effland.presentation

Improving

The Pedestrian

Experience

Ron Effland, P.E. ACTAR, LCI 4207

MoDOT Non-Motorized Transportation Engineer

Local Planning and

Implementation

Sidewalk Construction 1907

Downtown St Louis 1920

1920s Safety - “Pedestrian Catcher”

Downtown St Louis 1940s

Downtown St Louis 1982

Build more roads…..

So how are we doing?

These materials have been developed based on applicable federal laws and regulations in place at the time the materials were created. The program

is being provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute and is not intended to provide OSHA compliance certification,

regulatory compliance, a substitute for any "hands on“ training required by applicable laws and regulations, or other legal or professional advice or

services. By accessing the materials, you assume all responsibility and risk arising from the use of the content contained therein.

©2010 Grainger Safety Services, Inc.

►►►

Pedestrian Safety

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

1,800 Pedestrian Related Motor

Vehicle Crashes

2.4% of all crashes

9.4% of all injuries

36% of all Fatalities

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

In USA 12% of Traffic Fatalities

are Pedestrians

In Europe 14%

In China 25%

But In St Louis 36%

--- Volvo Car Corporation

FHWA Pedestrian Safety Focus Cities

FHWA Focus Cities 2011 More than 20 average annual pedestrian fatalities or a

pedestrian fatality rate greater than 2.33 per 100,000 population

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

Network Kernel Density

►Plot crash locations reported

over time

►Looking for clusters or trends

along corridors

►Review detailed reports to

determine common factors

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

St Louis Safety Facts (2006 – 2010)

Streets for Everyone…

Maybe its time for

a change?

The Influence of the Automobile

The Influence of the Automobile

The Influence of the Automobile

We have grown to rely on our cars

for everything, but at what price?

Air pollution contributes to 70,000 deaths

nationwide each year.

Short auto trips produce far more pollution per mile than longer trips.

References: Harvard School of Public Health, Federal Highway Administration

Complete Streets policies.

Safe Routes to Schools programs.

Interconnected trail networks.

Roadway designs that favor lower

speeds.

More public involvement in

transportation planning process.

Changing trends in commercial

and residential developments.

Planning Trends

These materials have been developed based on applicable federal laws and regulations in place at the time the materials were created. The program

is being provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute and is not intended to provide OSHA compliance certification,

regulatory compliance, a substitute for any "hands on“ training required by applicable laws and regulations, or other legal or professional advice or

services. By accessing the materials, you assume all responsibility and risk arising from the use of the content contained therein.

©2010 Grainger Safety Services, Inc.

►►►

Complete Streets

Benefits of Complete Streets

Improved safety

Increased mobility for all users

and modes

Improved air and water quality

Improved public health

Enhanced economic

competitiveness

Increased livability

Benefits of Complete Streets

Improved Safety:

• Bicyclists and pedestrians

are disproportionately

represented in crash rates

• Designing streets for all

users reduces crashes

In Santa Monica, a street

reconfiguration reduced

crashes by 65%1

Source:

1. National Complete Streets Coalition and Local Government

Commission. 2012. Complete Streets in California: It’s a Safe Decision.

19% of total

collisions

3% of total

collisions

5% of total

work trips 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

PedestrianCollisions

BicycleCollisions

Walk and BikeWork Trips

California Highway Patrol 1998 to 2007 Bay Area

Collisions; American Community Survey Work Trips (2009)

Speed Kills…

Benefits of Complete Streets

Reduced Obesity

Obesity rates are lower in places where people use bicycles, public transportation, and their feet for mobility.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Pe

rce

nt W

alk

, B

ike

,Tra

nsit

Pe

rce

nt o

f O

be

sit

y

Obesity

Source: J. Pucher, “Walking and Cycling: Path to Improved Public Health,”

Fit City Conference, NYC, June 2009

Benefits of Complete Streets

Pedestrian facilities encourage walking

Residents are 65% more likely to walk in a

neighborhood with sidewalks Giles-Corti, B., & R.J. Donovan. 2002. The relative influence of individual, social, and physical environment determinants of physical activity. Social Science & Medicine, 54 1793-1812.

