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Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

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<strong>Pedestrian</strong> Understanding and Preference <strong>for</strong> Countdown <strong>Signal</strong>s<br />

• The overwhelming majority of pedestrians who responded to the survey noticed, understood,<br />

and preferred the PCD signals, except in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, where pedestrians<br />

preferred the traditional signal. However, in Minneapolis/St. Paul, there was some evidence<br />

that this difference reflected a perception that the available crossing time was less at the PCD<br />

signal based on comments of the interviewed pedestrians.<br />

Intersection Operations Impact Analysis<br />

The purpose of this analysis was to determine the effects on traffic flow by changing the walking<br />

speed of pedestrians from 4.00 ft./sec. to a slower value and, thereby, increasing the pedestrian<br />

interval time. The following criteria were developed to relate intersection level of service (LOS) and<br />

delay impacts with differential walking speeds:<br />

• Insignificant<br />

o no change in LOS; and<br />

o an increase in vehicular delay greater than 0.0 sec. and less than or equal to 2.0 sec.<br />

• Minor<br />

o no more than one change in LOS designation (<strong>for</strong> example, from B to C); and<br />

o an increase in vehicular delay greater than 2.0 sec. and less than or equal to 8.0 sec.<br />

• Moderate<br />

o no more than two change in LOS designation (<strong>for</strong> example, from B<br />

to D); and<br />

o an increase in vehicular delay greater than 8.0 sec. and less than or equal to<br />

15.0 sec.<br />

• Major<br />

o intersection may have a degradation of three or more LOS designations (<strong>for</strong> example,<br />

from B to E); and<br />

o an increase in vehicular delay greater than 15.0 sec.<br />

Table 22 shows the descriptive effect on the change in vehicular delay <strong>for</strong> each LOS <strong>for</strong> walking<br />

speeds of 3.50 and 3.00 ft./sec. In general, lowering pedestrian walking speeds to 3.50 ft./sec. or<br />

even 3.00 ft./sec. at intersections that operate at LOS A, B, or C would result in insignificant to minor<br />

increases in overall vehicular delay at the intersections. However, using a walking speed of 3.50<br />

ft./sec. at intersections that operate at LOS D or E would cause minor to moderate increases to the<br />

overall vehicular delay at the intersections. Using a walking speed of 3.00 ft./sec. at intersections<br />

that operate at LOS D or E would cause moderate to major increases in vehicular delay at the<br />

intersections.<br />

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