities, and Fleet. The Public Works Department is involved in the planning, funding, and delivery of safety projects. The Public Works Department is leading the development of this LRSP and will be the primary advocate for its successful implementation. Riverside County Fire Department The Riverside County Fire Department is a leader in fire protection and emergency services that are essential to the Post-Crash Care Element of the Safe System approach. Emergency response is a key factor in the survivability of victims involved in severe collisions, making the Riverside County Fire Department a key stakeholder in the implementation of LRSP goals. Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Sworn officers provide valuable input on trends they observe on the roads and are important partners in focusing enforcement resources on behaviors that are most closely associated with injuries and fatalities. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for traffic law enforcement on roadways in Lake Elsinore. The Sheriff’s Office was a key partner in prior safety efforts in the City, which include the focused evaluation of the Railroad Canyon Road corridor. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office operates the Homeless Outreach Team, which assists the community with Equity Considerations Equity is an important component of analyzing and improving roadway safety through the Safe System approach. Low-income communities and communities of color have experienced decades of disinvestment in transportation infrastructure, resulting in inequitable roadway safety outcomes and disproportionate burden from enforcement. Vulnerability to injury on the roadway varies from person to person, and is influenced by travel mode, age, ability and location. The process for developing the LRSP took equity into consideration through data analysis, stakeholder engagement, selection of priority locations and projects, and recommendations for implementation of programs and evaluation. The following items are documented in this plan: - Inclusive and representative engagement with community representatives and people experiencing homelessness. - The identification of Disadvantaged Communities and assessment of collision rates based on race/ethnicity, age, and gender through data. - The identification of proposed engineering projects and strategies within Disadvantaged Communities. - Recommendations tied with non-engineering strategies to ensure equitable community engagement and enforcement activities. - Evaluation metrics include recommendations for reporting demographics related to collisions. 12 issues related to homelessness through education and outreach. The Sheriff’s Office also conducts outreach to local schools in Lake Elsinore to provide education on traffic safety. Riverside Transit Agency The Riverside Transit Agency provides local and regional transit services throughout Riverside County. The Riverside Transit Agency is committed to providing transit service that is accessible for all and riders can report accessibility comments on their website. There are currently three bus routes that service the City of Lake Elsinore. Most transit users walk or bike to stations, representing vulnerable users on the Lake Elsinore roadway network. Western Riverside Council of Governments The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) is a regional collective of 18 cities including the City of Lake Elsinore, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, and the regional Municipal Water Districts. WRCOG strengthens intra-governmental cooperation, collaboration, and communication between its member agencies and seeks to elevate the quality of life throughout the subregion. WRCOG operates a regional traffic fee program that is used to fund transportation improvements. Public Engagement Local residents, business and community groups were invited to collaborate on the LRSP through a series of outreach and engagement events. In November 2023, local residents were invited to attend a public meeting at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Center to discuss proposed improvements at the I-15/SR- 74 interchange. This public meeting represents one of many that will be held for capital improvement and safety projects that require coordination with Caltrans. In December 2023 and January 2024, subsequent engagement events were held jointly with the General Plan update. The purpose of these engagement events were to solicit feedback on transportation network gap closures, transportation safety policies and goals, and amendments to the City of Lake Elsinore’s Complete Streets vision. Feedback from the outreach and engagement events included the identification of transportation network deficiencies, and many of those locations coincided with the Safety Focus Area identified in the LRSP. The Task Force also collaborated with community members to identify locally preferred engineering and non-engineering countermeasures. Public Engagement Meeting at Lake Elsinore Cultural Center. 13 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Task Force Stakeholder Meetings The stakeholder group met in October and December 2023, to discuss the City’s vision for roadway safety, collision analysis results, and safety countermeasures. The stakeholder meetings included representatives from multiple divisions of the Lake Elsinore Public Works Department, the Riverside County Fire Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Riverside Transit Agency, and WRCOG. Meeting topics included an interactive survey of plan priorities, discussion of data analysis results, and stakeholder feedback on proposed safety enhancements. Feedback from stakeholders and community members were incorporated into the development of this plan, as well as the identification of priority projects within each collision profile. Street-Based Outreach Meeting people where they are is a principle that guides street-based outreach; the people who uses the transportation facilities on a daily basis are experts in their own right. In December 2023, members of the task force conducted field visits to observe existing conditions and traffic patterns at high priority locations throughout the City. These field visits included discussion with local business owners and unhoused community members, regarding their traffic safety concerns near the high priority locations. Pedestrian crossing at signalized intersection on Riverside Dr (SR-74). Street-Based Outreach near Transit Stations along SR-74. Walk Audit in Downtown Lake Elsinore. 14 4 15 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Existing Safety Efforts Chapter 4 – Existing Safety Efforts The City of Lake Elsinore has made investments in roadway safety through project and program implementation, traffic education and enforcement, pursuing funding through grant applications, roadway maintenance, and adoption of planning documents that identify transportation safety priorities and future projects. Planning documents that have specific safety-related goals, policies, projects, and recommendations were reviewed to set the foundation for this LRSP. This summary organizes the City’s existing roadway safety efforts into the five categories of a Safe System, as defined by FHWA: safe roads, safe road users, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and post-crash care. The planning documents reviewed include: • Active LE (Active Transportation Plan), 2019. • Lake Elsinore Capital Improvement Program, Fiscal Year 2023 to 2028, adopted in 2022. • Lake Elsinore General Plan, adopted in 2011, and General Plan Update, currently in progress. • Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, last updated in June 2023. • Lake Elsinore Specific Plans (22 total, including the Downtown Elsinore Specific Plan), prepared in various years. • Railroad Canyon Road LRSP, 2022. • Riverside Transit Agency, Short Range Transit Plan, Fiscal Year 2024 to 2026, created in 2023. • Riverside Transit Agency, First and Last Mile Mobility Plan, 2017. • Systemic Safety Analysis Report, 2019. • Western Riverside County Active Transportation Plan, 2018. Safe Roads The Safe Roads Element of the Safe System Approach includes the physical design or improvement of roadways, the separation of users in time and space, and enhancements that accommodate human mistakes and injury tolerance levels. This subsection highlights a few of the City’s completed and planned projects with a focus on safety enhancements. 