FHWA’s Intersection Safety Scan Tour January 31 – February 11, 2005 Performed for: FHWA, Office of Safety Design

2 Tour Team Members Clayton Chen, Ph.D., P.E., FHWA, Office of Safety Design Doug Harwood, P.E., Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO Loren Hill, P.E. Minnesota DOT Eugene Calvert, Collier County, FL Stan Polanis, City of Winston Salem, NC Warren Hughes, P.E., BMI-SG, Vienna, VA Jennifer Weigle, BMI-SG, Vienna, VA

3 Background May 2002, FHWA & AASHTO sponsored Scanning Study on Innovative Signalized Intersection Safety Practices in Europe; Final Report Published December 2003 In 2004, FHWA decided to conduct a Domestic Scan Tour of Intersection Safety in United States BMI-SG awarded Task Order.

4 Scope All Intersections: Signal-Controlled & Unsignalized Innovative Treatments with Respect to: – Geometric Design – Intersection Traffic Control – Traffic Control Devices Comprehensive Approaches/Programs/ Procedures/Methods for Improving Intersection Safety –Motorists –Pedestrians –Bicyclists –Transit Users –Users with Special Needs

5 Site visits with 12 transportation agencies within five geographical locations in the United States West Palm Beach Charlotte Detroit/Southeast Michigan Dallas/Fort Worth Portland

6 Safety # 1 Priority Traffic Improvement Association of Oakland County, Michigan (TIA) – 65 Communities Population300, Million Vehicle Miles Traveled3.0 Billion12.3 Billion Traffic Fatalities20679 Fatality Rate Michigan1.3 United States1.5

7 Crash Data Management Crash Data – Timely & Accurate On-line State System for all government levels Locating Tools for Intersection Crashes Operational Analysis / Safety Audits

8 Crash Data Uses Throughout Scan, Availability of Timely & Accurate Crash Data Supports Following: Selective Law Enforcement Council & Board Reports Funding Road Projects Project Prioritization Planning Activities Litigation

9 Governmental Cooperation Inter-agency Safety Review Team Intergovernmental Safety Task Force Metropolitan Planning Agency – Council of Governments

10 Public/Private Partnerships Police, Insurance, EMS for complete crash data base AAA Michigan Traffic Improvement Association of Oakland County

11 Signal Displays LED signal sections

12 Traffic Signal Operations Minimum Yellow and all-red clearance times Clearance times longer than ITE guidelines for special conditions Red light hold – delay onset of green on conflicting approaches Dallas signal sequencing for left turn phases Variable left turn phasing by time of day Twice-a-cycle left turn phase

13 “Not-Yet-MUTCD” Approved Treatment for Signalized Intersections Flashing yellow arrow for permissive left turn operation (Note: Due to color problems, yellow may appear red)

14 Count Down Pedestrian Pedestrian Countdown Signal Heads with Supplemental “Homing” Beepers for Sight-impaired People

15 Signing Street Name Signs with Larger Letter Heights in Clear View font Advance Street name signs “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” sign on back side of sign “All Way Stop” sign on far side of all-way stop intersection

16 Activated Signs for Light Rail

17 Activated Signs Internally Illuminated, Mast-Arm Mounted Pedestrian Crossing Sign Fiber Optic, Span-wired Mounted “No Turn on Red” Sign

18 Innovative Pedestrian Warning Systems Activated Flashing Bars within Pedestrian Crossing Sign

19 Traffic Operations for Enhanced Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Delay Onset of Walk Interval by One Second to Clear Traffic from Intersection At Signal-Controlled Intersections near Schools, Provide Longer Pedestrian Clearance Intervals at Certain Times of Day Set Pedestrian Clearance Intervals for Older Pedestrians Whenever Warranted

20 Pedestrian Crosswalks Increased visibility of crosswalks and bike lane crossings thru innovative pavement markings (e.g., blue bikelane crossings)

21 Alternate Ped Timing Demand-responsive provision for older pedestrians (i.e., longer ped times called into service in response to depressing ped push button for 5+ seconds)

22 Automated Ped Detection Detection of Pedestrians via Motion Sensors before they enter street Delayed Onset of Yellow when Pedestrians Still Detected in Crosswalks

23 Pedestrian Accommodations Solar-powered, pedestrian- activated flashing warning beacon for motorists In-pavement lights for crosswalks

24 Geometric Design Treatments Installing Medians to Eliminate Crossing Maneuvers at Minor Streets and Driveways (e.g., allowing right-in / right-out only) Providing Larger Curb Return Radii (60’) at Intersections to Better Accommodate Trucks Narrowing Lanes (e.g., 9, 10, 11 ft) at Approaches to Signal-Controlled Intersections

25 Innovative Geometric Designs Roundabouts

26 Geometric Design Mini-roundabouts

27 Michigan “Loons” to Accommodate U-Turns

28 Other Innovative Geometric Treatments Conversions from Four-Lane Cross Sections to Three-Lane Cross Sections, so- called “Road Diet” Projects Conversions of Two-lane Undivided to Two-Lane Divided with bulb-outs at intersections Offsetting Opposing Left Turn Lanes at 4- Legged Intersections