Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Operations Near Transit Stops [2025]

Details

• Creators:
  Singleton, Patrick A. ; Paskett, Aleks ; Mandolakani, Fariba Soltani ; Subedi, Atul ; Mekker, Michelle M
• Corporate Creators:
  Utah State University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Utah Department of Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bus Stops Farside (Bus Stops) Intersections Nearside (Bus Stops) Pedestrian Safety Traffic Conflicts Traffic Flow
• Publication/ Report Number:
  UT-25.11
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States;Utah
• Edition:
  Final Report Oct 2022 to June 2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  Utah Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  This research project’s objective was to investigate the impacts of transit stop location (near-side versus far-side) on pedestrian safety and traffic operations at intersections. Three different video-based behavioral observation data collections at signals in Utah were utilized and studied: (1) transit stop events (interactions between transit vehicles and other vehicles) and transit passenger crossing behaviors and vehicle conflicts; (2) pedestrian conflicts with right-turning vehicles (conflict severity, driver/pedestrian reactions); and (3) pedestrian crossing behaviors (crossing location, crossing behaviors). These outcomes were then statistically compared for near-side versus far-side transit stop locations. From the results, far-side transit stops are better for general traffic operations, but potentially worse for transit operations. Transit departure delays are more likely and impactful at far-side stops, although actions can be taken to improve transit operations there. On the other hand, the evidence pointed toward far-side transit stops being worse for pedestrian safety. Specifically, conflicts at far-side stops were more severe, and drivers were less likely to slow/stop for pedestrians. This finding corroborates prior Utah-based research results that there were more pedestrian crashes at intersections with more far-side transit stops. Reconciling these differing findings likely requires improving pedestrian safety at some far-side transit stops, and prioritizing safety over operational efficiency at other near-side transit stops.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  23-8362
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:581f17f5c0cbb72fa48f017b15b81d170b14e640549f7cb4e51631bd62631fd87e12980444f5a98cfafac43c7900aa85c7676bba01d5cfe47fc65d1a04920982
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86004/dot_86004_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.44 MB ]