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Synthesis of Recent & Ongoing Studies: Accessibility and Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts

Synthesis of Recent & Ongoing Studies: Accessibility and Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts. Andrew T. Duerr, P.E. Northeast US Roundabouts Peer Exchange July 7, 2010. Towson Roundabout. Historical Perspective. Based Largely on European Experience NCHRP Synthesis 264 (1998)

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Synthesis of Recent & Ongoing Studies: Accessibility and Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts

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  1. Synthesis ofRecent & Ongoing Studies:Accessibility and PedestrianSafety at Roundabouts Andrew T. Duerr, P.E. Northeast US Roundabouts Peer Exchange July 7, 2010

  2. Towson Roundabout

  3. Historical Perspective • Based Largely on European Experience • NCHRP Synthesis 264 (1998) • Roundabouts safe for Pedestrians because: • Low Speeds • Shorter Crossing Distances • Fewer Conflict Points • 2000 FHWA Roundabouts: An Informational Guide • Maintains prior assumptions

  4. Back to Towson Located near Balt. Co. Commission on Disabilities CMCB files Complaint to DOJ DOJ defers to FHWA American Council for the Blind Continues to Seek Roundabout Moratorium

  5. Back to Towson • FHWA Finds in Favor of SHA • SHA offers Concessions • Improved Wayfinding • Detectable Warning Surfaces • APS at Signals near the Roundabout • Access Board begins to Focus on Roundabouts (1999)

  6. Accessibility Research • 1999 Western Michigan/Vanderbilt • 3 roundabouts in MD (including Towson) • 3 roundabouts in Tampa, FL • 2000 National Eye Institute Study (NEIS) • 2001 National Institute on Disability & Rehab Research • 2005 Human Factors Study • 2006 FHWA Pedestrian Access to Roundabouts

  7. Accessibility Research • Summary of Findings – 1999-2006 • Poor Yield Rates – Unsignalized Locations • Noise makes Aural Gap Detection difficult • Identifiable Gaps may be Infrequent • Visually Impaired Pedestrians experience 3s Delay (compared to Sighted Peds)

  8. Access Board Perspective Accessibility is a Civil Right Safety ≠ Accessibility Courts finding 2005 Draft PROWAG to be Best Available Guidance

  9. Pedestrian Safety Research • 2006 NCHRP 562: Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings • 2007 NCHRP 572: Roundabouts in the United States • TØI Report 1009/2009 Subjective and Objective Safety: The Effect of Road Safety Measures on Subjective Safety among Vulnerable Road Users • Institute of Transport Economics, Norway

  10. NCHRP 562 Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings (2006) • Recommend Treatments for: • Pedestrian crossings • High speed, high volume roadways • Unsignalized intersections • Recommend Modifications to MUTCD Pedestrian Signal Warrants

  11. NCHRP 562 Treatment Categories • Marked Crosswalk • Enhanced, High Visibility, or Active When Present devices • Red Signal or Beacon Device • Conventional Traffic Signal

  12. NCHRP 562 Findings & Conclusions • Crossing Treatment Affects Compliance • Only Signals > 95% Compliance Rate • Other Factors Affect Compliance • Width, Speed & Environment • 1-Lane Roads – Compliance > 75% • 2-Lane Roads – 30% to 100%

  13. NCHRP 572 Roundabouts in the US (2007) • No Substantial Safety Problems Found • Non-Yielding Rate 43% on 2-Lane Legs • Additional Changes required to Improve Yield Rates • Design • Operational • Enforcement & Education

  14. TØI Report 1009/2009 Objective (Real) Ped Safety ↑ Subjective (Perceived) Ped Safety ↓

  15. On-Going Research • NCHRP 3-78: Crossing Solutions at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities • Golden, Colorado • Oakland County, Michigan

  16. NCHRP 3-78 Crossing Solutions at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities • Objectives: • Identify/Test Treatments • Analysis Framework • Means to Extend Findings • Expected Summer 2010

  17. NCHRP 3-78 Study Involved: • Single-Lane Roundabouts • Two-Lane Roundabouts • Channelized Turn Lanes

  18. NCHRP 3-78 4-Step Analysis Framework: • Crossing Opportunity Criterion • Crossing Opportunity Utilization Criterion • Delay Criterion • Safety Criterion

  19. NCHRP 3-78 Draft Findings: • CTL’s are Challenging • Low Speed S/L Roundabouts are Accessible given Certain Conditions • Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons & Raised Crosswalks show Promise at 2-Lane Roundabouts • 2-Lane Roundabouts are Challenging w/o Additional Treatments

  20. NCHRP 3-78 Future Research: • Expand Number of Field Study Sites • More Detailed Look at CTL’s • Investigate Impact of Education • Expand Study of Treatments at 2-Lane Roundabouts • Improve Field-Based Risk Performance • Auditory Environment

  21. Synthesis ofRecent & Ongoing Studies:Accessibility and PedestrianSafety at Roundabouts Andrew T. Duerr, P.E. aduerr@rkk.com

  22. Eliminate/Reduce Conflict • Grade Separation • Simplify Geometry • Eliminate or reduce entry/exit lanes • Reorient pedestrian networks away from Roundabout

  23. Minimize Pedestrian Exposure • Simplify Roundabout Geometry • Geometric Improvements • Bulb outs • Raised cross walks • Buffer Strips between Sidewalk and Roadway • Low Speed Design • Signalized Crossings • ITS Solutions • Police Enforcement

  24. Improve Gap Detection ITS Solutions Treatments that Provide Audible Cues Shift Crossings Downstream from Exits

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