Write Up:

A traffic incident is an unplanned event that blocks travel lanes and temporarily reduces the number of vehicles that can travel on the road. The speed of incident clearance is essential to the highway system returning to normal conditions. Responding to and quickly addressing the incident (crashes, debris and stalled vehicles) improves system performance. 

St. Louis recorded 2,922 traffic incidents, with an average time of 27.1 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of FY 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a decrease of 6.1% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 15.0% in clearance times. 

Kansas City recorded 1,689 traffic incidents, with an average time of 31.6 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of FY 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a decrease of 21.8% in the number of incidents and an increase of 11.3% in clearance times.

Springfield recorded 329 traffic incidents, with an average time of 31.0 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of FY 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a decrease of 34.3% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 1.9% in clearance times.

Rural counties of Interstate 70 between MM 28 (Oak Grove) and MM 203 (Foristell) recorded 41 incidents and an average clearance time of 61.9 minutes in the first quarter of FY 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a decrease of 37.9% in the number of incidents and an increase of 14.4% in clearance times.

Rural counties of Interstate 44 between MM 0 (Oklahoma) and MM 69 (Springfield) as well as between MM 91 (Strafford) and MM 224 (Sullivan) recorded 52 incidents and an average clearance time of 99.3 minutes in the first quarter of FY 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, there was a decrease of 27.8% in the number of incidents and an increase of 31.5% in clearance times.

This reporting period saw a decrease of 14.9% in traffic-related incidents captured in MoDOT's Advanced Traffic Management System in the combined measured areas and an overall increase of 13.3% in clearance times. 

For fiscal year end 2023, no areas met the clearance time targets.

During this past quarter, some of the large duration incidents that occurred involved multiple overturned tractor trailers, bridge and utility hits, head-on vehicle collisions and a sinkhole in the Southwest District.  

Reduced staffing levels continue to be a concern. The department is continuing to see reduction in hours of service for our Motorist Assist programs in the St. Louis and Springfield areas.

Purpose of the Measure:

This measure is used to determine the trends in incident clearance on the state highway system.

Measurement and Data Collection:

Advanced transportation management systems are used by the St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield traffic management centers to record incident start time and the time when all lanes are declared cleared. Traffic incidents can be divided into three general classes of duration set forth by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that include minor, intermediate and major incidents. Each class has unique traffic control characteristics and needs.

This target is established by projecting a 10% improvement over a 5-year average.