16 Completed or Planned Improvements (As of October 2023) The City has a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is responsible for the development, design, funding, and construction of the City’s capital or physical assets (streets, gutters, sidewalks, traffic signals, etc.) The City has completed multiple CIP projects and has more planned, in the design stage, or currently under construction. The improvements documented below contribute to roadway safety and are included in the City’s CIP. Pavement Rehabilitation: The City has rehabilitated the pavement for Summerhill Drive, Auto Center Drive, Collier Avenue, Minthorn Street, La Laguna Tract Local Streets, and Sprong Street. The City plans to provide pavement rehabilitation for residential tracts adjacent to Mountain Street and Broadway Avenue. Sidewalks and Curb Ramps: The City has implemented ADA compliant improvements (sidewalks, curb ramps, curbs, and gutters) on Spring Street. The City is currently implementing ADA-compliant improvements along Sumner Avenue, Chestnut Street, Lakeshore Drive, and other locations throughout the Downtown area. The City also plans to provide ADA compliant improvements to Main Street. Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: The City plans to implement pedestrian safety improvements (Decorative pavement, stamped colored concrete, and paver or brick inlays) along Main Street. Solar-Powered Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) systems and pedestrian countdown heads will be installed at various locations throughout the City using funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 9. Intersection Modifications: All-way stops were recently installed at the intersections of Nichols Road and Terra Cotta Road, and Dexter Avenue and 3rd Street. Traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of Gunnerson Street and Riverside Drive, Camino del Norte and Main Street, and the I-15 and Main Street interchange ramp terminal intersections. Advanced dilemma zone detection and protected left turns will be installed at various locations throughout the City using funding HSIP Cycle 9. Roadway Improvements: There are numerous roadway improvements and new roadways planned throughout the City. Although not specified in the CIP, along Railroad Canyon Road, high friction pavement and higher visibility chevron signs were recently installed on curved roadway segments as a result of the Railroad Canyon Road LRSP. 17 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Existing Safety Efforts Adopted Plans Safety Plans: The City’s Systemic Safety Analysis Report and subsequent focused study on the Railroad Canyon Road corridor are predecessors to this Citywide Local Road Safety Plan. These plans were used to identify corridors and intersections with high collision rates, provided engineering and non-engineering countermeasures, and were used to apply for HSIP grant funding. Active LE: Active LE is the City’s Active Transportation Plan. The plan lays the foundation for improving mobility for all modes of travel, specifically pedestrians and bicyclists, within the City of Lake Elsinore. The plan identifies ways to improve connectivity and safety for all users of the transportation network and is inclusive of age and ability. General Plan and Specific Plans: The City’s General Plan and Specific Plans in areas throughout the City establishes design standards for streets and cross-sections along local roadways. The Mobility/Circulation Elements in each plan often provide multimodal recommendations, safety and lighting requirements, and other development standards. Riverside Transit Agency Plans: Infrastructure deficiencies at select bus stations and recommendations documented in the Riverside Transit Agency’s First and Last Mile Mobility Plan. Recommendations included pedestrian and bicycle network gap closures, crossing enhancements, and lighting. Grant Funded Projects HSIP Grant Funding: The City received HSIP Grant Funding in Cycle 9 and 11. The funds will be used to implement flashing beacon systems at existing pedestrian crossings, advanced dilemma zone detection, and protected left turns at various locations throughout the City. Maintenance Programs Maintenance & Operations Division: This division is part of the City’s Public Works Department and oversees the operation and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, traffic signals, street lighting, street signs, etc. The division implements the following programs: • Standby Program – This program ensures that Public Works Staff are available to address after hour emergencies. Employees are required to respond to an emergency within one hour. 18 • Streetlight Inspections – Regular streetlight inspections are conducted throughout the City to identify street lights that are not functioning. • Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Repair Program – The purpose of this program is to repair the City’s inventory of curb, gutter, and sidewalk. The program’s goal is to eliminate hazardous conditions and minimize the possibility of injury to residents due to cracks or tripping hazards. • Pavement Striping and Marking Program – This program consists of repainting existing crosswalks, legends, centerline, and other striping and markings on asphalt pavement. Currently all striping and markings are painted once per year in fall. • Crack Seal Program – The purpose of this program is to seal cracks in asphalt pavement to prevent the intrusion of water, which leads to road failure. • Dirt Road Paving Program – The purpose of this program is to reduce the remaining dirt roads within the city and reduce mud debris that flows along roadways due to inclement weather and eliminate potential hazards that can damage vehicles driving on dirt roads. Alert LE: The City of Lake Elsinore is accepting non-emergency requests and reports through the Alert LE mobile application and web tool. Requests and reports cover a wide range of topics, such as traffic signals repairs, guardrail and curb damage, and sidewalk issues, and are routed to the relevant department. Alert LE mobile application reporting system. 19 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Existing Safety Efforts Safe Road Users The Safe Road Users element of the Safe System Approach addresses safety from a behavioral perspective by focusing on education, engagement, and enforcement. Education & Engagement There are several ongoing educational efforts, such as the traffic safety education programs led by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and coordination between City departments and school districts to identify safety needs. Targeted traffic safety educational campaigns are present at all schools with a focus at high schools on young drivers. Other educational campaign target driving under the influence (i.e., “Know Your Limit”), distracted driving, motorcycle safety, and traffic violations. Engagement with the community is also performed during the development of planning efforts such as Active LE. An objective of the Active LE was to share information with community members regarding how active transportation infrastructure promotes a healthy community and benefits the local economy. One way the City plans to accomplish this objective is by pairing the installation of new facilities with educational programs for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Enforcement The City’s Traffic Bureau conducts various enforcement details including school zones, traffic complaints, and special events. The Traffic Bureau participates in several grants through the California Office of Traffic Safety including the "Click It or Ticket" Seatbelt Enforcement Program and DUI Awareness and Enforcement. The Traffic Bureau’s primary focus is to enhance traffic safety through partnering with the community to solve traffic problems and through the enforcement of traffic safety laws. Safe Speeds The Safe Speeds element of the Safe Systems Approach focuses on infrastructure and policy changes that specifically target speed as a major factor in collisions and collision severity. 