Learn About the Safety Circuit Rider Team
On October 1, 2022, the Safety Circuit Rider (SCR) program will begin a five-year reauthorization. The T2 Center is very pleased to have this opportunity to continue our good work with local Connecticut agencies. Since we have many new members of our Public Works, Engineering and Local Traffic Authority community, we wanted to reintroduce you to our SCR Program and our terrific team of professionals!
Why Are We Doing This Work?
Of the 21,000 miles of roadway in Connecticut, 82% are maintained by local municipal agencies. Over 50% of the serious and fatal injury crashes that occur in the state happen on these local roadways. To make significant progress in reducing the number of crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities in Connecticut, the safety along local roadways needs to improve.
The SCR Team
The Safety Circuit Rider (SCR) team includes Melissa Evans, Safety Circuit Rider, Lisa Knight, Educational Program Coordinator and Donna Shea, Executive Program Coordinator.
Services We Provide
The (SCR) program is designed to provide safety-related information, training, and direct technical assistance to agencies responsible for local roadway safety.
Training
The SCR program provides free roadway safety-related training to local agencies through our Safety Academy. Trainings cover many topics such as Sign Installation and Maintenance, Road Safety Assessments (RSAs), ADA, Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP), Speed Management, Roundabouts and more. Melissa teaches several of our courses, and Lisa and Melissa also partner with guest instructors. Participation in these trainings earns credit toward our Safety Champion Certificate program. Our SCR also partners with the T2 general training program to teach classes in the Local Traffic Authority certificate program.
Technical Assistance
The SCR program provides technical assistance and resources to CT municipalities on a wide range of road safety issues. Some recent topics include:
- Crash data analysis
- On Site Road Safety Assessments
- Traffic Data Collection and Analysis
- Identification of Low-Cost Safety Improvements
Local Road Safety Plans
A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) provides a framework for organizing stakeholders to identify, analyze, and prioritize roadway safety improvements on local roads. LRSP’s are very important, especially now with the funding opportunities coming over the next several years from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The process for developing an LRSP can be tailored to local protocols, needs and issues. Plans should be viewed as a living document that can be continually reviewed and updated.
Free Equipment Loan Program
Local agencies can borrow traffic counters, sign retroreflectometer and our newest addition, a pavement marking retroreflectometer. See our full list of available equipment at:
Providing Critical Equipment to our Cities and Towns
Over the past several years, the SCR program has been very fortunate to receive funding from CTDOT to provide critical equipment to our local agencies, including full work zone safety packages offered to all 169 towns and speed feedback signs for rural towns. In September, CTDOT is providing funding for our program to offer speed feedback signs to our Urban cities/towns. We are very grateful for these opportunities and will look forward to more in the future.
For more information on the Safety Circuit Rider Program contact Melissa at melissa.evans@uconn.edu.
Connecticut Training & Technical Assistance Center Blog 