Select High Risk Pedestrian Midblock Crossings and Perform Safety Evaluations for Developing Pedestrian Crossings

Details

• Creators:
  Sharif, Hatim O. ; Joseph, John ; Dessouky, Samer ; Eid, Eslam ; Weissmann, Jose
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at San Antonio. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Case Studies Crash Modification Factors Fatalities Literature Reviews Midblock Crossings Pedestrians Pedestrian Safety Traffic Safety Urban Areas Vulnerable Road Users
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-26/0-7180-R1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Texas
• Edition:
  September 2023–August 2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas at San Antonio. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Abstract:
  Pedestrian fatalities on high-speed, multi-lane roads in Texas, particularly in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, highlight an urgent need for focused interventions at midblock crossings. These sites often serve vulnerable populations and connect neighborhoods to transit, retail, and essential services, yet their safety challenges are magnified by speed, poor visibility, and insufficient infrastructure. To address this, researchers conducted a deep-dive review of safety literature, compiled extensive crash data, and leveraged geospatial tools to identify the riskiest locations across urban corridors. They developed localized Crash Modification Functions (CMFs), advanced exposure-based models, and predictive analytics tailored to Texas’s unique roadway environments. A key outcome was the creation of the Midblock Crossing Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, a comprehensive guide for TxDOT districts that integrates field observations, stakeholder input, and cost-benefit analysis. This plan provides detailed site rankings, treatment prioritization strategies, and implementation pathways, including engineering upgrades, education initiatives, and enforcement considerations, grounded in local crash dynamics and pedestrian demand. Recommended treatments, such as PHBs, RRFBs, raised medians, and high-visibility markings, were evaluated for effectiveness and feasibility. The plan empowers decision-makers with a data-driven roadmap to improve safety, promote equitable access, and reduce fatalities through strategic midblock crossing improvements statewide.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0-7180
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:69a1cebd93b8d01a247d992b31c4d325a2e9c0800a52ab2b6c611c72f00829b26deed9c79edfcef79acf1ddf501af100568d7eb2f2c072fc273532e46f73f2b0
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/87500/dot_87500_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 13.67 MB ]