20 Speed is a major concern for active transportation safety in Lake Elsinore and was highlighted in both the Systemic Safety Analysis Report and Railroad Canyon Road LRSP. The City collects speed data and performs a speed limit review regularly, most recently completed in 2022. The City has a traffic calming program with design guidelines for bulb-outs, narrow lanes, traffic circles, speed awareness signs, and increased speed enforcement. The City installed speed radar signs on Railroad Canyon Road and recently installed more throughout the City paired with traffic calming measures. Safe Vehicles The Safe Vehicles Element calls for vehicles to be designed and regulated to minimize the occurrence and severity of collisions using safety measures that incorporate the latest technology. At the federal level, the safety of motor vehicles and related equipment and technology is regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Vehicle safety features, such as seat belts and airbags, were mandated in 1968 and 1998, respectively, and more recently in 2018, all new light-weight vehicles in the United States are required to come equipped with backup cameras. Some on-board vehicle technologies require investments in public infrastructure in order to function properly. For example, lane departure warning technology that is becoming increasingly common on newer vehicles requires regular maintenance of roadway striping and the use of highly retroreflective materials to maximize effectiveness. Emerging Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) technologies, referring to a wireless exchange of data between vehicles and roadway infrastructure, will likely require integration with existing infrastructure systems. Lake Elsinore has made significant investments in roadway maintenance and in updating traffic signal detection systems, providing a strong foundation in support of safe vehicles. The Safe Vehicles element also includes policies to encourage or regulate vehicle size, as larger vehicles are more likely to cause severe injuries during a collision. In Lake Elsinore, the City’s Municipal Code provides weight, parking, and routing restrictions for commercial vehicles on local roads. Post-Crash Care While much of the Safe System Approach centers on collision prevention, the Post-Crash Care Element focuses on reducing fatalities or life-changing complications when collisions do occur. Within road design, Post-Crash Care 21 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Existing Safety Efforts involves the balance of prioritizing access for active transportation modes while considering emergency vehicle access needs. The City’s Traffic Bureau provides an Accident Investigation Team. These officers are subject to call 24/7 and respond to all major injury and fatal traffic accidents in the City. The officers have been through specialized schooling and on- the-job training to investigate and complete a highly detailed report and if needed reconstruction of the collision. The Riverside County Fire Department recently worked with the City of Lake Elsinore to install emergency vehicle detection at a number of traffic signals to improve emergency response times and to reduce conflicts with emergency vehicles at intersections. 22 5 23 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis Chapter 5 – Safety Analysis This section summarizes the collision analysis for local roadways in the City of Lake Elsinore. Collisions on Interstate 15 are not included in the analysis unless they occurred at the ramp terminal intersections that provide access to local roads. This analysis identified several collision trends and risk factors in the City of Lake Elsinore, including: • The total number of collisions generally increased between 2018 and 2021, except for 2022. • People walking and biking are involved in 9 percent of all collisions but are disproportionally involved in 19 percent of all killed and severe injury (KSI) collisions, most of which occurred at night. • Motorcyclists are particularly over-represented in KSI collisions, as they are involved in 8 percent of all collisions but 24 percent of all KSI collisions. • The most common collision type was Broadside (i.e., T-bone), representing one in three collisions and one in four KSI collisions. • The most common primary collision factor was Unsafe Speed, playing a role in 30 percent of all collisions and 22 percent of KSI collisions. • One in three KSI collisions involved driving or bicycling under the influence. • Despite making up less than fifty percent of roadways, over two thirds of collisions occurred on roadways with posted speeds of 40 miles per hour or greater. • Most collisions occur at intersections. • Collisions occur disproportionately within or near Disadvantaged Communities. Killed of Severely Injured (KSI) Severe injuries resulting from a traffic collision can result in a number of catastrophic impacts, including permanent disability, lost productivity and wages, and ongoing healthcare costs. Throughout this plan, the acronym KSI is used to denote collisions where someone was killed or severely injured. Comparison with Neighboring Cities According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) 2020 statewide data, the City of Lake Elsinore ranks 45th out of 106 for total number traffic fatalities and injuries among California cities with a population between 50,001 – 100,000 people (a rank of 1 is the worst). Compared with neighboring cities, Lake Elsinore ranks 3rd in total fatal and injury victims per capita on local roadways. City Fatal & Injury Victims per Capita Rank City of Perris .0052 1 City of Temecula .0036 2 City of Lake Elsinore .0030 3 City of Menifee .0026 4 City of Murrieta .0022 5 City of Wildomar .0012 6 24 Collision Data Overview The collision analysis examines injury collisions acquired from the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from 2018 through 2022. Collisions resulting in property-damage-only (PDO) are not included in the analysis. Collision databases have been found to have certain reporting biases, including: • Collisions involving people walking, bicycling, or on motorcycles are less likely to be reported than collisions only involving people driving; • Younger people are less likely to report collisions; and • Alcohol-involved collisions may be under-reported. Race, income, immigration status, and English proficiency may also impact reporting, but there is limited research on these factors. Contextual Data Overview To better understand systemic collision patterns in the City of Lake Elsinore, several contextual factors were analyzed in conjunction with collision characteristics. By merging roadway and intersection features with collision data, relationships can be uncovered between contextual factors and the risk of frequent and severe collisions. The proximity to each contextual factor varied based on its area of influence (e.g., a school has a much larger area of influence than a bus stop). Data from connected vehicles were also included as contextual factors. Connected vehicle data such as excessive speeding, aggressive acceleration (i.e., stepping on the gas), and