Pedestrians in Rural Context

8/10/2019 Pedestrians in Rural Context

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Pedestrians in thePedestrians in theRural ContextRural Context

Andy HamiltonAndy Hamilton

America WalksAmerica Walks


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Presentation FlowPresentation FlowWhat Pedestrians Need

Safety

Roadway Design

- Decision Process

- Liability

Crash Statistics

Speed


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What Pedestrians Need*What Pedestrians Need*

SecuritySecurity ((safetysafety from traffic & crime)from traffic & crime)

ConvenienceConvenience (nearby destinations)(nearby destinations)

EfficiencyEfficiency (cross here, not(cross here, not --mile away)mile away)

ComfortComfort (shade, trees, water, benches,(shade, trees, water, benches,etc.)etc.)

WelcomeWelcome (attractive, interesting)(attractive, interesting)

*Source: Dan Burden, Walkable Communities, Inc.


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Rural Traffic HazardRural Traffic Hazard

In 2007, the fatality rate per 100 million

vehicle miles traveled was 2.5x higher inrural areas than in urban areas.

PPeople killed in speeding-related crashesrepresented almost one-third of thefatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Source:Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008.


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Pedestrian Crash TypesPedestrian Crash Types

53% of child fatalities53% of child fatalities dartdart--outsouts

30% of elderly fatalities30% of elderly fatalities turningturning

vehiclesvehicles


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Pedestrian Crash TypesPedestrian Crash Types

Source: NHTSA


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Elderly Pedestrian Crash TypesElderly Pedestrian Crash Types

Source: NHTSA


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Orange County, CA StudyOrange County, CA Study

An increase in the average speedAn increase in the average speed

from 20 to 30mph was associatedfrom 20 to 30mph was associatedwith 7.6 times the risk of [child]with 7.6 times the risk of [child]

pedestrian injury [in high riskpedestrian injury [in high risk

locations].locations].

Source: Jacobsen, et al. 2000, ITE Journal


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Speed vs. Stopping DistanceSpeed vs. Stopping Distance

Distance Required to Stop (Feet)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

Speed(mph)


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Pavement Width is Apparently aPavement Width is Apparently a

Major Determinant of:Major Determinant of:

Traffic speedTraffic speed

Pedestrian exposurePedestrian exposure

Crash rateCrash rate


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Traffic Safety LiteratureTraffic Safety Literature

Most safety studies of roadMost safety studies of road

improvements fail to account forimprovements fail to account forconfounding variablesconfounding variables (demographics,(demographics,medical care, seatbelt use, alcohol use)medical care, seatbelt use, alcohol use)

The few recent studies that do soThe few recent studies that do so

show current safety approachesshow current safety approaches

result in slightly more crashes, notresult in slightly more crashes, notfewer.fewer.

Source: Noland 2003


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Max. Safety = 24Max. Safety = 24 WidthWidthStreet Width and Injury Accidents

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Street Width (Curb to Curb)

A

ccid

en

ts/M

ile/Y

ear

Source: Swift, Painter and Goldstein, 2006


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Vehicle Crashes Increase WithVehicle Crashes Increase With

Lane widths > 9Lane widths > 9--1111(Noland 2003)(Noland 2003)

Added lanesAdded lanes ((FridstromFridstrom andand IngebrigstenIngebrigsten 1991)1991)

Eliminating curvesEliminating curves ((ShankarShankar 1995)1995)

Increasing design speed on curvesIncreasing design speed on curves((ShankarShankar 1995)1995)

Larger shoulder widthsLarger shoulder widths (Ivan et al. 2000)(Ivan et al. 2000)

CulCul--dede--sac neighborhood formsac neighborhood form(Marshall(Marshall

andand GarrickGarrick 2008)2008)

Increased speedIncreased speed (many studies)(many studies)

Pedestrians are most often killed on arterial roads (NHTSA).Pedestrians are most often killed on arterial roads (NHTSA).


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Current Hypothesis

Wide, straight, and flat roads

increase crashes by increasing speedand reducing driver caution (Noland2003)


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Maintaining Safe SpeedMaintaining Safe Speed High intersection density (small block size)High intersection density (small block size)

Minimize number of lanes, lane width, andMinimize number of lanes, lane width, andshoulder widthshoulder width

Natural deflectionNatural deflection -- curves, hillscurves, hills

Sense of EnclosureSense of Enclosure trees and buildingstrees and buildings

close to roadway reduce speeding viaclose to roadway reduce speeding via

rapidrapidoptical flowoptical flow..

