2016 SWOMA Conference: Moving On

Friday, November 4, 2016 9:00-10:00 and 10:30-11:45 AM Keeping Up with Changes in Intersections and New Signals Coming Your Way: RRFBs, PHBs, APS, EPP, and more Presented by Janet Barlow, COMS and President of Accessible Designs for the Blind Ashville, NC jmbarlow@accessforblind.org

Keeping Up with Changes in Intersections

Janet M. Barlow, COMS

Accessible Design for the Blind

Figure 1 graphic of aerial view of a diverging diamond interchange

Figure 2 aerial view of a roundabout

What are Alternative Intersections (AI’s)? • Intersection designs that provide “improved traffic flow” by redirecting left and/or

through traffic movements

• Safer for vehicles

• May be safer for pedestrians

• Why should we care about these new intersections?

• Change the way traffic moves! Our students/clients need to know about possibilities and be aware

Alternative intersections being built in the US • Roundabouts

• Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDI)

• Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) or Displaced Left Turn (DLT)

• Median U-Turn (MUT)

• Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R Cut)

• And more….. Resource: http://alternativeintersections.org/

Roundabouts • Traffic channelized by splitter islands and circulates counter-clockwise around

island

• Entering traffic yields to traffic in circle

Figure 3 aerial view of roundabout

Pedestrian crossings

Figure 4 graphic of a roundabout, with circles highlighting the location of the crosswalks on the outer edges of the roundabout

Different sizes and complexity

Figure 5 photo of a crosswalk at a small roundabout, showing the one lane crossing, median island and other one lane crossing

Figure 6 photo of a crosswalk at a large roundabout with long crossing of three lanes to be crossed before the island/median

Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) • Usually at freeway interchanges

• Traffic directed to left side of the road between the ramps onto the freeway (on the bridge or under the bridge), so left-turns can be made without crossing other traffic & without the need for separate signal phase

DDI - Noteworthy Attributes • Relatively small footprint

• Existing bridge can often be retained on retrofits

• Versatile alternative for wide range of volumes and locations

• Advantages for non-motorized users

Figure 7 aerial view of a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), showing lanes crossing over to the ‘wrong’ side of the road, and sidewalks and crossings at various points

Slide courtesy of Gil Chewicki

Kansas City – DDI (South to West Movement)

Figure 8 another aerial view of a DDI

Pedestrian Walkways and Crossings

Figure 9 the pedestrian walkways on the outside of the DDI

Figure 10 walkways through the middle of the DDI

Figure 11 photo of the inside walkway at a DDI, between 2 walls with lanes of traffic on each side

Figure 12 another view of same walkway, as it gets to crossing points

Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) or Displaced Left Turn (DLT) Intersection

Figure 13 aerial graphic of continuous flow intersection (CFI)

CFI/DLT

Figure 14 Aerial photo of CFI in Utah

CFI/DLT pedestrian crossings

Figure 15 photo showing one example of the long pedestrian crossings at a CFI

DLT/CFI – Pedestrian Crossings

Figure 16 photo showing another method of marking pedestrian crossings at a CFI

Median U-Turn Intersection (MUT) • Eliminates direct left-turns at main intersection

o Left turning traffic proceeds past main intersection and U-turns downstream

o Then turns right at main intersection

• U-turn locations can be signalized and coordinated with main intersection

Figure 17 aerial graphic of Median U-Turn (MUT) intersection

MUT – Pedestrians • Major Road Crossing

o 1 or 2 Stages o Median Refuge

• May be issues with right-turning cars

Figure 18 photo of MUT pedestrian crossings

Restricted U-Turn Intersections (RCUT) • Cross street (minor road) traffic turns right, then accesses U-turn to proceed in

desired direction • Main and U-turn intersections can be either signalized or unsignalized

Figure 19 aerial graphic of Restricted U-turn (R-CUT) intersection

Source: Wisconsin DOT

Signalized R-CUT (Superstreet)

Figure 20 photo of R-CUT, also called superstreet, without pedestrian crossings

RCUT Intersection – Pedestrians

Figure 21 graphic photo of R-CUT showing pedestrian crossings

Superstreet/RCUT Walkway

Figure 22 three photos showing different view of a pedestrian crossings and walkway at an R-Cut

And more new designs coming……….

Common features (for pedestrians) • Curving or turning paths, some within traffic islands or medians

• Crosswalk not perpendicular to gutter or edge of street

• Two-stage(or more) crossings

• Confusing traffic patterns – traffic coming from the ‘wrong’ direction or curving

• Traffic not traveling parallel to crosswalk

• Mix of signalized and unsignalized crossings

Possible impacts of those features • Confusion about where to go and when to go

• Crossing with the wrong traffic cue (not at the time planned for pedestrian crossings) or not being able to figure out a time to cross, or detect a gap in traffic or yielding vehicle

• Need to know how to decide about crossing at unsignalized location

• Difficulty knowing what traffic to use as a crossing or alignment cue, or no traffic that can be used as a crossing or alignment cue

• Stopping at the wrong place, or continuing crossing when the traffic engineer timed it with the assumption the pedestrian will stop

• Orientation problems, walking the wrong way on an island, difficulty finding the location to begin each crossing

• Crossing outside the crosswalk

Help! What do we do? • Prepare our clients/students

o Make sure our clients/students know of the possibilities of new intersection designs

o Cover both signalized and unsignalized crossing decisions, multiple threat issues, and different lane configurations

• Advocate for accessible features at intersections

Teaching • Develop the concept

o Walk the intersection, describing vehicle movements

o Drive the intersection o Tactile maps

• Separate wayfinding issues from crossing issues

• Stand and listen: a lot!

