To: All HQ Directors: Operations, Planning & Major Projects All Regional Directors All Project Managers and Supervisors All District Managers Transportation All Senior Traffic Operations Engineers All Area Managers

Technical Circular T-04/18

Date: September 5, 2018

Subject: Update to the Ministry's Electrical and Traffic Engineering Design Guidelines -Section 400 regarding Pedestrian Operations

Purpose:

This Technical Circular updates the Ministry's Electrical and Traffic Engineering design guidelines by introducing additional treatments for pedestrian crossings at signalized intersections

Policy:

The attached "Guidelines for Leading Pedestrian Intervals and Exclusive Pedestrian Phases" provide information for when these two enhanced pedestrian crossing treatments may be considered by Traffic Engineering. In addition, it provides guidelines for how they should be implemented.

Contact:

Jerry Froese, P. Eng., M. Eng., PTOE Manager, Traffic Engineering Policy and Standards 250-387-7 583 Jerry.Froese@gov.bc.ca

cc: Ed Miska, Executive Director, Engineering Services Kenedee Ludwar, Director, Traffic and Highway Safety Engineering

Attachment: Guidelines for Leading Pedestrian Intervals and Exclusive Pedestrian Phases

BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Guidelines for Leading Pedestrian Intervals and Exclusive Pedestrian

Phases

Jerry Froese, P. Eng.

Michelle Li, EIT

09/05/2018

---- ---· ··-~----·-- -----------------

1.0 Introduction

As cities in British Columbia grow, active transportation, including cycling and pedestrian travel, play an

increasingly major role in areas of the city where densification take place. In an effort to serve high

densification areas, including minimizing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, the Ministry is adding 2 additional

pedestrian crossing treatments as options for consideration. These additional options include:

1) Leading pedestrian interval

2) Exclusive pedestrian phase

2.0 Leading Pedestrian Interval

2.1 Background

A leading pedestrian interval (currently available with Ministry signals with Cobalt controllers known as

the "delayed green" function), provides pedestrians with a head start over vehicles of the corresponding

phase at signalized intersections. This puts pedestrians in the crosswalk prior to vehicles of the same

phase.

Leading pedestrian intervals (LPI) can be applied not only at 4-legged intersections, but also at T­

intersections or on one-way roads. LPI allows pedestrians to step into the crosswalk prior to vehicles,

which can make pedestrians more visible to turning drivers.

2.2 Implementation

The use of LPI on a per signal basis must be approved by the Senior Traffic Operations Engineer, Senior

Highway Safety Engineer, or Senior Traffic Standards Engineer. This function should only be used at

signalized intersections for phases with no left turn arrows (only permissive left turns). Leading

pedestrian intervals may be considered following a Traffic Engineering study where pedestrian-vehicle

conflicts pose a potential issue.

LPI should be a minimum of 4 seconds, or calculated using the following formula rounded up to the

nearest second, with the longer LPI for each phase governing:

Distance from Curb to Closest Lane Line LP/ =~~~~~~~~~~~~~-

Walking Speed = 1.0 m/ s

The distance from the curb to the closest lane line should be measured as shown in Figure 1 below.

I I I I

~ -: Distance from curb to closest lane line

I

Distance from curb to closest lane line

Distance from curb t to closest lane line __ t_ ___ _

Distance from curb to closest lane line

I

!.. ..( I I

Figure 1: How to Measure Distance from Curb to Closest Lane Line

The corresponding signal timing sheet should have programming comments similar to those shown on

the example below. Parallel pedestrian phases should be called together to allow the leading pedestrian

interval to activate on both crosswalks. Failure to tie these 2 pedestrian phases together will result in a

delay of 1 phase over the other if the pedestrian call is only present at 1 phase.

SIGNAL TIMING SHEET

DATE ISSUED SEPTEMBER 22. 2016 INTERSECTION1 HIGHWAY 99 AT PEMBERTON PORTAGE ROAD CONTROLLER TYPE COBALT LOCATION PEMBERTON CABINET TYPE P6 SHEET NUIEIER & REVISION: TE-96077-2C SEQUENCE NEMA OUAl RING PREVIOUS STS ISSUED DATE SEPTEMBER 14 2016

PK8.SE NUMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 PK8.SE SETTING Off ONI OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON DESCRIPlilON HIGHWAY 99 PEMBERTON HIGHWAY 99 VINE ROAD

