Write Up:

Traffic incidents are unplanned events that block travel lanes and temporarily reduce roadway capacity. Responding promptly to crashes, debris, and stalled vehicles improves system performance, so quick clearance is essential for restoring normal traffic flow.

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, St. Louis reported 2,950 traffic incidents with an average clearance time of 27.4 minutes, representing a 1.5% increase in incidents and a 4.6% increase in clearance time compared to the first quarter of FY 2026.

Kansas City had 1,512 incidents averaging 31.7 minutes, reflecting a 0.3% decrease in incidents and a 5.3% increase in clearance time.

Springfield reported 612 incidents with an average clearance time of 28.0 minutes, a 12.7% increase in incidents and a 3.1% decrease in clearance time.
Rural counties along Interstate 70 between MM 28 (Oak Grove) and MM 203 (Foristell) recorded 92 incidents, averaging 77.3 minutes, a 22.7% increase in incidents but a 14.7% decrease in clearance time. The additional incidents were attributed to a higher number of intermediate events lasting more than 30 minutes, but less than 120 minutes.

Rural counties along Interstate 44 between MM 0 (Oklahoma) and MM 69 (Springfield), as well as between MM 91 (Strafford) and MM 224 (Sullivan), had 107 incidents averaging 26.2 minutes, a 12.6% increase in incidents but a 7.1% decrease in clearance time.

Overall, the combined measured areas saw a modest 2.7% increase in traffic incidents and a 6.6% decrease in clearance times, according to MoDOT’s Advanced Traffic Management Systems.

For the first quarter of FY 2027, none of the three urban areas—St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield—met the desired clearance time. However, the increase in overall incidents experienced by those regions likely contributed to the additional time required to clear incidents compared to the same quarter one year earlier.

Purpose of the Measure:

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

Measurement and Data Collection:

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

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