NDOR releases 2014 annual report

Deaths on Nebraska roadways climbed to 225 in 2014 – the highest since 2007. But when the fatality rate per miles traveled is calculated, there’s no increase from 2013.

The Nebraska Department of Roads has embraced a “Toward Zero Deaths” safety campaign that includes performance measures, construction and maintenance techniques along with non-infrastructure projects.

Those initiatives are included in an annual report released by the NDOR this month. The 31-page document is divided into eight strategic goals, each with performance measures.

“Having the right goals and continuously monitoring progress toward achieving and maintaining them has proven to be the best way to guide this agency,” a release announcing the report states.

The document includes data collected in 2014.

“[NDOR] is responsible for overseeing and maintaining an infrastructure network that includes 9,902 miles of highways, 3,519 bridges, 559 buildings in 119 locations and an equipment fleet of over 2,100 cars, pickups trucks and graders,” an introduction to the report reads.

As part of the safety initiative, the department is implementing new bridge anti-icing systems and center- and edge-line rumble strips.

Despite an increase in traffic fatalities last year, Nebraska’s crash rate has been below the national rate since 2004.

NDOR non-infrastructure safety projects have included grants for radar units, in-car cameras and sobriety checkpoints for law enforcement agencies.

Other highlights of the report address fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship.

A goal of the department is to minimize overhead costs to maximize funding for transportation purposes.

“Using our financial resources wisely, NDOR commits to upgrade the financial system software to improve efficiency and functionality, reduce risk and strengthen the financial networks to ensure the integrity of the financial data,” the report states.

In the past 10 years, NDOR has maintained its overhead at less than 10 percent.

According to the document, 77 percent of highway user revenues is spent on construction to maintain and improve existing infrastructure. Seventeen percent is directed toward routine maintenance, like snow removal, mowing, pothole patching and litter pickup. Five percent is spent on supportive services – such as supplies, equipment, buildings and administrative expenses – and the remaining 1 percent is spent on public transit and rail functions.

A new category included in the 2014 annual report examines environmental considerations.

“Environmental stewardship is the integration of environmental considerations into the planning, design, construction and operational activities associated with the Nebraska transportation system,” the report explains. “These environmental considerations include cultural, natural and human elements.”

As part of the initiative, NDOR measures the amount of material removed during highway construction of maintenance work that is available for reuse.

“This minimizes the use of virgin materials and keeps reclaimed material out of landfills,” the report states.

The department seeks to recycle 33 percent of all replacement content.

In recent years, the amount of material recycled has continued to climb.

“The value is a direct savings to the State of Nebraska and allows for more projects to be constructed each year,” the report reads.

The NDOR annual report allows the public to track assess its performance, according to the department’s release.

“It is important to regularly assess the performance of the public investment in Nebraska’s transportation system,” the release adds.

The full report can be viewed at http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/docs/annual-report.pdf.