VDOT Traffic Engineering Division

Traffic engineering principles are integral to the safe and efficient movement of people and products across the Commonwealth. Traffic engineering is the phase of Virginia Department of Transportation which deals with safe, economical, and efficient traffic movement on roads, streets, and highways, their networks, terminals, and abutting lands.

Highway Safety Improvement Program

The 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU; Public Law 109-59) establishes a new core Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) that is structured to make significant progress in reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries.

The HSIP incorporates the previous Hazard Elimination Safety Program (named HES under TEA-21st) with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program under § 23 USC Section 148, and defines set-aside funds for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program under § 23 USC Section 130.

Federal Highway Administration

VDOT has developed a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for the Commonwealth of Virginia that involves the identification of high crash locations, an analysis of hazards, problems and countermeasures, and the prioritization and scheduling of improvement projects.

This program includes the Highway Safety Program (HSP), previously called HES, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program (BPSP) and the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program (H-RGCP).

To apply for FY 2009-10 Safety Improvement Projects please visit the HSIP Application/Procedure Updates page. Additionally, guidelines and requirements for developing new Proactive HSIP projects using allocations from FY2007 and 2008 have been added.

Road Safety Assessments (RSA)

A Road Safety Assessments (RSA), alternatively known as Road Safety Audits, are defined as a more formal examination of existing highways or design projects in which a team of independent and multidisciplinary examiners analyzes the site crash history and develops potential safety countermeasures. The overall objective is to identify crash trends for roadway users and recommend measures to mitigate them.

VDOT has identified the RSA as a critical strategy to design and construct engineering improvements for several of the emphasis areas in Virginia’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. These include intersection and roadway departure crashes. VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division (TED) promotes RSA as the foundation of providing excellent Transportation Safety Planning and recommends its inclusion throughout the project development/delivery process.

In cooperation with VDOT’s Transportation Mobility Planning Division (TMPD) and as a first step, RSA procedures have been integrated into the Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions program.

To systematically implement RSAs in Virginia, TED has developed RSA guidelines and tools to bring together relevant RSA resources for all stakeholders.

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration sanctioned and adopted the 2003 edition of the “MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES” (MUTCD) on November 20, 2003. Learn more . . .

Stud Welded Overhead Sign Retrofit Initiative

VDOT is in the process of retrofitting overhead signs that have been fabricated using stud welds on the back of signs. This retrofit is necessary due to failures of the stud welds. The recommended retrofit procedure may be accessed by clicking on the below hyperlink.

Stud weld retrofit drawing (PDF, 96 KB) - This drawing is in pdf format and is VDOT's latest recommended procedure for "buttoning-up" the signs due to the stud weld breakage.

Approved Products Program

Pre-approved Traffic Control Device Listing - A Two Part Listing For Approved and Rescinded Traffic Control Devices.

Safety and Operations

• Roundabouts
• Traffic Calming Guide for Local Residential Streets (PDF, 114 KB)
• Flagger Certification Program

Traffic Monitoring Program

VDOT conducts a Traffic Monitoring Program where traffic count data are gathered from sensors in or along streets and highways and other sources. From these data, estimates of the average number of vehicles that traveled each segment of road are calculated.

Traffic Volume Estimates - County by county statistics that include more than 100,000 segments of roads and highways ranging from several mile sections of interstate highways to very short sections of city streets.