UW-Madison researchers have had a website that identifies statewide traffic safety issues in the works since 2005. Eventually, according to managers of the site, it will enable users to analyze the economic and social effects of these issues.

With queries rolling in every month for additional databases and features, Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory co-manager David Noyce said the WisTransPortal will “incorporate information from several sources that are not traditionally included,” such as health outcomes, costs, weather information, citation, lane and ramp closures and traffic detector data, according to an Oct. 26 University Communications statement.

Federal legislation signed in 2005 requires each state to report the top five percent of locations with the most safety issues. Noyce said the site will help Wisconsin take a more holistic approach to fulfilling this mandate.

He told University Communications locations that experience few crashes but are remote and difficult to get to are often associated with high costs.

But, according to Noyce, locations that do not frequently experience safety issues may still need investments to prevent crashes.

Visit the website at: transportal.cee.wisc.edu.