Success in Redesigning Main Streets for Pedestrians

Details

• Creators:
  Godfrey, David ; Mazella, Tony
• Corporate Contributors:
  Washington (State). Department of Transportation ; National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board ; University of North Carolina (System). Traffic Safety Research Center
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Crosswalks
  • Pedestrian safety
  • Traffic control devices
  • Signal lights
  • Light emitting diodes
  • Traffic signal hardware
  • Flashing traffic signals
  • Pedestrian actuated controllers
  • Kirkland (Washington)
  • Pavement markers
  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1403149
• Resource Type:
  Proceedings
• Geographical Coverage:
  Washington
• Corporate Publisher:
  Washington (State). Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  In the fall of 1997, the city of Kirkland installed small flashing LEDs in the pavement at two crosswalks. Devices are installed across all travel lanes for both directions of travel on each side of the crosswalk. When activated, lights in the pavement flash at drivers across the entire roadway in both directions. Pedestrians wishing to use the crosswalk activate the flashers using standard pedestrian pushbuttons and the LEDs flash in a proprietary manner via a small solid-state controller, for a programmable amount of time. This paper summarizes Kirkland's successful use of the LightGuard devices. Flashing crosswalk devices are particularly suited to small communities because: 1) They work well in relatively isolated/high speed settings, 2) Cost of materials and installation is around $15,000, 3) They are more effective than normal "constant on" overhead flashers, yet a fraction of the cost of traffic signals; and 4) They allow local officials to respond in an effective, reasonable way to the traditionally difficult issues of school and pedestrian safety concerns.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12751/dot_12751_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 341.87 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1ad245fcbaf0e8cca21c5c9ef059b0a507f1a6d5e5081fb7e2457a058aa8f4fdaac916cec24c5b7a5ba6762e4ed988ee2559a1c1eccee2117b96aac84f75b0bc