• Pay attention to how volume changes the task at different times of day

• Discuss how driver culture may affect the crossing task

Begin with map and walk-through • Begin novice with simplified tactile map of a roundabout (traffic flow, number of

legs) or other intersection

• Proceed to a more detailed map of the roundabout (crosswalks, splitter islands) or other intersection

• Use maps to: o Develop the intersection concept/image o Discuss the acoustic signature o Talk through the “walk-through” and “drive-through” experience o Talk through the crossing tasks

Figure 23 photo of person’s hands exploring a tactile map of a roundabout

Crossing tasks • Wayfinding

• Find the crosswalks

• Line up to cross

• Maintain your line of travel as you cross

• Crossing

• Decide when to cross

Find the crosswalk • Trail curb or landscaping on road side of walkway

o Look for curb ramps

• Curved walkways can affect alignment and orientation

• PRACTICE

Figure 24 photo of roundabout crossing showing the sidewalk curving around the corner before reaching the crosswalk

Line up to cross • Various potential cues

o Approach sidewalk o Returned curbs, if available o Other pedestrians o Perpendicular traffic

• Approach, gutter, or curb ramp may not be aligned with crosswalk

Figure 25 photo of crossing that is aligned with ramps with landscaping on each side of ramps

Figure 26 photo of two people, one with a white cane, getting ready to cross at a roundabout crosswalk

Maintaining line when crossing • Generally may not be as hard as a standard intersection

o In many cases only crossing two lanes maximum o Cut-through median is likely

• Entry and exit of roundabout are usually intended to be separate crossings

• May need to take new line of direction at splitter island

Decide when to cross • Determine if gaps in traffic can be detected

• Practice recognizing masking sounds

• Discuss strategies if unable to detect gaps

Figure 27 photo of roundabout crosswalk with cars stopped on the crosswalk

Decide when to cross • Determine if signalized or unsignalized

• Determine traffic movement direction o May be coming from the “wrong” direction o Can be similar to one-way streets

Decide when to cross - unsignalized • Recognize that listening must be directed in different directions for two stages of

a crossing

• Understand masking sounds and effect on decisions

• Realize vehicles have a reaction time, especially in exit lane

• Recognize the threat inherent in multiple lanes

At single lanes - not just standing there……creating a yield • Moving one foot forward

• Leaning forward

• Taking a step into the gutter and extending cane

• BUT..consider placement of vehicles

Figure 28 photo of person standing on splitter island near crosswalk, with cane in hand and feet together, as car passes by

Multiple threat crashes

Figure 29 graphic of crosswalk, showing how car in second lane may be unable to see pedestrian before reaching the crosswalk

Car A: First car stops for pedestrian, too close to crosswalk blocking visibility to second lane. Pedestrian steps out, doesn’t see second car not stopping. Or hear! Over sound of waiting vehicle. Car B: And this driver can’t see pedestrian particularly if the first vehicle is large SUV or truck.

Because of multiple threat Multilane crossings may need additional treatments

• Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

• Raised crosswalk

• Pedestrian flashers

• More later

About signals • Know what engineers are talking about if they mention a HAWK or pedestrian

hybrid beacon, or pedestrian flashers, or ask them to clarify

• If audible signal is installed, blind pedestrians need to know that:

• They still have to listen and pay attention to traffic

• Vehicles may not stop

• Pushbutton locator tone may help in finding pushbutton and destination on the island

Advocacy

Some things to ask for/look for • Defined pathways

• Marked crossings

• Appropriate lighting for pedestrians

• Crossings aligned with approach sidewalks

• Detectable warnings (truncated domes)

• Accessible pedestrian signals

• Features to encourage drivers yield to pedestrians at uncontrolled crossings Note: FHWA is addressing some of these issues!!