PORTAGE ROAD

B EB SB WB

FUNCTION A1 B1 A2. B2 OVERtAP lfillNIMUM GREEN 10 7 10 7 PASSAGE 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 YELLOW 4.5 4.1 4.5 4.1 RED 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 MAXllMAXll I 30 I I 15 I I 30, I I 15 I MAXPLAH (1,2,3,') I I I 30 1251 I I I 19125 1 I I I I 30 1251 I I I I 191251 I MAXPLAN (5,6,7,8) I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I WALK 7 5 7 5 PEDESTRIAN CLEAR 16 12 16 12 WALK STEADY STEADY STEADY STE.ADY RECALL EXT OFF EXT OFF MEMORY OFF OFF OFF OFF COORDINATION ON PHASE

FIRST GREEN DtSPlAY xxxx xxxx INTERSECTION Fl.ASH YELLOW RED YELLOW RED AWFTM: 3.8 3.8 AWF TIME [CH1JCH2] I I I I I I I I DELAY DEl'ECTION llMWG PROGRAllWllNG COMMENTS

NONE 1. DElAYED GREEN FOR AU PHASES= 5 SECS 2. PEDESTRIAN PHASES 4 & 8 2 & 6 TO BE CALLED TOGETHER

.c. PRE-EMPTION lYPE NONE OPERATIONAL COMMENTS DELAY TIME NONE 1. AWF DISTANCE 41m EB AND WB PRE-EMPTION TIME NONE 2. POSTED SPEED HIGHWAY 99 = 60KMIH, PEMBERTON PORTAGE RD I VINE RD = 50KMIH VOLUME LOGGING & MOES ON 15MIN s. PEDESTRIAN COUNTDOWN TIMERS INSTALLED SCM OFF "· DELAYED GREEN FUNCTION DELAYS VEHIClE INDICATION WHEN SERVING PED CALL

5. INll'ERGREEN TIMES CARRIED OVER FROM STS DATED OCT. 3 2013

1~0---Dfl'SET WfO<I

TIME CLOCK SETTWGS llMEOF DAY OF MAXPLAH CYCLE OFFSET SERVICEPLAH ADDITl!ONAL TIMiE CLOCK INFORMATION

DAY VVEEK (1 T08) (1 TOI) (1 T041 l tT08) 07:00-00:30 MON-F~ 1 09:30 .. 1 a.:oo MUN-r KI 2

Figure 2: Sample Signal Timing Sheet with Leading Pedestrian Interval - Hwy 99 @ Pemberton Portage Rd.

3.0 Exclusive Pedestrian Phase

3.1 Background

An exclusive pedestrian phase, also known as pedestrian scramble crossings, diagonal crossings or the

Barnes Dance, provide pedestrians with an exclusive phase at signalized intersections in which all

pedestrian movements cross at the same time in all directions. This includes diagonal crossing

movements. During this time, traffic signals for vehicles remain at all-red.

These crossings are beneficial in environments with consistently high pedestrian traffic in all directions,

especially where most of the pedestrian demand is to cross diagonally. Exclusive pedestrian phases

should be carefully considered as they decrease an intersection's capacity and cause significant delays to

both vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

3.2 Implementation

The use of an exclusive pedestrian phase shall be approved by the Manager, Traffic Engineering Policy

and Standards. This treatment should only be considered for urban arterial and/or urban collector

intersections which have consistently high pedestrian volumes in all directions. An exclusive pedestrian

phase may be considered following a Traffic Engineering study where pedestrian-vehicle conflicts pose a

potential issue.

3.2.1 Signal Timing

The pedestrian clearance phase should be calculated according to the following formula adapted from

Section 402.5.7 of the Electrical and Traffic Engineering Manual:

where

D PC=~

Vped

PC = pedestrian clearance time (s) Dw = the longest length of all crosswalks, including diagonal movements,

measured at the midpoint between the edge lines (m) - see Figure 3 below

Vped = pedestrian walking speed (1.0 m/s)

Dw

Dw Dw

Figure 3: Length of Crosswalk (Dw)

3.2 .2 Pavement Markings

The availability of an exclusive pedestrian phase should be communicated to motorists and pedestrians

with enhanced pavement markings which show all available pedestrian crossing directions. Pavement

markings should be according to Figure 4 below.

Figure 4: Pavement Markings for Exclusive Pedestrian Phase

3.2.3 Signs

When an exclusive pedestrian phase is implemented, no right turns shall be permitted when vehicles are

faced with a red light. R-117-R "No Right Turn on Red" signs should be installed for each leg of the

i nte rsectio n.

Figure 5: "No Right Turn on Red" Sign

DIAGONAL CROSSING

OK

~-----..,,,. Figure 6: " Diagonal Crossing OK" Sign

In addition, "Diagonal Crossing OK" signs, as shown above, should be installed to notify pedestrians that

the intersection has an exclusive pedestrian phase and the pedestrian clearance time allows them to

cross diagonally.