an assessment of the operational benefits of countdown pedestrian signals john r. engle ghassan...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of
Countdown Pedestrian Signals
John R. EngleGhassan Abu-Lebdeh
Thomas Maleck
Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMichigan State University
![Page 2: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
Project Description
• 16 Intersections along MDOT State Trunklines within the State of Michigan
• 20 Hours of Data for Before and After Conditions
• Survey of Pedestrians
![Page 3: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
What is a Countdown Pedestrian Signal (CPS)?
![Page 4: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
• After implementation, majority of peds in the crosswalk (when Solid Don’t Walk phase began) tended to be closer to curb.
• Being closer to their destination, the peds were able to leave the roadway quicker after the flashing don’t walk phase ended.
• People overwhelmingly liked them.
What was discovered:
![Page 5: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
• There are significant exceptions to the generalizations made previously
• There were a significant number of intersections in which this did not occur
• Much of this variance could potentially be attributed to social/economic characteristics of the pedestrians
What was discovered:
![Page 6: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
The 16 Intersections were broken down into three groups for analysis.
![Page 7: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
• Michigan @ Larch - Lansing
• Saginaw @ Capitol - Lansing
• Saginaw @ Pennsylvania - Lansing
• Michigan @ Rose - Kalamazoo
• Bridge @ Jefferson - Grand Ledge
• Beach @ 5th - Flint
Group A:
![Page 8: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
Group A Findings
• ‘Normal’ geometric layouts with peds exhibiting ‘usual’ behavior
• After CPS, a small increase in volume of peds who cleared before solid don’t walk (SDW) phase
• After CPS, minor decrease in the percentage of pedestrians crossing on the SDW phase
![Page 9: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
• In five of the six locations of Group A, after CPS implementation a larger percentage of peds began crossing during flashing don’t walk (FDW) phase
• With CPS, if peds were ‘caught’ in the intersection when FDW phase ended, they tended to be much closer to their destination curb than before
![Page 10: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
75.8%
2.7%10.1%
21.5%
76.5%
2.8%12.3%
20.7%
0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%
Cleared before Solid Don’tWalk
Didn’t clear before SolidDon’t Walk
Started during FlashingDon’t Walk
Crossing on Solid Don’tWalk
Perc
enta
ge o
f Tot
al P
edes
trian
s
Before Ped Countdown Signal
After Ped Countdown Signal
Saginaw/Capital Location - Lansing
![Page 11: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Lanes to Cross when Solid Dont Walk Signal Appears
Per
cen
tag
e o
f Ped
estr
ian
s
Before Ped Countdown Signal
After Ped Countdown Signal
Saginaw/Capital Location - Lansing
![Page 12: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
• Gratiot @ Linhurst - Detroit
• Gratiot @ Hickory - Detroit
• Gratiot @ Outer - Detroit
• Gratiot @ Filbert - Detroit
• Dexter @ Washington - Ionia
• Genesee @ Washington - Saginaw
Group B:
![Page 13: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
• Locations in distressed, lower income neighborhoods
• Number of pedestrians that exhibited unusual walking behaviors was significantly higher than at other locations
Group B Findings
![Page 14: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
• For five of the six locations, percentage of peds who cleared before the solid don’t walk increased after CPS
• Percentage of peds crossing on SDW also decreased for five of the six locations
Group B Findings
![Page 15: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
43.3%
13.3%20.0%
43.3%
58.2%
17.1%11.4%
24.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
Cleared before Solid Don’tWalk
Didn’t clear before SolidDon’t Walk
Started during FlashingDon’t Walk
Crossing on Solid Don’tWalk
Perc
enta
ge o
f Tot
al P
edes
trian
s
Before Ped Countdown Signal
After Ped Countdown Signal
Gratiot/Outer Location - Detroit
![Page 16: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
0.0%
10.0%20.0%
30.0%
40.0%50.0%
60.0%
70.0%80.0%
90.0%
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Lanes to Cross when Solid Dont Walk Signal Appears
Per
cent
age
of P
edes
tria
ns
Before Ped Countdown Signal
After Ped Countdown Signal
Gratiot/Outer Location - Detroit
![Page 17: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
• Mission @ Bellows - Mt Pleasant
• Michigan @ Ann Arbor - Saline
• Wyoming @ 8 Mile - Detroit
• VanDyke @ 10 Mile - Centerline
Group C
![Page 18: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
• “Miscellaneous” group
• No consistency between intersections
• Four intersections, locations w/ certain unique geometric layout, traffic flow, or pedestrian behavior may have resulted in different behavior problems
Group C Findings
![Page 19: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
• Near CMU campus• Majority of peds were college students, who
displayed more aggressive walking behaviors• Often would use countdown clock from another
approach to decide• This may explain the higher percentage of peds
crossing on solid don’t walk after the CPS
Case Example: Mt Pleasant
![Page 20: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
20
• Demographics similar Group A• Unique geometric feature: very wide highway
width of VanDyke with no median (~108 ft)• After CPS a greater % cleared before the solid
don’t walk• Little change on bringing peds closer to curb• Possible, CPS encouraged peds to walk faster
compared to an unusually long flashing don’t walk phase
Case Example: Centerline
![Page 21: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
• Near a school• Majority of peds middle school and elementary
school children who crossed 8 Mile Road • Majority of peds were unable to clear the
intersection in one phase• Resorted to waiting on a median island before
completing their crossing
Case Example: Detroit/8Mile
![Page 22: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
22
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 Island 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Lanes to Cross when Solid Dont Walk Signal Appears
Per
cen
tag
e o
f Ped
estr
ian
s
Before Ped Countdown Signal
After Ped Countdown Signal
Wyoming/8Mile Location - Detroit
![Page 23: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
• Exception to majority of behaviors
• Located in a exurb of Ann Arbor
• Majority of peds high income demographic.
• Unclear why after CPS a lower % of peds cleared before solid don’t walk, or why
Case Example: Detroit/8Mile
![Page 24: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24
Survey Results
What do you think of the countdown clock on the pedestrian signal?
81.48%
3.70%14.81%
0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%
I like It I don’t like it I don’t know
![Page 25: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
Survey ResultsWhat does the countdown clock mean?
74.07%
7.41% 11.11% 7.41%
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
You must beacross the
intersection bythe time the
clock reacheszero
You must begincrossing the
intersection bythe time the
clock reacheszero
When the clockreaches zero,the walk signwill appear forthat crosswalk
I don’t know
![Page 26: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
26
Summary
• Impact was mostly positive– There appear to be some exceptions– Non-engineering factors important at some
• More analysis needed– Statistical– Qualitative
• Relevant finding to start develop guidelines
![Page 27: An Assessment of the Operational Benefits of Countdown Pedestrian Signals John R. Engle Ghassan Abu-Lebdeh Thomas Maleck Department of Civil and Environmental](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062519/5697c0191a28abf838ccea83/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
27
Questions?