aggressive deceleration/hard-breaking (i.e., slamming on the brakes) were geospatially linked to roadway segments and used as indicators of atypical driving behavior. Generally, excessive speeding events tend to be an indicator of reckless behavior. Locations with excessive speeding events are those where the 85th percentile travel speed exceeded the posted speed by 5 miles per hour. Aggressive acceleration or deceleration events are the observation of abnormal changes in speed, whether they are positive or negative. Generally, aggressive acceleration events tend to be an indicator of reckless behavior whereas rapid deceleration or hard braking tends to be an indicator of evasive action, though the inverse is sometimes true as well. Contextual Factors Roadway Element Distance Bicycle Facilities 100’ Bus Stops 250’ Roadway Characteristics Posted Speed Limit 100’ Roadway Classification 100’ Average Annual Daily Traffic 100’ Intersection Control 250’ Land Use Types Schools ¼ mile Parks ¼ mile Disadvantaged Communities ¼ mile 25 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis COLLISIONS BY YEAR From 2018 to 2022, there were 860 total injury collisions, 107 (or 12 percent) of which included victims who were killed or severely injured (KSI). On average, 6 people are killed each year on local roadways in the City of Lake Elsinore by traffic collisions. 0 50 100 150 200 250 All Collisions Total Number of Collisions 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 All Collisions Total Number of KSI Collisions 2018 2019 2020 2021 2021 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped Total Number of Collisions 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 0 2 4 6 8 Truck Motorcycle Bike Pedestrian Total Number of KSI Collisions 2018 2019 2020 2021 2021 26 COLLISIONS BY MODE People walking and biking are involved in 9 percent of all collisions in the City of Lake Elsinore but are disproportionally involved in 19 percent of all KSI collisions. Motorcyclists are particularly over-represented in KSI collisions, as they are involved in 8 percent of all collisions but 24 percent of all KSI collisions. COLLISIONS BY TYPE The four most common collision types in the City of Lake Elsinore are Broadside (33 percent), Rear End (26 percent), Hit Object (14 percent), and Head-On (10 percent) collisions. For KSI collisions, Broadside collisions account for the largest share of collision types (25 percent), followed by Hit Object (24 percent), Vehicle/Pedestrian (16 percent), and Head-On (13 percent). 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped Collisions By Mode All Collisions KSI Collisions 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Collisions By Type All Collisions KSI Collisions 27 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis PRIMARY COLLISION FACTOR There may be multiple factors at play in any given collision. The primary collision factor is the one element or driving action which in an officer’s opinion best describes the main cause of the collision. In the City of Lake Elsinore, the most common primary collision factors are Unsafe Speed (30 percent), Vehicle Right-of-Way (18 percent), Improper Turning (14 percent), and Traffic Signals and Signs (10 percent). For KSI collisions, the most common primary collision factors are Unsafe Speed (22 percent), Driving or Bicycling Under the Influence (18 percent), Improper Turning (16 percent), followed by a tie between Vehicle Right-of-Way and Pedestrian Violation (11 percent). 0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35% Other Pedestrian Violation Wrong Side of Road Driving/Bicycling Under the Influence Traffic Signals and Signs Improper Turning Vehicle Right of Way Violation Unsafe Speed Primary Collision Factor All Collisions KSI Collisions Vehicle Right-of- Way Violation: When a party of any mode does not yield to the driver’s right-of-way or the driver observes their right-of-way improperly, depending on which party is listed at fault. Improper Turning: When a driver ignores traffic signals, turns before it is their turn, or turns from the wrong lane. Traffic Signals and Signs: Failure to obey any sign or signal erected or maintained. Pedestrian Violation: When a pedestrian does not yield to other road users at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. 28 DRIVING/BIKING UNDER THE INFLUENCE A driver or bicyclist under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) increases the likelihood of a collision resulting in a severe injury or a fatality. From 2018 to 2022, 11 percent of collisions involved a driver under the influence. The percentage significantly increases to 31 percent for KSI collisions. Collisions involving DUI increased from 2019 to 2021 and maintained rates above the five-year average in 2022. KSI collisions involving DUI peaked in 2022 over the last five years. TIME OF DAY Studying the timing of collisions can provide context about the surrounding traffic and lighting conditions, which informs the selection of countermeasures. A disproportionate share of collisions occurred in the evening between 3 PM and 6 PM (20 percent), which is when many people are returning from work and school. Collisions occurring between this period may also be affected by seasonal changes, such as Daylight Savings Time, which can influence visibility during sunset. A disproportionate share of KSI collisions occurred in the evening or overnight between 6 PM and 9 PM (22 percent). This pattern indicates that there are night-related issues, such as visibility, DUI, and speeding when fewer cars are on the road. 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Average Driving/Biking Under the Influence All Collisions KSI Collisions 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Time of Day All Collisions KSI Collisions 29 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis LIGHTING CONDITIONS Roadway lighting conditions can influence the visibility of vulnerable roadway users, especially of pedestrian. 55 percent of pedestrian collisions and 94 percent of pedestrian KSI collisions occurred at night. Of the pedestrian collisions that occurred at night, 26 percent of pedestrian collisions and 44 percent of pedestrian KSI collisions occurred in locations not near a streetlight. 0%20%40%60%80%100% All Modes Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped Lighting Conditions of All Collisions Daytime Dusk - Dawn Nighttime 0%20%40%60%80%100% All Modes Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped Lighting Conditions of KSI Collisions Daytime Dusk - Dawn Nighttime 0%20%40%60%80%100% All Modes Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped All Collisions at Night Near Streetlight Not Near Streetlight 0%20%40%60%80%100% All Modes Truck Motorcycle Bike Ped KSI Collisions at Night Near Streetlight Not Near Streetlight 30 VULERNABLE USERS - PEDESTRIANS Most pedestrian collisions occurred when pedestrians are crossing a roadway, either at a marked crosswalk (37 percent) or not (35 percent). However, pedestrians crossing not in a marked crosswalk are disproportionately involved in 53 percent of KSI collisions. Pedestrians crossing the street outside of crosswalks and walking in the road may indicate priority locations to evaluate for new crosswalks and sidewalks. Most non-pedestrian parties, such as drivers and bicyclists, were proceeding straight prior to the collision; 62 percent of non- pedestrian parties overall and 89 percent of non-pedestrian parties in KSI collisions. While proceeding straight, drivers are able to travel at higher speeds, resulting in more severe collision outcomes. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Crossing in Crosswalk Crossing Not in Crosswalk In Road, Including Shoulder Not in Road Pedestrian Movement All Collisions KSI Collisions 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Proceeding Straight Making Right Turn Making Left Turn Other Non-Pedestrian Movement All Collisions KSI Collisions 31 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis VULERNABLE USERS - BICYCLISTS Most bicycle collisions occurred when bicyclists were proceeding straight (57 percent), followed by bicyclists traveling the wrong way (21 percent). For KSI collisions, bicyclists were either changing lanes or turning left (66 percent). Most non-bicyclist parties, such as drivers, were proceeding straight prior to the collision; 56 percent of non-bicyclist parties overall and 100 percent of non-bicyclist parties in KSI collisions. While proceeding straight, drivers are able to travel at higher speeds, resulting in more severe collision outcomes. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Proceeding Straight Making Right Turn Making Left Turn Changing Lanes Traveling Wrong Way Other Bicyclist Movement All Collisions KSI Collisions 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Proceeding Straight Making Right Turn Making Left Turn Other Non-Bicyclist Movement All Collisions KSI Collisions 32 POSTED SPEED Speed is the primary factor in determining the severity of a collision. Over two-thirds of all collisions and KSI collisions occurred on roadways with posted speeds of 40 miles per hour (mph) or greater, while these roads make up less than fifty percent of Lake Elsinore’s roadways. Despite making up 23 percent of Lake Elsinore’s roadways (measured in centerline miles), 30 percent of all collisions and 35 percent of KSI collisions occurred on roadways with a posted speed of 50 mph or above. LOCATION TYPE Most collisions occur within 250 feet of an intersection (83 percent of collisions and 73 percent of KSI collisions). Collisions are more likely to occur at intersections because people walking, biking, and driving are interacting with each other, changing directions, and making decisions. Most of the intersection collisions occur at unsignalized locations; 45 percent of all collisions (53 percent of all collisions that occurred at an intersection) and 47 percent of KSI collisions (64 percent of KSI collisions that occurred at an intersection. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Roadways Posted Speed 30 MPH 40 MPH 50+ MPH 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Location Type Unsignalized Intersection Signalized Intersection Midblock 33 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis PROXIMITY TO BUS STOPS Areas near bus stops generally have higher pedestrian and bicycle activity as people are traveling to and from transit. In Lake Elsinore, 8 percent of all collisions and 19 percent of all KSI collisions near bus stops involved people walking and biking. 23 percent of all collisions and 20 percent of all KSI collisions occurred within 250 feet of a bus stop. In comparison, 23 percent of walk/bike collisions and 25 percent of walk/bike KSI collisions occurred within 250 feet of a bus stop. KSI collisions involving people walking and biking are somewhat overrepresented near bus stops. Some bus stops in Lake Elsinore lack surrounding pedestrian infrastructure; 44 percent of pedestrians hit near bus stops were not in a marked crosswalk of dedicated pedestrian facility. PROXIMITY TO BICYCLE FACILITIES People biking are more likely to use roadways with bicycle facilities. Despite only making up 3 percent of all collisions and 3 percent of all KSI collisions, 10 percent of all collisions and 22 percent of all KSI collisions near bicycle facilities involved people biking. 39 percent of all collisions and 38 percent of all KSI collisions occurred near a bicycle facility. In comparison, 52 percent of bike collisions and 33 percent of bike KSI collisions occurred near a bicycle facility. Bicycle collisions on roadways with bicycle facilities tend to be less severe. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions All Collisions Near Bus Stops Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Walk/Bike Collisions Near Bus Stops Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Collisions Near Bike Lanes Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Bike Collisions Near Bike Lanes Yes No 34 PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS Schools have higher pedestrian and bicycle activity, especially during arrival and dismissal periods. Despite making up 9 percent of all collisions and 19 percent of all KSI collisions, 14 percent of all collisions and 41 percent of all KSI collisions near schools involved people walking and biking. 17 percent of collisions and 16 percent of KSI collisions occurred within a quarter-mile of a school. In comparison, 28 percent of walk/bike collisions and 35 percent of walk/bike KSI collisions occurred within a quarter-mile of a school. Collisions involving people walking and biking are disproportionately overrepresented near schools. PROXIMITY TO PARKS Parks are another destination with high pedestrian and bicyclist activity. 10 percent of all collisions and 21 percent of all KSI collisions near parks involved people walking and biking. 33 percent of collisions and 26 percent of KSI collisions occurred within a quarter-mile of a park. In comparison, 36 percent of pedestrian and bicycle collisions and 30 percent of pedestrian and bicycle KSI collisions occurred within a quarter- mile of a park. Collisions involving people walking and biking are somewhat overrepresented near parks. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions All Collisions Near Schools Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Walk/Bike Collisions Near Schools Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions All Collisions Near Parks Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Walk/Bike Collisions Near Parks Yes No 35 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis VICTIM PROFILE BY AGE & GENDER Victims include anyone involved in a collision that experience some level of injury. Victim demographic information are reported at the party level; this means that if multiple people are present in a vehicle, only the driver’s demographic information will be reported. People between the ages of 15 and 65 experience a disproportionate share of collisions within the City of Lake Elsinore: • People under the age of 15 comprise 24 percent of Lake Elsinore’s population but represent only 9 percent of all injury victims and 5 percent of all KSI victims. • People between the ages of 15 and 65 comprise 69 percent of Lake Elsinore’s population but represent only 84 percent of all injury victims and 89 percent of all KSI victims. • People 65 years and older comprise 6 percent of the City’s population but represent 7 percent of all injury victims and 6 percent of all KSI victims. Gender breakdown is roughly evenly distributed for all injury victims with 50 percent male and 50 percent female victims. Male victims are overrepresented in KSI collisions, and account for 69 percent of KSI victims. 0%20%40%60%80%100% Total Population All Victims KSI Victims Victim Profile by Age Under 15 15-64 65+ 0%20%40%60%80%100% Total Population All Victims KSI Victims Victim Profile by Gender Female Male 36 VICTIM PROFILE BY RACE The victim’s race is determined at the discretion of the reporting officer and is also only reported at the party level. This means that if people of multiple races are present in a vehicle, only the driver’s race will be reported. Additionally, not all roadway users live within the City of Lake Elsinore, and racial breakdown of collision victims may be further influenced by regional demographics. • People who were identified as Asian represent 3 percent of all victims, less than 1 percent of KSI victims, and 7 percent of the population in the City of Lake Elsinore. • People who were identified as Black are overrepresented in collisions, representing 10 percent of all victims, 7 percent of KSI victims, and 3 percent of the population in the City of Lake Elsinore. • People who were identified as Hispanic represent 47 percent of all victims, 43 percent of KSI victims, and 60 percent of the population in the City of Lake Elsinore. • People who were identified as White are overrepresented in collisions, representing 38 percent of all victims, 39 percent of KSI victims, and 26 percent of the population in the City of Lake Elsinore. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Asian Black Hispanic White Other Not Stated Victim Profile by Race Total Population All Victims KSI Victims 37 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES In the State of California, disadvantaged communities refers to census tracts which most suffer from a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens. These burdens include poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, presence of hazardous wastes as well as high incidence of asthma and heart disease. Environmental and social justice seeks to come to terms with, and remedy, a history of unfair treatment of communities, predominantly communities of people of color and/ or low-income residents. 19 percent of Lake Elsinore’s roadways (measured in centerline miles) are located within a quarter-mile of a state designated disadvantaged community, however state designated disadvantaged communities disproportionately represent 31 percent of all collisions and 21 percent of KSI collisions. At the federal level, disadvantaged communities refers to census tracts that is at or above the threshold for one or more environmental, climate, or other burdens, and at or above the threshold for an associated socioeconomic burden. In addition, a census tract that is completely surrounded by disadvantaged communities and is at or above the 50% percentile for low income is also considered disadvantaged. Indicators include: 1) Climate Change, 2) Energy, 3) Health, 4) Housing, 5) Legacy Pollution, 6) Transportation, 7) Water and Wastewater, and 8) Workforce Development. 55 percent of Lake Elsinore’s roadways (measured in centerline miles) located within a quarter-mile of a federally designated disadvantaged community, however federally designated disadvantaged community disproportionately represent 93 percent of all collisions and 93 percent of KSI collisions. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Roadways Near or Within State Designated Disadvantaged Communities Yes No 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% All Collisions KSI Collisions Roadways Near or Within Federal Designated Disadvantaged Communities Yes No 38 Safety Focus Areas Collisions were mapped to identify intersections and roadways with the highest concentration of collisions. The “Safety Focus Area”, used to describe these intersections and roadways, represents roughly 24 centerline miles, or approximately 8 percent of Lake Elsinore’s roadways. The Safety Focus Area represents 65 percent of all collisions and 79 percent of KSI collisions that have occurred within the City of Lake Elsinore between 2018 and 2022. 39 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Safety Analysis This page intentionally left blank. 40 6 41 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox Chapter 6 – Countermeasure Toolbox This toolbox presents safety countermeasures covering safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care that address the collision trends identified through the comprehensive collision analysis. This toolbox furthers the work that the City of Lake Elsinore has done over the past several years to prioritize safer roadway design through the Systemic Safety Analysis Report adopted in 2019 and the recent Railroad Canyon Road LRSP completed in 2022. This plan's focus on the elements of the Safe System approach and an emphasis on equity not only helps to provide alignment with current LRSP guidelines, but also positions the City of Lake Elsinore for federal/state funding opportunities and aligns their actions with emerging safety best practices. Source: Fehr & Peers for FHWA 42 Engineering Countermeasures Most of the engineering countermeasures are included in the 2022 Caltrans Local Roadway Safety Manual (LRSM) and can be advantageous for use in Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant funding applications. The toolbox identifies a Caltrans-approved Crash Reduction Factor (CRF), the expected duration of the project, the federal funding eligibility, the systemic opportunity for countermeasure implementation, and applicable collision type (e.g., all modes, bicycle and pedestrian collisions only, etc.) as outlined in the LRSM. The higher the CRF, the greater the expected reduction in collisions. There are many effective safety countermeasures beyond those listed in the LRSM, and several are included in this toolbox.  Local Roadway Safety Manual (LRSM) Countermeasures _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ LIGHTING • Intersection Lighting  • Roadway Lighting  CONTROL • Install Stop Sign • Install All-Way Stop Control  • Install (Mini-) Roundabout  • Install Signal  SIGNAL MODIFICATION • Retroreflective Signal Backplates  • Extend Yellow and All Red Time  • Advanced Dilemma Zone Detection • Emergency Vehicle Preemption  • Protected Left Turns  • Red Light Camera SHIELD OBSTACLES • Install Median Barrier  • Guardrails  • Impact Attenuators  GEOMETRIC • Minor Road Splitter Islands  • Raised Median  • Create Directional Median Openings  • Right-Turn Lane  • Left-Turn Lane  • Install Acceleration/Deceleration Lane  • Two-Way Left-Turn Lane  • Widen Shoulder  • Widen Median • Improve Pavement Friction  OPERATION/WARNING • Larger or Additional Warning Signs  • Install Flashing Beacons  • Chevron Signs on Horizontal Curves  • Curve Advance Warning Signs  • Speed Monitoring and Feedback • Improve Intersection Sight Distance  • Upgrade Intersection Pavement Markings  • Delineators, Reflectors, and/or Object Markers  • Transverse Rumble Strips  • Edgelines and Centerlines  • Edgeline and Centerline Rumble Strips  PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE • Install Bike Lanes  • Install Sidewalks/Pathway  • High Visibility Crosswalk  • Raised Crosswalk/Intersection  • Curb Extensions  • Leading Pedestrian Interval  • Pedestrian Countdown Signal Heads  • Pedestrian Scramble  • Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon  • Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon  • Raised Median/Refuge Island  • Advanced Stop Bar  • Advanced Yield Markings  • Transit Amenities 43 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox STOP LIGHTING CONTROL Intersection Lighting  LSRM ID: NS01, S01 Adding lighting at an intersection, and on its approaches, improves safety during nighttime conditions by (1) making drivers more aware of their surroundings at an intersection (2) enhancing drivers’ available sight distances, and (3) improving the visibility of non-motorists. Intersection lighting is also beneficial to non-motorized users by helping them navigate the intersection. Upgrading to LED lighting also has a documented safety benefit. CRF: 40% Crash Type: Night Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Roadway Lighting  LSRM ID: R01 Providing roadway lighting improves safety during nighttime conditions by making drivers more aware of their surroundings, enhancing drivers’ available sight distances to perceive roadway characteristics in advance of the change, and improving non-motorist’s visibility and navigation. Upgrading to LED lighting also has a documented safety benefit. CRF: 35% Crash Type: Night Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Install Stop Sign  LSRM ID: NS06 Installing a stop sign at an uncontrolled intersection helps determine the right-of- way of roadway users. When there are no traffic signs to indicate who should proceed first, users must rely on their general knowledge of state laws. Install stop signs is a low-cost countermeasure that reduces the risk for collisions at an intersection. CRF: 15% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years) 10: HSIP Funding Eligibility 90%: Systemic Opportunity: Very High 44 STOP ALL WAY CONTROL Install All-Way Stop Control  LSRM ID: NS02 An all-way stop-controlled (AWSC) intersection requires all vehicles to stop before crossing the intersection. An AWSC intersection improves safety by removing the need for road users on a side-street stop-controlled intersection to cross free- flowing lanes of traffic, which reduces the risk of collision. An “ALL WAY” sign should be placed under the octagonal stop sign at AWSC intersections as required by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Establishing All Way Stop Controls require that the intersection meet certain conditions specified by the manual. CRF: 50% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: High Install (Mini-) Roundabout  LSRM ID: NS04, NS05, S16 A roundabout is a type of circular intersection in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction. The types of conflicts that occur at roundabouts are different from those occurring at conventional intersections; namely, conflicts from crossing and left-turn movements are not present in a roundabout. The geometry of a roundabout keeps the range of vehicle speed narrow, which helps reduce the severity of crashes when they do occur. Mini-roundabouts may be optimal traffic calming measure at an intersection where there is insufficient right-of-way for a standard roundabout installation. CRF: Varies Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low - Medium Install Signal  LSRM ID: NS03 Traffic signals at intersections control the flow of traffic. Traffic signals have the potential to reduce the most severe type crashes but will likely cause an increase in rear-end collisions. A reduction in overall injury severity is likely the largest benefit of traffic signal installation. CRF: 30% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low 45 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox + SIGNAL MODIFICATION Retroreflective Signal Backplates  LSRM ID: S02 Retroreflective borders and backplates enhance the visibility of traffic signals for aging and color-vision-impaired drivers, enabling them to understand which signal indication is illuminated. Retroreflective borders may also alert drivers to signalized intersections during periods of power outages when the signals would otherwise be dark, and non– reflective signal heads and backplates would not be visible. Signal heads that have backplates equipped with retroreflective borders are also more visible and conspicuous during nighttime conditions. CRF: 15% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Very High Extend Yellow and All Red Time  LSRM ID: S03 Extending yellow and all red time increases the time allotted for the yellow and red lights during a signal phase. This improves safety by allowing drivers and bicyclists to safely cross through an intersection before conflicting traffic movements are permitted to enter the intersection. See CA MUTCD Section 4D.26 for more details. CRF: 15% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 50% Systemic Opportunity: Very High Advanced Dilemma Zone Detection An advanced dilemma zone detection system minimizes the number of vehicles the intersection traffic control signal system exposes to an intersection-approach dilemma zone. This is accomplished by adjusting the start time of the yellow-signal phase either earlier or later, based on observed vehicle locations and speeds. The advanced dilemma zone detection system was not eligible for HSIP Cycle 11 funding, but in previous cycles, this countermeasure had a crash reduction factor of 40%. CRF: N/A Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): N/A Federal Funding Eligibility: N/A Systemic Opportunity: High + 46 SIGNAL MODIFICATION Emergency Vehicle Preemption  LSRM ID: S05 Providing emergency vehicle preemption capability at a signal or along a corridor provides two major safety benefits. First, preemption may decrease the potential for a collision to occur as emergency vehicles try to navigate through intersections. Second, a signal preemption system can decrease emergency vehicle response times, therefore decreasing the time for victims to receive medical attention, which is a critical concept of the Post Crash Care element of the Safe Systems Approach. An agency may consider combining emergency vehicle preemption into a comprehensive signal improvement project. CRF: 70% Crash Type: Emergency Vehicles Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: High Protected Left Turn  LSRM ID: S06, S07 A protected left turn can be implemented at signalized intersections (with existing left turn pockets) that currently have a permissive left-turn or no left-turn protection and a high frequency of angle crashes involving left turning movements. Left turns are widely recognized as the highest-risk movements at signalized intersections. Providing protected left-turn phases significantly improves the safety for left-turn maneuvers by removing the need for the drivers to navigate through gaps in oncoming through vehicles. CRF: 30-55% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low-High Red Light Camera A red light camera enforces traffic signal compliance by capturing the image of a vehicle that has entered an intersection in spite of the traffic signal indicating red. The automatic photographic evidence is used by authorities to enforce traffic laws and issue traffic violation tickets. CRF: N/A Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): N/A HSIP Funding Eligibility: N/A Systemic Opportunity: High 47 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox SHIELD OBSTACLES Install Median Barrier  LSRM ID: R03 Median barriers are installed where crash history indicates drivers are unintentionally crossing the median and the cross-overs are resulting in high severity crashes. This strategy is designed to prevent head-on collisions by providing a barrier between opposing lanes of traffic. The variety of median barriers available makes it easier to choose a site-specific solution. The main advantage is the reduction of the severity of the crashes. CRF: 25% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Guardrails  LSRM ID: R04 Guardrails are installed to reduce the severity of lane departure crashes. However, guardrail can reduce crash severity only for those conditions where striking the guardrail is less severe than going down an embankment or striking a fixed object. Guardrail should only be installed where it is clear that crash severity will be reduced, or there is a history of run- off-the-road crashes at a given location that have resulted in severe crashes. CRF: 25% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: High Impact Attenuators  LSRM ID: R05 Impact attenuators are typically used to shield rigid roadside objects such as concrete barrier ends, steel guardrail ends and bridge pillars from oncoming automobiles. Attenuators should only be installed where it is impractical for the objects to be removed. CRF: 25% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: High 48 GEOMETRIC MODIFICATION Minor Road Splitter Island  LSRM ID: NS13 The installation of minor road splitter islands allows for the addition of a stop sign in the median to make the intersection more conspicuous. Additionally, the splitter island on the minor road reduces turning speeds and provides for a positive separation between turning vehicles on the through road and vehicles stopped on the minor road approach. CRF: 40% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Raised Median  LSRM ID: NS14, S12, R09 Raised medians with left-turn lanes at intersections offer a cost-effective means for reducing crashes and improving operations at higher volume intersections. The raised medians also prohibit left turns into and out of driveways that may be located too close to the functional area of the