Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

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• There was a slightly larger percentage of pedestrians left in the intersection at PCD signals for
younger pedestrians. However, this was based on a very small sample size.
• Surveyed pedestrians generally preferred the PCD signal to traditional signals, with 90 percent
of pedestrians understanding the indication.
• Operational analysis:
o Total intersection volume was estimated at 6,500 peak-hour vehicles, with 2,000
vehicles and 1,250 vehicles on the major and minor street approaches, respectively.
This approach produced more of a saturated/lower LOS condition at a “base” level
scenario similar to the base condition LOS at the Montgomery County, Maryland case
study intersection.
o Under the 3.00 ft./sec. walking speed scenario when existing volume conditions were
compared to the modeled increase of 15 percent above existing volume conditions,
there was a reduction of two LOS designations (from LOS D to LOS F) and a
corresponding increase in 122 sec. for ADPV. A similar result occurred under the 3.50
ft./sec. walking speed scenario, where the total intersection LOS decreased from LOS D
to LOS F and there was a corresponding increase in 108 sec. in ADPV.
o At the 4.00 ft./sec. pedestrian walking speed scenario, the total increase in average
intersection delay per vehicle from the existing volume condition level to the 15 percent
above existing volume condition level was 28 sec. and there was a reduction of one
LOS designation, from LOS E to LOS F. Note that the difference in the ADPV between
the 15 percent above existing volume condition and the existing volume condition at the
3.00 ft./sec. and 3.50 ft./sec. pedestrian walking speed scenarios was 94 sec. and 80
sec., respectively.
o The total intersection traffic volume range modeled in White Plains, New York was
the lowest compared to the six case study intersections (approximately 1,600 to
2,100 peak-hour vehicles). The highest total intersection traffic volume modeled was
in Orange County, California, where the case study intersection exhibited a range of
approximately 5,900 to 7,600 peak-hour vehicles.