Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
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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