National Academies Press: OpenBook

Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings (2006)

Chapter: Chapter 1 - Introduction

« Previous: Summary
Page 3
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13962.
×
Page 3
Page 4
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13962.
×
Page 4
Page 5
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13962.
×
Page 5

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

3Background With the movement toward livable communities, where walking and using transit are attractive transportation options, there is an increasing desire to improve pedestrian safety. This desire extends to areas typically seen as being non- pedestrian-friendly, such as the higher speed and wider road- ways, especially when these roadways serve as transit routes. With traffic conditions changing as vehicle volumes and con- gestion increase, these changes have affected pedestrians’ abil- ity to cross many roadways safely. Recent developments in geometric design features, traffic control devices, and technologies may improve pedestrian safety and access by addressing specific problems associated with roadway crossings. Although numerous treatments exist at unsignalized crossings, there is growing concern about their effectiveness. Thus, there is a need to identify and study selected treatments to determine their effectiveness. A recent research project jointly sponsored by TCRP and NCHRP was initiated to address this particular need. The research was conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). One objective of the research was to recommend selected engineering treatments to improve safety for pedestrians crossing at unsignalized locations, particularly locations served by public transportation. Another objective was to examine the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices on Streets and Highways (MUTCD) (1) pedestrian signal war- rant, because there is concern that the existing traffic signal pedestrian warrant may need to be modified. For example, state and local transportation agencies often have difficulty justifying the installation of traffic signals at pedestrian cross- ing locations. Many of these locations are experiencing traf- fic volume increases, along with reductions in vehicle gaps that provide opportunities for the safe crossing of pedestri- ans. Transit stops may exist on both sides of these roadways, creating challenging pedestrian crossing conditions. In these (often suburban) locations, meeting the pedestrian volumes specified in the warrant is rarely possible. So as to provide more than just a list of possible treatments, the research team developed quantitative guidelines to help engineers and transit agencies decide which treatments are recommended for different street environments and traffic conditions. In accomplishing this, the team evaluated various pedestrian crossing treatments and documented the results. The guidelines are included in Appendix A of this report. Objectives The objectives of this research were to • Recommend selected engineering treatments to improve safety for pedestrians crossing high-volume and high- speed roadways at unsignalized locations, in particular those locations served by public transportation; and • Recommend modifications to the MUTCD pedestrian traffic signal warrant. Approach The research had two phases. Phase I focused on reviewing the literature, conducting surveys, and evaluating the state of the practice, and concluded with the development of a study approach for Phase II to accomplish the research project’s two objectives. Phase I activities included the following: • Review of current practice for crossing treatments through a search of the literature and interviews with providers, • Conduct of surveys of pedestrians to establish their expe- riences and needs at unsignalized pedestrian crossing locations, • Assessment of pedestrian crossing designs, • Evaluation of the adequacy of the pedestrian signal war- rant and development of preliminary recommendations for modifying the current warrant, and • Preparation of the evaluation research plan. C H A P T E R 1 Introduction

The focus of Phase II was to collect data and conduct eval- uations to permit development of guidelines on selecting pedestrian treatments. These guidelines were to include the criteria for warranting a traffic signal. The major Phase II activities were • Conduct of field studies that collected data on many pedestrian and motorist behaviors with an emphasis on walking speed, motorist compliance, and pedestrian-vehicle conflicts; • Exploration of how different criteria (e.g., number of pedestrians or vehicles, delay, and major-road speed) could be used in selecting pedestrian crossing treatment; • Development and testing of guidelines; • Production of recommendations on changes to the MUTCD; and • Documentation of procedures and findings. Organization of this Report For this report, details on the research methodology and findings are in the appendixes; the chapters summarize the key elements of the research. Chapter 1 contains the background, objectives, and overview of the research approach along with this section on the organization of the report. Chapter 2 pre- sents information on pedestrian characteristics. Chapter 3 reviews pedestrian crossing treatments, while Chapter 4 reviews the MUTCD pedestrian signal warrant. Findings from surveys of providers and pedestrians are discussed in Chapter 5. Chapters 6 and 7 present the methodology for the field stud- ies and the field studies findings, respectively. Chapter 8 pre- sents the conclusions and recommendations from the research. Table 1 summarizes the material contained in each chapter and the appendixes that support the topic. The printed report contains the chapters and Appendix A. The other appendixes are published as a web-only document available at the fol- lowing address: http://www4.trb.org/trb/onlinepubs.nsf/web/tcrp_web_ documents. The accomplishment of the objectives are discussed in Appendixes A and B. Appendix A contains the recommended Guidelines for Pedestrian Crossing Treatments. These guidelines are intended to provide general recommendations on pedestrian crossing treatments to consider at uncontrolled locations. The guide- lines note that, in all cases, engineering judgment should be used in selecting a specific treatment for installation. The guidelines build on the recommendations of several studies and focus on unsignalized locations—they do not apply to school crossings. Considerations (in addition to the procedure 4 Chapter Topic ■ Supporting Appendices 1 2 3 Pedestrian Crossing Treatments ■ Appendix C–Literature Review of Pedestrian Crossing Treatments at Uncontrolled Locations ■ Appendix D–Pedestrian Crossing Treatments ■ Appendix E–Summary of Pedestrian Crossing Treatment Evaluations ■ Appendix F–Pedestrian Crossing Installation Guidelines 4 Pedestrian Signal Warrants ■ Appendix G–International Signal Warranting Practices ■ Appendix H–Adequacy of Pedestrian Signal Warrant ■ Appendix I–Suggested Issues to Consider When Revising the Pedestrian Signal Warrant 5 ■ Appendix J–Survey of Providers ■ Appendix K–On-Street Pedestrian Surveys 6, 7 Field Studies and Findings from Field Studies ■ Appendix L–Motorist Compliance to Engineering Treatments at Marked Crosswalks ■ Appendix M–Walking Speed ■ Appendix N–Gap Acceptance ■ Appendix O–Guidelines Development 8 Conclusions and Recommendations ■ Appendix A–Guidelines for Pedestrian Crossing Treatments ■ Appendix B–Proposed Changes to MUTCD Introduction Pedestrian Characteristics Surveys Table 1. Overview of report.

provided in these guidelines) should be used at locations where installing a pedestrian treatment could increase safety risks to pedestrians, such as where there is poor sight distance, complex geometrics, or proximity of traffic signals. Appendix B contains the recommendations for changes to the MUTCD as presented to the National Committee on Uni- form Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD). The changes are shown as strikeouts and underlines within a reproduction of the relevant pages of the MUTCD. The recommendations are grouped into three proposals. The first proposal deals directly with the pedestrian signal warrant. The second proposal adds advice on using a refuge island as an alternative to traffic con- trol signals. Adding a new device to the MUTCD, called a pedestrian traffic control signal, is the third proposal. 5

Next: Chapter 2 - Pedestrian Characteristics »
Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings Get This Book
×
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) and National Cooperative Highway Research Program have jointly produced and published Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings. The product, which can be referred to as TCRP Report 112 or NCHRP Report 562, examines selected engineering treatments to improve safety for pedestrians crossing high-volume and high-speed roadways at unsignalized locations. The report presents the edited final report and Appendix A. TCRP Web-Only Document 30/NCHRP Web-Only Document 91 (Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings: Appendices B to O) contains the remaining appendixes of the contractor's final report.

A summary of TCRP Report 112/NCHRP Report 562 as published in the July-August 2007 issue of the TR News is available online.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!