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Intuitive Intersection Design Case Study: Broadway & 96th Street

Joshua Benson, AICP, NYC Department of Transportation

NACTO Designing Cities Conference, San Francisco, October 24, 2014

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Hallmarks of Intuitive Design?

• Vision zero – Mayoral Initiative: Eliminate all traffic fatalities

in NYC by 2020

– 270 traffic fatalities/year average last 3 years

– NYC has committed to focused enforcement,

education, policy & street design changes

• Street Design Projects – 70 intersection & corridor projects/year, 50 VZ

– Case Study: Broadway at 96th Street

– Leveraging Geometric & Signalization

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Street Improvement Projects in NYC

Broadway at W. 96th Street Intersection Design Case Study

• 2007: Subway reconstruction begins

• 2010: Subway reconstruction completed

• 2014:

– January 10 & 19: Pedestrian fatalities

– January 30: DOT Presents proposal to

Community Board 7

– March 25: Intersection project begins

– May 20: Intersection project completed

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Project Timeline

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Context

• Major subway station: 3 lines, express & local service

• Heavy bus to subway transfer point

• High density housing, retail corridors, high pedestrian activity

• Regional motor vehicle traffic accessing highway interchange two

blocks away

• Multiyear capital project to overhaul subway station & reconfigure

intersection (2007-2010)

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Vast improvement for transit rider experience in station

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Access on surface level became more challenging

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Delays, multiple crossings

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Fatalities • Alexander Shear, Jan 10, 2014

• Samantha Lee, Jan 19, 2014

Injuries (2008-2012)

• Zero severe injuries

• 52 total injuries, 20 pedestrian

Recent pedestrian fatalities

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Site Conditions

Su

bw

ay

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Legal trip from NW corner to Subway

may have initial delay of 47 seconds

Trip may take as long

as 1 minute 45 seconds

Phase A:

15 secs

Phase B:

28 secs

Phase C:

15 secs

Phase D:

32 secs

Pedestrian must cross

south first, then east-west

Signal Timing Multiphase Signal Prioritizes Left Turn Movements

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Observed Issues Rampant Crossing against signal

Pedestrians crossing median to median without crosswalk or

signal during perceived gaps

Not strong indicators of intuitive intersection design

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3. New mall to

mall crosswalk

1. Two left turns

banned: SB Broadway to EB W96th and

WB W96th St to SB Broadway

2. Expanded

pedestrian space on

north mall

Proposed Plan

4. New flush

median & lane

designations for

W. 96th St

N 5. Simpler

signal

phasing…

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Proposed Signal Phasing

Phase A:

43 secs

Legal trip from NW corner to Subway has zero initial delay

Phase B:

15 secs Phase C:

32 secs

58 seconds maximum trip time

Pedestrian has route flexibility/control

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Pedestrian Crossing Time (Seconds) Proposed

32

43 0 43

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47

32

58 43 43

+15

+15 +43

Increase

Existing

N

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Before and After

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Before and After

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Before and After

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Before and After

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Before and After (W 95th St)

Web: nyc.gov/dot

Email: jbenson@dot.nyc.gov

• Captures flow of actual usage

• Creates direct pedestrian routes

• Offers more choice/control for pedestrians

• Eliminates excess delay

• Emphasizes Turn restrictions

• Zero pedestrian injuries since

implementation

Thank

You

Intuitive Design at Broadway & 96th

Project Area

Project

Site

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Existing Conditions

Pedestrians

cross

median to

median

when they

think there is

a gap

1. Fewer pedestrian/vehicular conflicts

2. Less confusion and more natural compliance with signals

3. Significant pedestrian and modest vehicular travel time

improvements

Anticipated Benefits

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