The treatments included in these guidelines are divided into broad classes of elements and devices. Elements are used either uniquely or to supplement a device. A device represents the primary component of a pedestrian treatment.
The elementsdiscussed here have been divided into two categories:
• Supplemental Signs and Markings.This category is com- posed of applications of signs and markings beyond the stan- dard crosswalk markings and pedestrian crossing signs discussed in the “Crosswalk” category of devices below. Items in this category include advance stop lines and advance signing.
• Geometric Elements.This category pertains to crosswalk elements that are permanent installations but are not signs, markings, or devices. These are elements installed based on engineering judgment rather than a warrant and include items such as median refuge islands and curb extensions. The devicesdiscussed here have been divided into five categories:
• Crosswalk.This category encompasses standard crosswalk markings and pedestrian crossing signs, as opposed to unmarked crossings.
WORKSHEET 1: PEAK-HOUR, 35 MPH (55 KM/H) OR LESS
Analyst and Site Information Analyst: Maria
Analysis Date: 1/19/06
Data Collection Date: 1/19/06
Major Street: Elm
Minor Street or Location: 2700 Block
Peak Hour: 5 to 6 pm
Step 1: Select worksheet (speed reflects posted or statutory speed limit or 85th percentile speed on the major street): a) Worksheet 1 – 35 mph (55 km/h) or less
b) Worksheet 2 – exceeds 35 mph (55 km/h), communities with less than 10,000, or where major transit stop exists Step 2: Does the crossing meet minimum pedestrian volumes to be considered for a TCD type of treatment?
Peak-hour pedestrian volume (ped/h), Vp 2a 50
If 2a ≥ 20 ped/h, then go to Step 3.
If 2a < 20 ped/h, then consider median refuge islands, curb extensions, traffic calming, etc. as feasible. Step 3: Does the crossing meet the pedestrian volume warrant for a traffic signal?
Major road volume, total of both approaches during peak hour (veh/h), Vmaj-s 3a 1000
Minimum signal warrant volume for peak hour (use 3a for Vmaj-s), SC
SC = (0.00021 Vmaj-s2 – 0.74072 Vmaj-s + 734.125)/0.75
OR [(0.00021 3a2 – 0.74072 3a + 734.125)/0.75]
3b 271
If 3b < 133, then enter 133. If 3b ≥ 133, then enter 3b. 3c 271
If 15th percentile crossing speed of pedestrians is less than 3.5 ft/s (1.1 m/s), then reduce 3c by
up to 50 percent; otherwise enter 3c. 3d 271
If 2a ≥ 3d, then the warrant has been met and a traffic signal should be considered if not within 300 ft (91 m) of another traffic signal. Otherwise, the warrant has not been met. Go to Step 4.
Step 4: Estimate pedestrian delay.
Pedestrian crossing distance, curb to curb (ft), L 4a 56
Pedestrian walking speed (ft/s), Sp 4b 3.5
Pedestrian start-up time and end clearance time (s), ts 4c 3
Critical gap required for crossing pedestrian (s), tc = (L/Sp) + ts OR [(4a/4b) + 4c)] 4d 19
Major road volume, total both approaches or approach being crossed if median refuge
island is present during peak hour (veh/h), Vmaj-d 4e 1000
Major road flow rate (veh/s), v = Vmaj-d/3600 OR [4e/3600] 4f 0.2 8
Average pedestrian delay (s/person), dp = (ev tc – v tc – 1) / v OR [ (e4f x 4d – 4f x 4d – 1) / 4f ] 4g 707
Total pedestrian delay (h), Dp = (dp × Vp)/3,600 OR [(4g×2a)/3600]
(this is estimated delay for all pedestrians crossing the major roadway without a crossing treatment – assumes 0% compliance). This calculated value can be replaced with the actual total pedestrian delay measured at the site.
4h 9.8
Step 5: Select treatment based upon total pedestrian delay and expected motorist compliance.
Expected motorist compliance at pedestrian crossings in region, Comp = high or low 5a high Total Pedestrian Delay, Dp (from 4h) and
Motorist Compliance, Comp (from 5a)
Treatment Category
(see Descriptions of Sample Treatments for examples) Dp≥ 21.3 h (Comp = high or low)
OR
5.3 h ≤ Dp< 21.3 h and Comp = low
RED 1.3 h ≤ Dp< 5.3 h (Comp = high or low)
OR
5.3 h ≤ Dp< 21.3 h and Comp = high
ACTIVE OR ENHANCED Dp< 1.3 h (Comp = high or low) CROSSWALK
• Enhanced. This category includes those devices that enhance the visibility of the crossing location and pedes- trians waiting to cross. Warning signs, markings, or bea- cons in this category are present or active at the crossing location at all times.
• Active.Also called “active when present,” this category includes those devices designed to display a warning only when pedestrians are present or crossing the street.
• Red.This category includes those devices that display a cir- cular red indication (signal or beacon) to motorists at the pedestrian location.
• Signal.This category pertains to traffic control signals.
Synopses of Treatments
Synopses of selected pedestrian crossing treatments are presented in Table A-3.
Categories of Treatments
Tables A-4 through A-20 summarize information on exam- ples of selected pedestrian crossing treatments. These sum- maries reflect the more common treatments being used and do not include every device or treatment available. The following summaries are intended to provide general descrip- tions of pedestrian crossing treatments that may be installed at intersections and/or midblock crossings; in all cases, engi- neering judgment should be used in selecting a specific treat- ment for installation.
The summaries are based on observations of installed treatments and discussions with traffic engineers who have used or considered using one or more of the components. This selection of pedestrian crossing treatments is not neces- sarily an all-inclusive list, nor is it intended to be. As technol- ogy changes and as more jurisdictions study ways to address the issue of pedestrian crossings, other treatments will likely be discussed and/or tested.
Additional Sources of Information on Pedestrian Treatments
Additional information on treatments is available from the following references:
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. U.S. DOT, FHWA, Washington, D.C., 2003. Available online at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/, accessed June 2, 2005.
• A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (called the Green Book). AASHTO, Washington, D.C., 2003.
• Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities(called the Ped Guide). AASHTO, Washington, D.C., July 2004.
• Zegeer, C. V., C. Seiderman, P. Lagerwey, M. Cynecki, M. Ronkin, and R. Schneider.Pedestrian Facilities User Guide – Providing Safety and Mobility. FHWA-RD-01-102, FHWA, Washington, D.C., March 2002.
No Treatment Crosswalk
E/A*
E/A HC, Red LC*
Red Signal (proposed for
MUTCD) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100
Major Road Volume - Total of Both Approaches (veh/h)
*E/A = Enhanced/Active, HC = High Compliance, LC = Low Compliance
Pedestrian Volume Crossing Major Road (ped/h)