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