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Pedestrian SafetyPedestrian Safety
Best Practices from RecentBest Practices from RecentWestern Rail Transit ProjectsWestern Rail Transit Projects
Brent Ogden, PTOEBrent Ogden, PTOEVice President, DMJM HarrisVice President, DMJM Harris
Eastern States Grade Crossing ConferenceAlbany, New YorkOctober 3, 2007
Pedestrian BehaviorPedestrian Behavior
Pedestrianstend to lookdown not up
LA Metro Blue Line LRT, Los Angeles, CA
Pedestriansmay lackawareness orbe distracted
Pedestrian BehaviorPedestrian Behavior
Pedestrians tend totake the shortest route
UPRR, Pomona, CA
Pedestrians create theirown pathways
Caltrain, Burlingame, CA
Child BehaviorChild Behavior
•
Caltrain, Atherton, CA
Children must betrained and supervised
Bicyclist BehaviorBicyclist Behavior
Bicycles are oftentreated like pedestrians
But bicycles can travelmuch faster…
Expect the Unexpected!
Groups with Special NeedsGroups with Special Needs
ADA-related provisionsmay have broaderapplicability…
E.g., Tactile WarningStrips, Audible Devices
“Leader Tile”, VTA Transit Center, Mountain View, CA
Factors in Pedestrian LRT CollisionsFactors in Pedestrian LRT Collisions
Distractions (CellPhones/Headsets, Etc.)
Not Paying Attention Ignoring Audible And/Or
Visual Warning DevicesAt Grade Crossings
Rushing To CatchTrains Or Get AcrossIntersections
Intoxication Trespassing Pedestrian Mall, San Jose, CA
Trespassing vs. Grade CrossingsTrespassing vs. Grade Crossings
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Fatalities
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
CrossingTrespass
Trespass fatalities higher since 1997
Requirements for Pedestrian SafetyRequirements for Pedestrian Safety
Awareness of CrossingControl of Pedestrian PathAwareness of Approaching Train; Adequate
Sight DistanceCommunicate an Understanding of Potential
Hazards
Tri Met MAX LRT, Portland OR
Awareness of CrossingAwareness of Crossing
Control of Pedestrian PathControl of Pedestrian Path
“Z”Crossing
Bollard & Chain FenceC Train LRT, Calgary, AB
Tri Met MAX LRT, Gresham, OR
Awareness of Approaching Train;Awareness of Approaching Train;Adequate Sight DistanceAdequate Sight Distance
Refer to TWG Guidance for speed & distance values(http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/media/twgreport.htm)
Pedestrian Understanding ofPedestrian Understanding ofPotential HazardsPotential Hazards
Clarity and Simplicity ofCentral Message
Honesty and Integrity inDelivery
Statement andRestatement of CentralMessage
Active Second Train Coming SignTri Met MAX LRT, Portland, OR
Examples of TreatmentsExamples of Treatments
Dynamic Envelope & Stop LineDynamic Envelope & Stop Line
K Street Pedestrian Mall, RT LRT, Sacramento, CA
Tri-Met MAX LRT, Portland OR
““Look Both WaysLook Both Ways””SignSign
MUTCD Part 10
Tri-Met MAX LRT, Portland, OR
Z CrossingsZ Crossings
DART LRT, Dallas, TX
C Train LRT, Calgary, AB
Swing GatesSwing Gates -- ManualManual
C Train LRT, Calgary AB
Tri-Met MAX LRT, Hillsboro, OR
Standard Active Warning DeviceStandard Active Warning Device
MUTCD 2003, Part 8
Alternative Active Warning DevicesAlternative Active Warning Devices
Tri-Met MAX LRT, Portland OR
Modified Crossing BellModified Crossing Bell
Before –Omni-Directional
After –with Shroud
C Train LRT, Calgary, AB
Active Warning SignsActive Warning Signs
W10-7Activated, Blank Out
MUNI Embarcadero LRT, San Francisco, CA
Active Second Train Coming SignsActive Second Train Coming Signs
VTA LRT, San Jose, CA
LA Metro Blue Line LRT, Los Angeles, CA
UPRR, Pico Rivera, CA
TypicalTreatmentAdjacent toRoadway
Pedestrian Automatic GatesPedestrian Automatic Gates
LA Metro Gold Line LRT, Pasadena, CA
•Full Closure withSwing Gate fortrackway escape
Gate Treatment RefinementsGate Treatment Refinements
Modified Pedestrian Automatic GatesModified Pedestrian Automatic Gates
Alternative Design
ET South Line LRT Extension, Edmonton, AB
Crossing GateCrossing Gate ““SkirtSkirt””
Option forcrossing nearschools
DART LRT, Dallas, TX
Comprehensive Treatment ExampleComprehensive Treatment Example
Before ConditionBefore Condition
Baseline Road, Portland Tri-Met
TreatmentsTreatments ––Plan OverviewPlan Overview
TreatmentsTreatments ––At CrossingAt Crossing
After
Before
Changes in BehaviorChanges in Behavior
14
81
93
4 55 7 92 1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Deviates FromSidewalk Or
Pathway
Stops Or SlowsBefore Entering
Trackway
Looks BothWays Prior To
EnteringCrossing
Enters CrossingJust Prior ToTrain Coming
Enters CrossingAfter Train Has
Passed, ButPrior To Gates
Ascending
Behavior
%Y
es
BeforeAfter
Device Selection CriteriaDevice Selection Criteria
“Decision Tree”for PedestrianDevices
Synthesis of BestPractices….
