SSA Toolbox Guidance

Guidance

Several national and state guidance and informational documents informed the selection and recommended application of tools in the SSA Toolbox. The KYTC SSA Implementation Teams reviewed and incorporated this guidance while tailoring the toolbox to align with Kentucky’s specific needs and established practices. The sections below provide a summary of several of the resources considered.  Each tool’s webpage also features a References and Resources section at the bottom that lists supporting documentation specific to that tool.

Federal

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed a set of countermeasures and strategies—FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures—that have been shown to be highly effective in reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries nationwide.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) establishes national standards for traffic control devices, including guidance on the application of pavement markings and signing. Some Kentucky-specific applications of signing and pavement markings that comply with, but provide greater detail than, the MUTCD are included in KYTC’s Standard Drawings – Traffic. 

State

Kentucky-specific resources to consult when applying SSA tools include:

KYTC has several subject-matter–specific guidance manuals that support the development and delivery of projects. The Highway Design Manual (HDM) provides direction and criteria for roadway design, while the Traffic Operations Guidance Manual outlines the Cabinet’s policies and procedures related to traffic operations.

KYTC’s Standard Drawings and Standard Specifications establish consistent requirements for how transportation projects are design and constructed.

The Cabinet’s Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual provides guidance on a holistic approach to building a network that supports the needs of all users.

Additional Guidance

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) publishes several guidance documents, including A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (the Green Book), which provides comprehensive guidance for roadway design, and the Highway Safety Manual.

The Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse, funded by FHWA, provides a searchable database of crash modification factors (CMFs) along with supporting resources to guide their application.