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 3,373 traffic incidents, with an average time of 28.6 minutes to clear those incidents in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, there was an increase of 14.4% in the number of incidents and an increase of 5.1% in clearance times.

Kansas City recorded 1,788 traffic incidents, with an average time of 39.1 minutes to clear those incidents in the third quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, there was an increase of 4.7% in the number of incidents and an increase of 26.1% in clearance times.

Springfield recorded 513 traffic incidents, with an average time of 27.7 minutes to clear those incidents in the third quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was an increase of 59.1% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 22.2% 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 77 incidents and an average clearance time of 51.9 minutes in the third quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was an increase of 60.4% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 34.6% in clearance times.

Rural counties of Interstate 70 between MM 28 (Oak Grove) and MM 203 (Foristell) recorded 62 incidents and an average clearance time of 97.8 minutes in the third quarter of FY 2025. Compared to the same period in FY 2024, there was an increase of 31.9% in the number of incidents and a decrease of 4.6% in clearance times.

This reporting period saw an increase of 14.6% in traffic-related incidents captured in MoDOT's Advanced Traffic Management Systems in the combined measured areas and an overall decrease of 11.1% in clearance times.

For the third quarter of FY 2025, areas experience an increase in the overall number of events recorded due to severe weather events. Even with additional events, St Louis and Kansas City remained near their historical 4-year average for lane clearance times, while Springfield saw a drop in the average time to clear, driven due to a larger-than- normal number of minor events lasting less than 30 minutes.

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.