complete streets design examples - gsmsummit 2014,tom errico

Complete Streets Design Examples

GrowSmart Maine October 21, 2014

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Road Diets/Road Retrofits

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There’s room; it needs to be recaptured

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City of Belfast

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City of Belfast

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City of Belfast

Narrower Travel Lanes

• AASHTO Green Book allows narrower lanes:

– 9’ on local residential streets

– 10’ on low speed arterials & collectors

– 11’ for streets with trucks

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Lane Width Adjustment

Lane Width Adjustment

Facility Selection

• Bicycle Lanes

OK to reduce travel lane

10 and 11-foot lanes are just as safe as 12-foot lanes on urban arterials with posted speeds less than 45 mph

18 – 49% crash reduction (ITE)

Convert 4-Lane Road to 3-Lane including Center Turn Lane

How to Make Room: Road Diets

State Street– Augusta, Maine

State Street– Augusta, Maine

Park Avenue– Portland, Maine

Park Avenue– Portland, Maine

Beth Condon Path- Yarmouth, Maine

Beth Condon Path- Yarmouth, Maine

Congress Street - Portland

Congress Street - Portland

Congress Street - Portland

Roadway Classification vs.

Context-Based

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Should street width be based on classification?

Functional classification doesn’t

adequately describe the street’s role

in a community

These 3 streets are “arterials” yet

look, feel and perform very

differently:

North Windham, Maine

Bath Road Master Plan (Route 1) Wiscasset, Maine

Route 1-Wiscasset, Maine

Route 1-Wiscasset, Maine

Speed Matters

• Drivers’ field of vision & ability to see pedestrians

• Drivers’ ability to react and avoid a crash

• Crash severity

Speed affects:

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Speed Affects Crash Severity

High speeds lead to greater chance of serious injury & death

Doubling the speed from 20 mph to 40 mph reduces the survivability from 95% to just 15%

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Speed Affects Crash Severity

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Route 9 – Biddeford, Maine

Route 9 – Biddeford, Maine

Intersection Design

They drive fast,

Effect of large radius on drivers

ignoring pedestrians

• Large corner radii:

Allow high-speed

turns by cars

-Less likely to yield

-Injury severity

Tighten Corner Curb Radii

• Large corner radii:

– Increase crossing

distance

– Require longer

signal time

Tighten Corner Curb Radii

Eliminate free flow turns across

crosswalks/bikeways Designing Streets for Pedestrian Safety – Interchanges & roundabouts 7-10

… they are difficult for pedestrians to cross… they are difficult for pedestrians to cross

Avoid freeAvoid free--flow movements…flow movements…

Asheville NC

Free Flow Right Turn Lanes

Franklin St. – Radius Adjustment

Franklin St. – Radius Adjustment

Park and St. John – Radius Adjustment

Park and St. John – Radius

Adjustment

Washington/Chapman – Portland, ME

Pedestrian Facilities

Rectangular Rapid Flash LED Beacon

►Beacon is yellow, rectangular, and has a rapid “stutter” flash

►Beacon located between the warning sign and the arrow plaque

►Must be pedestrian activated (pushbutton or passive)

►Studies indicate motorist yielding rates increased from 18.2% to 81.2% for 2 beacons and to 87.8% for 4 beacons

►Interim approval from FHWA in July 2008

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Marginal Way – Portland, Maine

Curb Extensions

Curb Extensions

•Reduces Pedestrian Crossing Distance

•Increases pedestrian visibility

•Prevents vehicle enchroachment on crosswalk

•Encourages slower speeds by tightening corner

radii

•Provides improved opportunity for ADA Ramps

Anderson St. Neighborhood By-Way

Maine Street - Brunswick

Mid-Block Crossing

Mid-Block Crossing

Congress Street - Portland

Falmouth Sidewalk/Crosswalk

Falmouth Sidewalk/Crosswalk

Traffic Signals

Pedestrian count-down signal tells pedestrians

how much crossing time is left

Countdown Clocks

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Results from San Francisco:

25% Crash Reduction Factor after countdown signals installed

Countdown Clocks

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Route 1 - Wiscasset

Shorten Cycle Lengths

Reduces Overall

Pedestrian Wait

Times

Lead Pedestrian Interval

Lead Pedestrian Interval

Lead Pedestrian Interval

LPIs increase the visibility of crossing pedestrians and give

them priority within the intersection.

LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle

collisions as much as 60% at treated intersections.

LPIs typically require adjustments to existing signal timing

that are relatively low cost compared to other

countermeasures.

Other Traffic Signal Considerations

Prioritize Walking, Bicycling, and Transit

Keep the Number of Signal Phases to a Minimum

Time Signals to the Speed you Intend Traffic to Go

Adjust Timing for Peak and Off-Peak Volumes

Use FixedTime Signals as Opposed to Actuated

Signals

Thank you!

QUESTIONS?

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Tom Errico, PE Senior Associate

T.Y. Lin International Falmouth, ME