Search Safety:

Chapter 3: How can the safety of my neighborhood be improved?

< Previous

Table of Content

Next >

Engineering

This section provides you with a list and definition of basic engineering solutions that may be used to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in your community. These treatments range from constructing a sidewalk (to improve safety along the street), to adding median islands and installing pedestrian countdown signals (to improve safety while crossing the street). Any challenges related to design or implementation of each potential solution, in addition to the associated costs, should be considered. You should try to talk to people with transportation engineering expertise (for example, professionals with your local transportation department) so you can develop a better understanding of these approaches.

Photos and more information about each of the improvements listed below can be found in the resources sheets, and comprehensive lists of engineering solutions can be found online (see sidebar for more information).

Typical engineering improvements

• Sidewalk—A paved walkway that allows pedestrians to walk along the roadway without interference from traffic.
• Buffer or planting strip—A zone separating pedestrians on sidewalks from moving vehicles on the road.
• Marked crosswalk—Areas on the street (delineated by paint, brick, etc.) indicating to pedestrians where they should cross the road.
• Curb ramp or curb cut—A ramp providing a smooth transition between sidewalk and street.
• Raised medians and crossing islands—The median is the area between opposing lanes of traffic. These provide pedestrians with a safe place to wait while crossing a street.
• Curb extension—An extension of the sidewalk into the street that reduces the distance pedestrians must cross.
• Traffic sign—An official device that gives a specific message, either by words or symbols, to the public. Examples are "stop," "yield," etc.
• Traffic signal—A visual signal to control the flow of traffic. Pedestrian signals let pedestrians know when they have priority and warn drivers to stop/yield for pedestrians.
• Traffic calming—Physical changes to a street to encourage drivers to drive slowly or to discourage cut-through traffic.
• Road diet—Narrowing or eliminating travel lanes on a roadway to make more room for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Overpasses/underpasses—A street crossing separating pedestrians from motor vehicle traffic (i.e., bridge or tunnel).
• Street lighting—This illuminates the roadway and intersections to help motorists see other motor vehicles and pedestrians crossing the roadway.
• Temporary walkways—These provide pedestrians with designated routes along a construction site when sidewalks and other pedestrian travel ways have been closed.

Maintenance of pedestrian accommodations

Pedestrian accommodations, such as sidewalks, bus stops, lighting, and signals, need to be maintained. Neighbors can assist with landscaping maintenance on private property near sidewalks, as well as with snow and debris removal. Some communities have partnered with local businesses to develop an "Adopt a Bus Shelter" program, where businesses assist with maintaining the bus stops and clearing snow along the nearby pedestrian paths. The local transportation agency may have (or could establish) a sidewalk maintenance and improvement program. The program could include a periodic inventory of sidewalk conditions and responsibility for maintenance. Contact your local agency to determine if such a program exists, or where residents can go to request maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure.

Improving access to transit stops (including school bus stops)

An important destination for many pedestrians is the transit stop. Transit stops need to be safe and accessible for people of all abilities. Common transit concerns are:

• There is no safe crossing to get to the bus stop.
• There is no curb ramp or wheelchair access to the bus stop.
• There is no sidewalk or path to easily get to the stop.

The location of a bus stop (e.g., if it comes before or after an intersection or is in the middle of the block) plays an important part in how safe and convenient it will be for bus riders to access. Transit agencies and school districts often choose bus stop locations based on where it is safe for the bus to stop, but they may not consider where pedestrians can walk safely and easily. To further complicate matters, road agencies—not transit agencies or school districts—usually have the responsibility of providing pedestrian accommodations near and at bus stops.

Many transit access problems can be addressed by the methods described in the previous section. In some cases, the transit agency or school district may need to review and modify their policies related to bus stop locations to ensure that pedestrian safety is adequately incorporated into the decision process. In either case, partnerships between community members, road agencies, and transit authorities or school districts are crucial in identifying concerns and working to improve conditions. If you have concerns about the bus stops in your community, contact your local road agency to find out who has jurisdiction over the roadway and pedestrian infrastructure in that area. You could also call the local transit agency or school district and encourage them to work more closely with the responsible road agency to make the needed improvements. School buses are often operated by school districts, individual schools, or contractors providing school bus service. Contact the school to find out who is providing service and who to call.

< Previous

Table of Content

Next >