Bicycle facilities encourage biking

Cities with more bike lanes per square mile

have higher levels of bicycle commuting Transportation Research Record:, No. 1828, TRB, pp 116-123.

San Francisco’s improvements on Valencia

Street resulted in 1.4 times more cyclists and

36% fewer pedestrian collisions National Complete Streets Coalition and Local Government Commission. 2012. Complete Streets in California: It’s a Safe Decision.

Local Planning and

Implementation

We need a

Comprehensive Plan!

Make Use of Planning Process

Build Consensus

Keep People Focused

Better Utilize Limited Resources

Personnel changes don’t disrupt

the progress

Pedestrian Education

Not every accident can be avoided.

However, pedestrian accidents often

occur because simple precautions

were not taken. Here are some ways

to avoid an accident:

►Stay on walkways

►Cross only at crosswalks

►Stay alert and be aware of traffic

►Make yourself visible to drivers

►Don’t cross if you’re uncertain

Education and Awareness Programs

Drivers: Fail to Yield/Stop

Disobey Signals

Pass Stopped Cars (Multiple Threat)

Driving Distracted

Speeding

Driver and Pedestrian Behaviors

Pedestrians: Disobey Signals

Walk Distracted

Cross at bad locations

Driver and Pedestrian Behaviors

Countermeasures

and Improvements

Principles of Good

Pedestrian Design: Recognize Drivers and Pedestrians

behaviors

Pedestrians want & need to cross the

street safely

Pedestrians will cross where it is most

convenient for them

Drivers need to be made aware that

pedestrians are present

Minimize crossing distances

Simplify crossings

Remember speed matters!

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Pedestrian Spaces

Surfaced Shoulders

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 80%

Sidewalks

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 88%

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Crossings at Unsignalized Intersections

Medians Cost Range: $5000 to $30,000

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 46%

Source:

1. Oregon Department of Transportation

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Implementation Plan Presentation

April 3, 2014.

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Crossings at Unsignalized Intersections

Source:

1. Oregon Department of Transportation

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Implementation Plan Presentation

April 3, 2014.

Enhanced Markings and Signing Cost Range: $2000 to $15,000

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 15%+

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Crossings at Unsignalized Intersections

Enhanced Lighting Cost Range: $25,000 and up

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 50%

Source:

1. Oregon Department of

Transportation Pedestrian and

Bicycle Safety Implementation Plan

Presentation April 3, 2014.

Rectangular Rapid

Flash Beacon

Flashing pattern catches drivers

attention

Uses a stutter flash effect similar

to EMS vehicles

Solar Powered - Interconnected

Lighting on crosswalk and

pedestrian sign

Estimated Cost $10,000 - $18,000

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Signalized Intersections

Pedestrian Countdown Timers For existing signalized locations with a history of

pedestrian crossing crashes

Cost Range: $1500 to $5000

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 25%

Source:

1. Oregon Department of

Transportation Pedestrian and

Bicycle Safety Implementation

Plan Presentation April 3, 2014.

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Source:

1. Oregon Department of Transportation Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Implementation Plan Presentation April 3, 2014.

Crossings at Mid-Block Locations

Medians Cost Range: $5000 to $100,000

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 25%

Enhanced Markings and Signing Cost Range: $2000 to $15,000

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 15%+

Enhanced Lighting Cost Range: $25,000 and up

Expected Pedestrian Crash Improvement: 20%

Typical Pedestrian Countermeasures

Crash Countermeasures

Source:

1. Oregon Department of Transportation

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Implementation Plan Presentation April 3,

2014.

At wide intersections, pedestrian

safety and accessibility can be

enhanced through a variety of

features:

Refuge Islands

Crosswalk Markings

Pedestrian Signals

Street Lighting

Reduced Speed Limits

A look at

Innovations?

Pedestrian Air Bags?

Source:

1. Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbag System 2012.

Pedestrian Grade Separation?

How Can You Help?

We are better together…

Driving A Strategic Initiative…

What can you do to improve pedestrian fatalities?

When are you going to do it?

Why are you doing this?

Who else needs to be involved?

Moving Forward….

We need Champions …

►Lead the movement

►Cast the vision of a better future

►Focus attention on the needs

►Influence others to join the cause

►Celebrate success along the way!

We need you!

Improving

The Pedestrian

Experience