Common use of Approaches Clause in Contracts

Approaches. Quality of safety programs is ensured by CDOT through evaluation of safety cost effectiveness and/or value derived from the safety programs and projects and assessment of progress on key safety performance measures, as reported in the Annual HSIP reports. The continuous quality improvements process of the Traffic and Safety Engineering Branch and Problem Identification conducted by HSO are used to prioritize limited funds to determine which initiatives have the greatest impact on highway safety in the areas of engineering and human factors (behavior). The quality is enhanced through collaboration with others to include FHWA, which provides technical assistance for the HSIP and individual projects. Quality is monitored through ongoing operations and the regional and project oversight that consists of work zone traffic control reviews, process reviews, scoping reviews, and Quality Assurance Reviews. In conducting safety analysis, CDOT analyzes crash data using the latest and proven methodologies that are consistent with the HSM as well as current research. CDOT screens for locations that have a comparatively high concentration of crashes and correctable crash patterns, which are then categorized as locations with high potential for crash reduction. Through routine safety assessments, HSIP planning, or other statewide safety program planning, CDOT analyzes these locations and provides recommendations for mitigation that are both researched and proven (as documented in NCHRP Report 500 and in FHWA's Guide on the use of Proven Safety Countermeasures) in conjunction with other innovative strategies applied towards safety improvement. The processes of this program are documented in 23 CFR, along with CDOT procedural directives and policies, operational guidelines, etc. This information is shared with those who need to understand how the process operates. In addition, meetings are an integral and critical method of process and operational communications.