intersection. CRF: 25% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Create Directional Median Openings to Allow (and Prohibit) Left-Turns  LSRM ID: NS15, S14 As a form of access management, creating directional median openings channelizes left turn and U-turn movements from major roadways and prohibits left turn and U-turn movements from cross streets. Raised medians limit property access to right turns only and should be used in conjunction with efforts to provide alternative access and promote driveway spacing objectives. Turn prohibitions can be implemented quickly but impacts to businesses and other land uses must be considered and controversy can delay the implementation. CRF: 50% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium 49 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox GEOMETRIC MODIFICATION Right-Turn Lane  LSRM ID: NS17 Adding right-turn lanes can reduce the frequency of rear-end collisions resulting from conflicts between vehicles turning right and following vehicles, and vehicles turning right and through vehicles coming from the left on the cross street. Right-turn lanes also remove slow vehicles that are decelerating to turn right from the through-traffic stream, thus reducing the potential for rear-end collisions. CRF: 20% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low Left-Turn Lane  LSRM ID: NS18 Adding left-turn lanes removes vehicles waiting to turn left from the through-traffic stream, thus reducing the potential for rear-end collisions. Because they provide a sheltered location for drivers to wait for a gap in opposing traffic, left-turn lanes may encourage drivers to be more selective in choosing a gap to complete the left-turn maneuver. This strategy may reduce the potential for collisions between left-turn and opposing through vehicles. CRF: 35% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low Install Acceleration/Deceleration Lane  LRSM ID: R11 A lane that does not provide enough deceleration length and storage space for turning traffic may cause the turn queue to back up into the adjacent through lane. This can contribute to rear-end and sideswipe crashes. An acceleration lane is an auxiliary or speed-change lane that allows vehicles to accelerate to highway speeds (high speed roadways) before entering the through-traffic lanes of a highway. Additionally, if acceleration by entering traffic takes place directly on the traveled way, it may disrupt the flow of through-traffic and cause rear-end and sideswipe collisions. CRF: 25% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Low 50 GEOMETRIC MODIFICATION Two-Way Left-Turn Lane  LSRM ID: R13 Two-way left-turn lanes provide a buffer between opposing directions of travel and separate left turning traffic from through traffic. They can also help to allow vehicles to begin to accelerate before entering the through-traffic lanes. They reduce the disruption of flow of through-traffic and reducing rear-end and sideswipe collisions. CRF: 30% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 Federal Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Widen Shoulder  LSRM ID: R15, R16 Adding a shoulder or widening an existing shoulder provides a greater area to regain control of a vehicle, as well as lateral clearance to roadside objects such as guardrails, signs, and poles. They may also provide space for disabled vehicles to stop or drive slowly, provide increased sight distance for through vehicles and for vehicles entering the roadway, and in some cases reduce passing conflicts between motor vehicles and bicyclists and pedestrians. Widening the shoulder on a curve also creates a recovery area for drivers to regain control of a vehicle, as well as lateral clearance to roadside objects. CRF: 30-45% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 20 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium Widen Median  Widening the center median on high- speed roadways creates a horizontal buffer for cars in opposing directions to mistakenly drift, run over the centerline and then space to recover without crossing into opposing lane of traffic. This countermeasure can be paired with auditory centerline rumble strips to reduce head-on collisions. CRF: N/A Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): N/A HSIP Funding Eligibility: N/A Systemic Opportunity: Medium 51 Lake Elsinore Local Road Safety Plan Countermeasure Toolbox STOP GEOMETRIC MODIFICATION OPERATION/WARNING Improved Pavement Friction  LSRM ID: NS12, S11, R21 A roadway must have an appropriate level of pavement friction to ensure that drivers are able to keep their vehicles safely in the lane. Poor pavement conditions, especially wet pavement which reduces friction and may lead to hydroplaning, have been identified as one of the major contributing factors in roadway departure crashes. Traditional friction courses or high friction surface treatments should be considered for curves with numerous wet weather crashes or severe curves with higher operating speeds. CRF: 55% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium - High Larger or Additional Warning Sign  LSRM ID: NS06 The visibility of intersections and, thus, the ability of approaching drivers to perceive them can be enhanced by installing larger regulatory and warning signs at or prior to intersections. A key to success in applying this strategy is to select a combination of regulatory and warning sign techniques appropriate for the conditions on a particular unsignalized intersection approach. CRF: 15% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Very High Install Flashing Beacons  LSRM ID: NS08, NS09, S10 A flashing beacon as advanced warning is a blinking light with signage to notify motorists of an upcoming intersection or crosswalk. A flashing beacon improves safety by providing motorists more time to become aware of and slow down for an intersection or yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk. Flashing beacons can also be installed on top stop signs. Alternatively, signs can also be enhanced with LED lights embedded in the sign to outline the sign itself or the words and symbols on the sign. The LEDs may be set to flash or operate in a steady mode. An LED-enhanced sign improves safety by improving the visibility of signs at locations with visibility limitations or with a documented history of drivers failing to see or obey the sign. CRF: 15-30% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 Federal Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Medium - High STOP STOPSTOP 52 OPERATION/WARNING Install Chevron Signs on Horizontal Curves  LSRM ID: R23 Post-mounted chevrons are intended to warn drivers of an approaching curve and provide tracking information and guidance to the drivers. While they are intended to act as a warning, it should also be remembered that the posts, placed along the roadside, represent a possible object with which an errant vehicle can crash. CRF: 40% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: Very High Install Curve Advance Warning Signs  LSRM ID: R24, R25 This strategy primarily addresses problem curves and serves as an advance warning of an unexpected or sharp curve. It provides advance information and gives drivers a visual warning that their added attention is needed. CRF: 25-30% Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): 10 HSIP Funding Eligibility: 90% Systemic Opportunity: High - Very High Speed Monitoring and Feedback Video or radar roadside sensors are used to monitor individual vehicle speeds. With speed monitoring and feedback, signs can notify motorists of excessive speed through a combination of dynamic roadside signage and vehicle-to- infrastructure (V2I) messaging. By notifying motorists of their speed, feedback signs may promote slower speeds and safer driver behavior. CRF: N/A Crash Type: All Expected Life (Years): N/A HSIP Funding Eligibility: N/A Systemic Opportunity: Very High