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 (e.g., crashes, debris and stalled vehicles) improves system performance.

St. Louis recorded 2,262 traffic incidents, with an average time of 30.8 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, there was a decrease of 22.6% in the number of incidents and an increase of 13.7% in clearance times.

Kansas City recorded 1,594 traffic incidents, with an average time of 30.7 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, there was a decrease of 5.6% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 2.9% in clearance times.

Springfield recorded 431 traffic incidents, with an average time of 31.9 minutes to clear those incidents in the first quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was an increase of 31.0% in the number of incidents and an increase of 2.8% 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 90 incidents and an average clearance time of 52.9 minutes in the first quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was an increase of 73.1% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 46.7% in clearance times.

Rural counties of Interstate 70 between MM 28 (Oak Grove) and MM 203 (Foristell) recorded 38 incidents and an average clearance time of 78.1 minutes in the first quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was a decrease of 7.3% in the number of incidents and an increase of 26.1% in clearance times.

This reporting period saw a decrease of 12.3% in traffic-related incidents captured in MoDOT's Advanced Traffic Management Systems in the combined measured areas and an overall decrease of 10.6% in clearance times.

For the first quarter of FY 2025, areas failed in meeting targeted time-to-clear objectives. Although areas saw an increase in this value, reported numbers are within the current four-year historical range of 27-33 minutes.

Southwest and St. Louis completed the migration to their newest ATMS software beginning on July 1. Values reported over this period were generated as part of the new system.

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.