Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

SITE SELECTION
The City of White Plains maintains 132 signalized intersections, of which 101 have pedestrian signals.
White Plains began installing pedestrian countdown (PCD) signals in its jurisdiction in December
2003. At the time of the study, it had signals installed at 15 intersections, mainly in its central business
district, where there was a large volume of pedestrians. The signals were compliant with the Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and displayed the countdown during the flashing DON’T
WALK (FDW) interval.
Walking speed was used as part of the calculation to determine the pedestrian signal intervals,
varying between 3.00 and 4.00 feet/second (ft./sec.), depending on the presence of schools and
known older populations. The city concentrated its placement of PCD signals at high-volume/
high-pedestrian intersections with long crossing distances. There were no formal criteria for defining
high volume or long crossing distances; city engineers used their judgment regarding which
intersections were longer or had high volumes.
White Plains Commissioner of Traffic Thomas Soyk recommended 20 intersections for the study,
including intersections equipped with PCD signals and with traditional pedestrian signals (TPS). Soyk
selected intersections that had high pedestrian volumes and had been counted for pedestrian and
vehicle volume in the last few years. The project engineer reviewed these 20 intersections for the
following aspects:
• pedestrian volumes, particularly older pedestrian volumes;
• lack of any construction or other temporary impediments (such as street closures) that may
affect pedestrian behavior;
• ability to sufficiently collect data (such as utility poles located close to the intersection);
• conventional intersection design; and
• surrounding land use.
Based on field observations, discussions with the engineering staff, and the recommendations of the
AAA representative, four intersections were selected for the study:
• Mamaroneck Avenue and Martine Avenue (countdown);
• Mamaroneck Avenue and Maple Avenue (countdown);
• Mamaroneck Avenue and Post Avenue (traditional); and
• Hamilton Avenue and Church Street (traditional).
Figure F-2 displays the type of pedestrian signal at each of the four intersections. As shown, the
intersections were in close proximity to one another, with the farthest two intersections only one-halfmile
apart. The intersections all were located in the White Plains central business district, which was
characterized by office buildings and commercial storefronts.
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