Latent Pedestrian Demand Now Considered in Crosswalk Guidelines & Tools

Item #: 20250064

CONTACTS

Implementing Organization: Traffic and Safety
Implementation Lead: Adam Lough
Development Team:

Central Traffic & Safety

Adam Lough
Travis Evans
Trevor Egan
Jeff Lewis
Matt Luker

WCG Consultants

Jeremy Searle
Austin Feula
Erica Wygonik

Article Written By: Adam Lough
Innovation Council Liaison: Rhett Arnell
Innovation Team Coordinator: Quinten Klingonsmith

STATUS

Implementation Date: July 1, 2024
Adoption Status: Fully Implemented
Adoptability Note: Are you accustomed to considering latent pedestrian demand in your design work? Please reach out to Central Traffic & Safety with questions and for training.

APPLIES TO

Topic: Safety and Health
Organization(s): Central Construction, Central Maintenance / Facilities Management, Central Preconstruction, Planning, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Traffic and Safety, Traffic Management Division, Transit and Trails
Job Role(s): Construction Engineer, Program Director, Program Manager, Program Specialist, Roadway Operations / IMT, Transportation Technician
Tags: active transportation, highway transportation, employee empowerment, job satisfaction, personnel development, crashes, injuries, value of life, value of time, education and training, ( process improvement ), redesign, standardization, design, planning, pedestrian safety, traffic safety > highway safety, trucking safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian, crosswalk, latent demand, quality of life, user benefits, ( connected communities )

Pedestrian Crosswalk Guidelines & Tools

PROBLEM

The decision to install pedestrian-related improvements was based primarily on pedestrian volume counts rather than latent pedestrian demand. Latent demand is the expected increase in pedestrian use that would result from improved pedestrian infrastructure. Without tools and guidelines that considered latent demand, engineers found it difficult to justify the installation of pedestrian crosswalks and other pedestrian-related improvements.

CHANGE

In addition to the updates to policy 06C-27 “Marked Pedestrian Crosswalks,” which now consider latent demand, several guidelines and tools were developed to provide practitioners and designers clearer guidance on where pedestrian crosswalks should and shouldn’t be installed, what crosswalk style should be used, and what other enhancements should be considered.

UDOT Marked Pedestrian Crosswalks Guidelines Document – This document was created to supplement the policy. It defines how to use pedestrian volumes, peak hour gaps, transit stop locations, adjacent land uses, distance to nearest crossing locations, crash history, and sight distance to determine if a crosswalk is justified.
Marked Crosswalk Tool – This calculator was created as a scoring mechanism to determine where crosswalks could be installed.
New Special Emphasis Crosswalk Design – A new crosswalk style was created that complies with changes to the MUTCD. This new crosswalk gives special emphasis to pedestrians at locations where pedestrian crossings may not be intuitive. New design drawings and criteria were created.
Marked Pedestrian Crossing Fact Sheet - This informational document provides practitioners and the public with a quick reference to the three different crosswalk styles approved for use by UDOT, and when each is applicable. It also provides a quick reference to the other new guidelines and tools.

RESULT

The changes standardize and bring consistency to the design process. They enhance the designer’s ability to use engineering judgement to determine where crosswalks should be provided for pedestrian safety. Since implementation, pedestrian safety has been improved through the installation of several new pedestrian crossings.

IMPACT

BETTER MOBILITY

The choice to walk rather than drive reduces congestion

GOOD HEALTH

Safer infrastructure protects vulnerable pedestrians
Health increases as more people choose active transportation

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

Improved infrastructure enables pedestrians get where they need to go
With better options, access for all users to transportation increases

STRONG ECONOMY

Fewer auto-ped crashes, reduction in traffic congestion, and increased access to community resources benefit the economy

EFFICIENCIES*

Cost Avoidance of 20 fewer pedestrian-vehicle crashes: $17,784,160 over 20 years (Jul 1, 2024 - Jul 1, 2044)
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 5:1

*Benefits are estimated net of initial and ongoing expenses. Savings are averaged over the expected benefit life of the innovation. See details.

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