Crossing the Complete Street

Presentation for the Sacramento Complete Streets Workshop

July 10, 2009

Meghan F. Mitman, AICPFehr & Peers Transportation Consultants

12

3

4

5

Photo: Charlie Zegeer

How Many Crosswalks?

The Incomplete Street

Credit http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/bulletin/sep07-complete-streets-pop.jpg

The Complete Street

Credit http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/bulletin/sep07-complete-streets-pop.jpg

Key: C = Candidate sites for marked crosswalks;

P = Possible increase in pedestrian crashes may occur if crosswalks are marked without other pedestrian enhancements;

N = Marked crosswalks alone are insufficient.

Background

Caltrans/ UCB Study: Knowledge of Right-of-Way Laws

64.4

52.5

40.7

90.2

35.5

42.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All Crosswalks Marked In both Marked andUnmarked (Intersection)

All CrosswalksUnmarked (Intersection)

Driver

Ped

Caltrans/ UCB Study: Knowledge of Right-of-Way Laws

Increasing confusion with complexity;

Better informed (primary) pedestrians overall

Percent correct

Caltrans/ UCB Study: Field Observations

Behavior Observations:Summary of Results

In unmarked crosswalks:– Pace: Peds walk faster

– Gaps in Traffic: Peds wait for larger gaps

– Yielding: Drivers yield to pedestrians less frequently

– Multiple Threat: Peds have a lower potential threat

Multiple Threat Crash Type

Crossing the Complete Street

Credit http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/bulletin/sep07-complete-streets-pop.jpg

Our Responsibility

“Pedestrians have a right to cross roads safely, and, therefore, planners and

engineers have a professional responsibility to plan, design, and install

safe crossing facilities.”

Zegeer, et al., 2001 FHWA Crosswalk Study

The Basics

Photo: City of San Leandro

Photo: City of San Leandro

Photo: www.stopexperts.com

Treatments to Look For

Photos: City of Tuscon

Crosswalk Policies

Education and Enforcement

Pedestrian Safety Assessments

Programs, Policies, and Practices Benchmarking

Walking Audits

http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/pedsafety/

Thank You!

Questions and comments are welcome:

m.mitman@fehrandpeers.com

(415) 348-0300

Extra Slides

High Visibility Crosswalks

Photo: Matthew Ridgway

Photo: Ed CoxPhoto: Ed Cox

Speed Width

25-30 MPH 5 Feet

30-35 MPH 6 Feet

35-45 MPH 8 Feet

Geometric Changes

Photo: Matthew Ridgway

Credit: Fehr & Peers

Geometric Changes

Photo: Thomas Kronemeyer

Photo: Matthew Ridgway

Geometric Changes

Photo: City of San Leandro

Photo: City of San Leandro

Other Enhancements

Photo: Matthew Ridgway

Photo: Matthew Ridgway

MUTCD Pedestrian Updates: The Stutter Flash

http://www.stopexperts.com/gallery.html

Photo: www.stopexperts.com

Signals

Photos: City of Tuscon

Grade-Separation

Photo by Dave Campbell

Photo: Dave Campbell