Guidebook on Pedestrian Crossings of Public Transit Rail Services (2015)

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3 C H A P T E R 1 Overview There is a natural interaction between pedestrians and rail transit services. Rail transit services provide a high-capacity travel option for trips between major origin-destination pairs in an urban area, allowing pedestrians to travel to many more places than otherwise feasible on foot. Improving pedestrian access to rail transit stations obviously benefits the pedestrian by provid- ing a safer and more usable route. Improving pedestrian access also benefits rail transit by result- ing in a more attractive service and improved consistency at crossings. In addition, pedestrians not accessing transit frequently need to cross public transit rail services. It is important that these pedestrians are provided with information and treatments to maximize their safety. Current Resources Previous TCRP research (1, 2, 3, 4) has advanced the safety of light-rail transit (LRT) systems in particular contexts. The FRA completed two studies on pedestrian safety for commuter-rail services, one focusing on safety devices (5) and another on pedestrian crossing issues around sta- tion areas (6). The FHWA also has guidance on pedestrian safety for transit agencies (7). Another key FHWA document is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (8), which provides guidance on traffic control devices such as signs, signals, and markings. To compile the guidance from these and other existing resources into one document and sup- plement that guidance with observations of existing pedestrian rail treatments, TCRP Report 175: Guidebook on Pedestrian Crossings of Public Transit Rail Services (Guidebook) was developed under TCRP Project A-38. The Guidebook discusses issues associated with pedestrian crossing of public transit rail services and provides examples of treatments in use. The information contained in this Guidebook can be used by transit agencies to develop a decision process for establishing a consistent means of implementing pedestrian safety treatments. Having a national guide can also mean that consistency will extend further than one system or one region and could encompass multistate regions and the nation, thus providing pedestrians using a variety of systems with a consistent approach. Included within the Guidebook are summaries of rail transit service options, safety, and accessibility issues related to pedestrians and rail crossings, and methods of selecting appropriate treatments for a given crossing. A collection of existing treatments are described, and case studies provide additional insight into the process for identifying and implementing pedestrian crossing treatments. Scope of This Guidebook This Guidebook applies to pedestrian crossings for three distinct types of public transit rail services: light rail, commuter rail, and streetcar. Other types of public transit rail services, most Introduction

4 Guidebook on Pedestrian Crossings of Public Transit Rail Services notably heavy-rail transit systems, are not within the scope of this research because such systems are typically designed such that the transit right-of-way (ROW) does not have publicly acces- sible crossings, and pedestrians are not required to cross the rails in order to access the service. This Guidebook focuses on engineering treatments installed at the site rather than educational or enforcement programs. Organization of the Guidebook The Guidebook is organized into the following chapters: • Chapter 1: Introduction provides an overview of the document and describes its scope. • Chapter 2: Rail Transit Services presents an overview of rail transit services. • Chapter 3: Pedestrian Safety provides an overview of key pedestrian safety issues associated with public transit rail services along with an introduction to pedestrian characteristics. • Chapter 4: NEPA-Related Issues discusses pedestrian crossing issues associated with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) after presenting an overview of NEPA. • Chapter 5: Accessibility/ADA Considerations presents an overview of the key documents regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). • Chapter 6: Treatment Selection summarizes readily available decision flowcharts used to make decisions regarding pedestrian treatments at rail crossings. • Chapter 7: Treatment Considerations introduces the sections in Chapter 8, provides an over- view of the treatments, and discusses the experimental process for new traffic control devices. • Chapter 8: Pedestrian Treatments presents information for 34 pedestrian treatments used at rail crossings. The treatments are grouped into the following categories: – Channelization – Barriers – Design – Signs – Signals – Pavement markings – Infrastructure – Operations • Chapter 9: Case Studies includes four case studies that examine specific decisions with respect to pedestrian-rail crossings. These case studies are – Case Study A: Review of Sound Wall – Case Study B: Location of Station Entrance – Case Study C: Consideration of Visually Impaired Pedestrians When Designing a Station Entrance to a Platform Located Between Tracks – Case Study D: Control of Pedestrian Path