crosswalk conundrum: why, where, and how? seleta reynolds fehr & peers
TRANSCRIPT
Crosswalk Conundrum:Why, Where, and How?
Seleta ReynoldsFehr & Peers
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.”
Ghandi
“Our national flower is the concrete cloverleaf.”
Lewis Mumford
Why? Crosswalk Function
Creating reasonable expectations where pedestrians may cross a roadway
Channelization of pedestrians to designated crossing locations
Channelization
Advantages
They help pedestrians find their way across complex intersections
They designate the shortest path They direct pedestrians to locations of best
sight distance
Advantages
Disadvantages
They may create a “false sense of security” for pedestrians.
They may cause a greater number of rear-end collisions.
They may cause an increase in the number of fatal or serious-injury crashes.
Where? Review of Previous Studies
• Pedestrian crosswalk study (1970) - City of San Diego
• California Marking Policy at Intersections on California State Highways (1996) - ITE
• Safety Effects of Marked Versus Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations (2000) - FHWA
Safety Effects of Marked Vs. Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing
Locations (2000) - FHWAData 1,000 marked and 1,000 unmarked crosswalks No school crossings 229 pedestrian crashes included Crash history (5 years), pedestrian volumes, traffic
volumes, number of lanes, speed limit
Safety Effects of Marked Vs. Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations
(2000) - FHWA
Exceptions
Locations with high traffic volumes may be candidates for marked crosswalks if they also have extraordinarily high pedestrian volumes
No location with poor sight distance is a good candidate for marking a crosswalk
Exceptions
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Be Careful
Consider Marked Crosswalk
Uncontrolled and Midblock Locations
Step One: Assessing Demand Purpose: Choosing the best location for the
crosswalk and measuring need Data Needed: Adjacent land uses, pedestrian
volumes, sight distance
Equivalent Adult Units
Number Factor EAUs
Children ___________ x 2.0 = _________
Seniors ___________ x 1.5 = _________
Disabled ___________ x 2.0 = _________
Adults ___________ x 1.0 = _________
Source: Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual, Transportation Association of Canada13
Pedestrian Desire Lines
Uncontrolled and Midblock Locations
Step Two: Assessing Safety Purpose: Choosing the treatment for the
crosswalk Data Needed: Number of travel lanes,
average daily traffic, posted speed
Step-by-Step
Step-by-Step
How? Level One Devices
Pedestrian Refuge Islands
Split Pedestrian Crossover
Curb Extensions
How? Level Two Devices
Overhead Signs and Flashing Beacons
Raised Crosswalks In-pavement Flashers
How? Level Three Devices
Pedestrian-actuated signals: Hawk, Toucan, Pelican
Flashing yellow and then solid yellow when a pedestrian pushes the button
Signal is dark until activated Signal is goes solid red and pedestrian has a walk signal
How? Level Four
Pedestrian bridges and overcrossings
Photo by Dave Campbell
Step-by-Step
Uncontrolled Crossing Example