Figure 30 photo of pedestrian crosswalk with noticeable signs and other features

Defined pathways • Cut-through islands are generally easier for wheelchair users

• Issues observed in recent research with blind pedestrians

• If whole island was paved, commonly disoriented on island

• Sometimes mistook the cut-through area for curb of street

Figure 31 photo of pedestrians walking through a cut-through island

Defined pathways • Clearly delineated path

• Non-walking surface where walking is not intended

Figure 32 photo of pathway with baseball sized rocks in area outside the path

Marked crosswalks and appropriate lighting • Ladder markings, regularly maintained

• Walkways or sidewalks need lighting, not just roadways

Figure 33 photo of a wide crosswalk with ladder type markings

Crossing aligned with approach sidewalk • Sidewalk or path through island aligned with crossing direction

Figure 34 photo of a crosswalk aligned with the sidewalk so pedestrian continues in the direction of the sidewalk when crossing

Crossing aligned with approach sidewalk • Flares on the ramp are not needed if there’s a non-walking surface beside the

ramp

Figure 35 another photo of a crosswalk aligned with the sidewalk so pedestrian continues in the direction of the sidewalk when crossing

Detectable warning surfaces (truncated domes) • Detectable warnings (truncated domes)

• On both curb and island edges

Figure 36 photo of crossing with yellow detectable warning surface at the edge of the street

Detectable warning placement • Detectable warning surface must extend the full width of area that is level with

the street

Figure 37 photo of crossing with yellow detectable warning surface at the edge of the street

Detectable warning placement • Detectable warning surfaces indicate a hazard to blind users

o “Next step is into a hazardous area”, ie. the street o NOT for alignment

• Blind person may wait behind DW surface

Figure 38 photo of crossing with red detectable warning surface that is not at the edge of the street

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) • Signals, but no parallel traffic cues, at most DDI crossings

• Have to use the pushbutton to get pedestrian crossing time

• APS provide signal information

• Pushbutton integrated type specified by 2009 MUTCD

• Proposed PROWAG requires APS where pedestrian signals are installed

Figure 39 photo of accessible pedestrian signal

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) • Primary Features

• Pushbutton locator tone

• Tactile arrow

• Actuation indicator

• Automatic volume adjustment

• Walk indication o Audible tones o Vibrotactile indication o Audible speech message

Figure 40 photo of accessible pedestrian signal

WALK Indication: Rapid Tick • Pushbutton locator tone, followed by rapid tick walk indication

o Hear the locator tone during flashing and steady don’t walk o Walk indication during WALK

Figure 41 photo of accessible pedestrian signal

WALK Indication: Speech Message • Pushbutton locator tone, followed by speech walk indication

o Hear the locator tone during flashing and steady don’t walk o Walk indication during WALK

• Must be accompanied by: o tactile arrow o pushbutton information message

Figure 42 photo of accessible pedestrian signal

APS Location is critical • Newer types provide information to the user through proximity to the departure

point

• Impose less of a cognitive load on pedestrians who are visually impaired o ‘I have pushed the button on my right’ o ‘The WALK indication is coming from my right’ o ‘That sound is for my crosswalk’

• Signal can be quieter due to proximity

More Information on APS www.apsguide.org

Features to encourage yielding at unsignalized crossings • Raised crosswalk

• RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon

• Signal or beacon (Pedestrian signal or Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon)

Figure 43 photo of pedestrian crossing at a well marked crosswalk with flashing beacons at a roundabout

And we don’t have good solutions to some issues……

Information about direction of traffic movement? • Traffic from right at CFIs or DDIs when stepping off the curb

• Is it a problem? o Suspect it might be o Not enough research and data

• Are there strategies or treatments to mitigate?

• Do they work for people who are blind?

Figure 44 photo of crossing with painted Look and arrow pointing right on the street at the beginning of the crosswalk

These new intersection types are not going to go away! • Protesting or objecting “in general” to the intersection type is not the stance we

should take

• Look for opportunities to make the design more pedestrian-friendly

• Look for opportunities to make the design work better for pedestrians who are blind or who have low vision

• Ask designers for modifications EARLY! in the design phase….

These new intersection types are not going to go away! • Do NOT think that just because there aren’t any in your immediate area that you

don’t need to discuss them with your students

• Do NOT think that I’ve covered all the possibilities; I keep seeing new ones

Get involved in the planning stage • Public input sessions during design and planning

• Attend, make comments, ask for more details of pedestrian crossings

• Encourage your clients or students to attend

Figure 45 photo of people looking at maps displayed in a room

Get involved in the planning stage • Concept plans

o Usually don’t include the details o Make it clear to designers that those details are important o Can mean the difference in an accessible facility and one that is not

accessible

• Follow-up and stay in contact during design

Figure 46 graphic of a roundabout

Pay attention to details!

Figure 47 photo of a street crosswalk where a low wall extends into the crosswalk

Again…..some things to ask for or look for • Defined pathways

• Marked crossings

• Appropriate lighting for pedestrians

• Crossings aligned with approach sidewalks

• Detectable warnings (truncated domes)

• Accessible pedestrian signals

• Features to encourage drivers yield to pedestrians at uncontrolled crossings

Figure 48 photo of crossing at a roundabout with signs and overhead flashers

Questions? jmbarlow@accessforblind.org

SWOMA Sponsors

Region 11 Education Service Center, Ft. Worth

Figure 49 Region 11 ESC logo.

Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired Outreach Programs, Austin, TX

Figure 50 TSBVI logo.

Figure 51 Two images: IDEAs that Work logo and OSEP disclaimer.