PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS: WARRANTS AND EFFECTIVENESS. FINAL REPORT

Several different control designs can be utilized to serve the vehicular and pedestrian traffic at signalized intersections. These range from traffic signals only to traffic signals with pedestrian-actuated signals and detectors. Virtually all of these are commonly used by traffic engineers in the United States; however, there is less than complete agreement regarding the conditions under which each is most appropriate. This research study developed guidelines for pedestrian-actuated signal installation based upon dual consideration of operational and behavioral characteristics. Operational criteria address three (sometimes conflicting) design objectives, which are maximization of pedestrian safety and minimization of pedestrian and traffic delay. Key variables employed in the criteria include the magnitudes of vehicular delay and volumes, number of lanes, and pedestrian volume, walk speed and behavior. These key variables were employed in delay, behavioral, and arrival rate analyses. Delay savings offered by pedestrian-actuated signals compared to fixed-time pedestrian signals are presented, and guides are shown for determining the impact of pedestrian presence at intersections. Guides for determining pedestrian volume without retracting to costly pedestrian counts are also shown. These tools aid in analyzing pedestrian impacts for various intersection conditions.