A new approach to estimate pedestrian delay at signalized intersections

Enhancing pedestrian safety and improving the design standards of pedestrian facilities at signalized intersection requires a clear understanding of pedestrian delay model and pedestrian crossing behaviours under mixed traffic condition. The existing delay models do not consider the behavioural constrains of pedestrians. This research has been undertaken with the aim of developing a suitable pedestrian delay model for signalized intersection crosswalks, based on considering actual pedestrian crossing behaviours. The required model parameters were extracted from the video-graphic survey conducted for the selected four signalized intersections in Mumbai (India). Crossing behaviours of pedestrians were examined through field data in terms of pedestrian arrival pattern, crossing speed, compliance behaviour and pedestrian–vehicular interactions. Based on pedestrian crossing behaviour analysis results, two new pedestrian delay estimation models were developed and the models were validated by comparing with field and existing model values. The performance level of the proposed models is showing more precise and reliable solutions. The first pedestrian delay model is developed on the basis of compliance behaviour, has two components, such as waiting time delay and crossing time delay. This model can be used to evaluate pedestrian Level Of Service (LOS) and signal timing optimization. The second developed pedestrian delay model is based on noncompliance behaviour, has three components, such as waiting time delay, crossing time delay, and pedestrian–vehicular interaction delay. This model can also be used to evaluate the quality of pedestrian flow, estimating accurate pedestrian delay and LOS for local conditions, which is representative of the prevailing pedestrian condition.