---

AAA Michigan Road Improvement Plan First of its Kind in U.S.

23 May 1997

AAA Michigan Road Improvement Plan First of its Kind in U.S.

    DEARBORN, Mich., May 22 -- An historic AAA Michigan/City of
Detroit pilot project designed to improve urban roadway safety was unveiled
today (May 22) at Seven Mile and Ryan in Detroit.  The intersection -- where
Pershing High School is located -- is the first to benefit from the AAA
Michigan Road Improvement Pilot Project.  Plans call for $36,100 worth of
intersection improvements, including re-timed traffic signals, larger signal
heads, and a center left-turn lane.
    The unique partnership between AAA and the City of Detroit is believed to
be the first of its kind in the nation.
    "The AAA Michigan Road Improvement Pilot Project represents an historic
first step in public/private partnerships designed to enhance traffic safety,"
said Ronald L. Steffens, President and CEO of AAA Michigan.  "With the
cooperation of city, county and state officials, we are combining financial
resources and expertise to improve the quality of an aging infrastructure and
raise the level of safety."
    Traffic engineering data has shown that sound investments in road
improvements at selected sites can reduce crashes and injuries, resulting in
substantial societal benefits.
    Modeled after a road improvement program begun by the Insurance Company of
British Columbia (ICBC), AAA Michigan's initiative targets five high-crash
locations in Detroit: 1) Seven Mile and Ryan (completed), 2) Seven Mile and
John R, 3) Hubbell and Puritan, 4) Woodward Avenue between Sibley/Adelaide and
Pilgrim/Ferris and 5) Evergreen and Schoolcraft.  The partnership was
officially launched at the 2,000-student Pershing High School site.
    Work on all five roadway sections is expected to be completed within two
years.  The size and scope of future projects will depend on the success of
the pilot project.  A similar road improvement project will begin in Grand
Rapids this summer.
    "Safety improvements have traditionally been a high priority when
allocating highway funds," said Steffens.  "In recent years, however, road
agencies have been unable to address many infrastructure needs.  The result is
roadway deterioration and neglect which contributes to higher crash rates and
higher insurance claim costs."
    The goal of the AAA Michigan Road Improvement Pilot Project is to reduce
the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes at high-risk locations.
Costs for improvements are being shared between AAA Michigan, the City of
Detroit, Wayne County and the Michigan Department of Transportation (M-DOT),
based on the jurisdiction for each site.
    By analyzing crash data in Detroit and other urban areas, program partners
identify hazardous locations and recommend safety improvements.  A cost/
benefit analysis determines which projects are funded.
    At Seven Mile and Ryan, for example, an average 59 crashes occur each
year.  A high percentage of those crashes (37 percent) result in injury.
Based on past reengineering experience, improvements to Seven Mile and Ryan
should reduce annual crashes by 15-25 percent.  Based on these crash
reductions, the potential for societal savings is high in terms of work loss,
medical costs, loss of mobility and pain and suffering.
     Pilot project partners include: City of Detroit, Southeast Michigan
Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Michigan Department of Transportation
(M-DOT), Wayne County Department of Public Services, Michigan State Police
Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), Wayne State University Civil
Engineering Department and AAA Michigan.

SOURCE  AAA Michigan