Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

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PEDESTRIAN SURVEY FINDINGS
Approximately 300 pedestrians were surveyed at countdown signals in five of the jurisdictions. The
project team did not survey pedestrians in Salt Lake City, Utah: The survey instrument was intended
for use in an area where PCD signals were fairly novel and differed from pedestrian signals at
surrounding intersections. In Salt Lake City, PCD signals are ubiquitous and have been in place for a
number of years.
Pedestrians were asked if they noticed anything different about crossing at the intersection than at
similar intersections in the surrounding area. A follow-up question confirmed that the difference noted
was the countdown signal. Key findings of the pedestrian survey included the following:
• In all jurisdictions, the majority of surveyed pedestrians noticed the PCD signals.
• All surveyed pedestrians were asked to explain the meaning of the countdown indication.
In each of the five jurisdictions, more than 90 percent of pedestrians provided a satisfactory
understanding of the countdown signals.
• Of those pedestrians who had a preference regarding the use of TPS or countdown signals,
the majority preferred PCD signals and indicated that they were helpful in crossing the
street safely.
• In the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota surveys, only 25 percent of those who had a preference
preferred the PCD signal. However, approximately 75 percent of all pedestrians surveyed in
Minneapolis/St. Paul indicated that the PCD signal was helpful in crossing the street safely.
These findings are in disagreement. When asked to provide additional information, many of
those surveyed who preferred the traditional signal noted that the PCD signal did not provide
enough time to cross. Therefore, the preference for traditional over countdown may have been
a reflection of concern for the amount of time available at the countdown intersection and not
the signal display.
INTERSECTION OPERATIONS ANALYSIS
The intersections used for the behavioral analysis were used as case studies for this operations
analysis. The CORSIM traffic simulation program was used to evaluate the effect of different walking
speeds for determining pedestrian clearance times and to evaluate intersection level of service (LOS).
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT WALKING SPEEDS ON PEDESTRIAN CLEARANCE TIMES
Each case study intersection appendix to this report contains a table that displays the required
pedestrian signal times for different walking speeds and the time available for that movement at each
of the intersections studied. The pedestrian clearance time (PCT) is the time provided for a pedestrian
crossing in a crosswalk, after leaving the curb or shoulder, to travel to the far side of the traveled way
or to a median. PCT is calculated by taking the length of the crosswalk and dividing it by the crossing
speed.
The total time allotted for pedestrians to completely traverse a crosswalk is the sum of the PCT and
the WALK time. A 7-sec. WALK time was used as recommended in the 2003 edition of MUTCD for
five of the six case study intersections. For the case study intersection in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a
12-sec. WALK time was required by agency policy for use in calculating total pedestrian walk time.