ResearchPending
Rationale for Device SelectionRationale for Device Selection
Source: TCRP Report 69
StandardsStandards
NCUTCD UpdatesNCUTCD Updates
“Pedestrian Pathways”text voted by NCUTCD in 2007
Pathway Definition –“A public way for purposes of travelby authorized users outside the traveled way andphysically separated from the roadway by an open spaceor barrier and either within the highway right-of-way orwithin an independent alignment. Pathways includeshared-use paths, but are exclusive of sidewalks”
LRT Task Force is working on update to Part 10
NCUTCDNCUTCD ––New DefinitionsNew Definitions
Pathway-Rail Grade Crossing –the general areawhere a pathway and a railroad cross at the samelevel, within which are included the railroad tracks,pathway, design features, and traffic control devicesfor pathway traffic traversing that area
Station Crossing –a general term for a type ofpathway-rail grade crossing associated with stationplatform
New MUTCD Part 8New MUTCD Part 8Passive TreatmentsPassive Treatments
Identifies Crossbuck as standard passive device
Allows 4 ft minimum height with 2 ft lateral clearance;overhead signs mounted 8 ft minimum height
Provides guidance on use of painted stop lines 12 ftfrom the nearest rail and acknowledges placement ofdetectable warning strips behind the stop line
Acknowledges use of swing gates as option;indicates gates swing “away from tracks”and may belatched if intended for emergency egress
New MUTCD Part 8New MUTCD Part 8Passive Treatments, ContinuedPassive Treatments, Continued
Bicycles Etc.–If other than pedestrians use thepathway-rail grade crossing, advance warning signsand advanced pavement markings should beconsidered
Guidance on Passive Treatments –The user’s abilityto detect the presence of an approaching train shouldbe considered in determining the type and placementof traffic control devices or design features (such asfencing or swing gates).
New MUTCD Part 8New MUTCD Part 8Active TreatmentsActive Treatments
Standard - “flashing lights with bell or other audiblewarning device”provided “on both sides of the tracks”
Optional Location –“between the tracks asrecommended by a diagnostic team”
Mounting - Minimum height 4 feet above pathway, or12 inches minimum at a station crossing
Active traffic control devices may be omitted forcrossing located within 7.6 m (25 ft) of the traveledway at a highway-rail grade crossing equipped withan active traffic control system
New MUTCD Part 8New MUTCD Part 8Use of Automatic GatesUse of Automatic Gates
Automatic gates identified as an “option”
Specifies full-width coverage on both approaches tothe track (my emphasis)
a minimum mounting height of 3 feet
Provides guidance that a separate gate mechanismfor sidewalks should be provided in lieu of asupplemental or auxiliary gate arm installed as a partof the same mechanism to prevent a pedestrian fromraising the vehicular gate at a highway-rail gradecrossing
Moving ForwardMoving Forward
Expand and Standardize the “Menu”ofAvailable Treatments
Validate Warrants and/or Criteria for Warrantsor Device Selection Criteria
Provide Additional Research on HumanFactors and Device Effectiveness
Address ADA and Trespass Issues
Recommended