Traffic Calming devices and street layoutsTraffic Calming devices and street layouts


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Designing for PedestriansDesigning for Pedestrians Moderate speeds where pedestrians areModerate speeds where pedestrians are

expectedexpected

Minimize crossing distance (road width)Minimize crossing distance (road width)

Frequent crossing opportunities (~ everyFrequent crossing opportunities (~ every

300300)) Special attention to intersectionsSpecial attention to intersections

HighHigh--visibility crosswalk markingsvisibility crosswalk markings

Tight corners orTight corners or bulboutsbulbouts reduce turning speed,reduce turning speed,increaseincrease pedped. visibility. visibility

Signal design, crossing time, etc.Signal design, crossing time, etc.


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The brain perceives that traffic

moving slower than 18 mph issafe to interact with.-- Michael Wallwork, P.E.


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DonDont Overt Over--Engineer WhereEngineer Where

itits Not Neededs Not Needed


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Modern RoundaboutModern RoundaboutEntry Speed = 18-20mph

Increase road capacity without widening

High rate of yielding to pedestrians


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Shoulders can accommodate rural walkingShoulders can accommodate rural walkingif traffic speeds are moderateif traffic speeds are moderate


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Bikes can use shouldersBikes can use shoulders


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At a certain point,At a certain point,

you need a sidewalkyou need a sidewalk


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Traffic CalmingTraffic Calming


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SuburbanSuburban--style roads encouragestyle roads encourage

transition from rural to suburban formtransition from rural to suburban form


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Rural standards should allow forRural standards should allow for

livable streets in towns or villageslivable streets in towns or villages

NY Route 62,

Hamburg, NY


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Max thruMax thru--put = 30mphput = 30mph

Source: Highway Capacity Manual


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Elk Grove, CA Rural Road PoliciesElk Grove, CA Rural Road Policies DesignateDesignateruralruralareas and createareas and create

separate rural road standards for themseparate rural road standards for them

Policy:Policy:Maintain rural road character inMaintain rural road character inrural areas.rural areas.

Add capacity only as needed, not forAdd capacity only as needed, not for

projectedprojectedbuild outbuild outthat may not comethat may not come Minimize ROW and lane widthsMinimize ROW and lane widths

Bicycles use paved shoulders except asBicycles use paved shoulders except asneeded for greater safetyneeded for greater safety

Minimize roadway noiseMinimize roadway noise ---- speedspeed


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Elk Grove Rural Road StandardsElk Grove Rural Road Standards

33--5511118484--8888Arterial: 6+CtrArterial: 6+Ctr

33--5511116262--6666Arterial: 4+CtrArterial: 4+Ctr

33--5511112828--3232Arterial: 2Arterial: 2--lanelane

22--4410102424--2828CollectorCollector

22--4410102424--2828Local >400Local >400

22--44992222Local


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Decision ProcessDecision Process


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Context Sensitive SolutionsContext Sensitive Solutions Emphasized by AASHTO, FHWA, manyEmphasized by AASHTO, FHWA, many

statestate DOTsDOTs.. Close consultation with local stakeholdersClose consultation with local stakeholders

Local input improves design, particularlyLocal input improves design, particularly

for nonfor non--drivers.drivers. Rural context issues:Rural context issues:

Abrupt transition from highways toAbrupt transition from highways todevelopment nodes, schools, etc.development nodes, schools, etc.

AestheticsAesthetics -- community charactercommunity character CostCost--saving opportunitiessaving opportunities


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Context Sensitive SolutionsContext Sensitive SolutionsPartnerships are expressed throughPartnerships are expressed through

collaborative transportation problemcollaborative transportation problemdefinition, shared decisiondefinition, shared decision--making,making,

and a mutual commitment toand a mutual commitment to

implementation. Stakeholders mustimplementation. Stakeholders mustinvest in the partnership with aninvest in the partnership with an

expectation of receiving a return onexpectation of receiving a return on

their investment.their investment.

CA DOT (2005), Ma i n S t r e e t s : Fl e x i b i l i t y i n D e s i g n a n d O p e r a t i o n s


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Liability IssuesLiability Issues


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LiabilityLiability SpeedSpeed--controlled roads approach iscontrolled roads approach is

analogous to traffic calminganalogous to traffic calming

ITEITE--published study of ~50 cities/countiespublished study of ~50 cities/countiesnationwide over 14 years showed:nationwide over 14 years showed: Only 2 settled lawsuits involving traffic calmingOnly 2 settled lawsuits involving traffic calming

devices.devices. Thousands of lawsuits for other causes.Thousands of lawsuits for other causes.

Crashes, injuries, are reduced whereCrashes, injuries, are reduced wherespeeding is reduced.speeding is reduced.

LiabilityLiabilitymaymaybe reduced by followingbe reduced by followingconventional standards butconventional standards but

Is avoiding liability a higher priority thanIs avoiding liability a higher priority thanprotecting the public?protecting the public?


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Road standards are aRoad standards are amatter of life and death.matter of life and death.

Take the time to get them right.

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Pedestrians in Rural Context