PEDESTRIAN AUDIT: ½ MILE SEGEMENT ANALYSIS

***Point of origin must be at least ½ mile from other Pedestrian Audits***

Albert Park

½ Mile Segment Location: Edgewater Drive from south of Preston Street to Albert Park

Date: July 9, 2011

***PROVIDE PHOTO FOR EACH ITEM TO VERIFY, TURN IN AS PDF***

1. Pedestrian Facilities (High): presence of a suitable walking surface, such as a sidewalk

or path.

1. No permanent facilities; pedestrians walk in roadway or on dirt path

2.

3. Sidewalk on one side of road; minor discontinuities that present no real obstacle to

passage

4.

5. Continuous sidewalk on both sides of road, or completely away from roads

Field Notes

Pedestrian Facilities (High) – Score #4

In this segment sidewalks are located along both sides of Edgewater Drive. On-street

public parking is parallel and immediately adjacent to the raised sidewalks. The

sidewalks in this segment are raised (higher than street level) and the curbing in many

parts are striped yellow with a 1-foot brick inlay.

2. Pedestrian Conflicts (High): potential for conflict with motor vehicle traffic due to

driveway and loading dock crossings, speed and volume of traffic, large intersections,

low pedestrian visibility

1. High conflict potential

2.

3.

4.

5. Low conflict potential

Field Notes

Pedestrian Conflicts (High) – Score #2

This segment contains numerous driveway cuts, medium traffic volume depending on

peak hour direction but relatively low speeds the closer in to the park and neighborhood

business district. Pedestrian visibility is low to medium due to the eclectic mix of

businesses and landscaping along the segment which creates visual stimulation for the

driver while potentially distracting them from pedestrians using the segment.

3. Crosswalks (High): presence and visibility of crosswalks on roads intersecting the

segment. Traffic signals meet pedestrian needs with separate “walk” lights that provide

sufficient crossing time.

1. Crosswalks not present despite major intersections

2.

3.

4.

5. No intersections, or crosswalks clearly marked

Field Notes

Crosswalks (High) – Score #3

There is a variety of crosswalk treatments along the segment. Several are new looking

signalized crosswalks, several are poorly striped with no signals and yet others are not

striped and contain no signals at all.

4. Maintenance (Medium): cracking, buckling, overgrown vegetation, standing water, etc.

on or near walking path. Does not include temporary deficiencies likely to soon be

resolved (e.g. tall grass)

1. Major or frequent problems

2.

3.

4.

5. No problems

Field Notes

Maintenance (Medium) – Score #5

No major deficiencies noted and the few areas that may be identified for purposes of

this analysis are not enough to low score.

5. Buffer (Medium): space separating path from adjacent roadway

1. No buffer from roadway

2.

3.

4 >4 feet from roadway

5 Not adjacent to roadway

Field Notes

Buffer (Medium) – Score #4

The sidewalks along the segment are buffered by a raised curb bed, 1-foot brick inlay

and occasional yellow striping. Public, on-street parallel parking is immediately

adjacent to the sidewalk which serves to further buffer the pedestrian from street

traffic.

6. Aesthetics (Medium): includes proximity of construction zones, fences, buildings,

noise, pollution, quality of landscaping, and pedestrian-oriented features, such as benches

and water fountains

1. Uninviting

2.

3.

4.

5. Pleasant

Field Notes

Aesthetics (Medium) - Score #2

The aesthetics for a majority of the segment are rather suburban in nature with

numerous driveway cuts and buildings setback from the road. However, the closer in to

the park and core of the neighborhood business district the more inviting the segment

becomes. Closer in to the core are numerous businesses and shops pushed up to the

street creating visual interest and protection to the pedestrian. The construction

underway in the segment appears to be of a short nature. There is one bench along the

segment and very close to the park.

7. Shade (Medium): amount of shade, accounting for different times of day

1. No shade

2.

3.

4.

5. Full shade

Field Notes

Shade (Medium) – Score #3

There were not many mature shade trees along the segment. One open area of

vegetation was noted about halfway through the segment providing a small oasis of

nature. The vegetation consisted of palm trees and a mixture of older trees and newer

small trees. It was unclear what variety of species these trees are and difficult to tell

what shade possibilities exist in the future. However, many of these street trees were

protected by a brick border and given time may provide well needed shade. In addition

to street trees there were opportunities for shade under awnings erected by many of the

businesses fronting the segment and closer in to the central core.

Sum of High Importance (1-3): 4+2+3 = 9 x 4 = 36

Sum of Medium Importance (4-7): 5+4+2+3 = 14 x 2 = 28

Total Score: 36+28 = 64

Observations

1. What is the most dangerous location along this segment?

The construction area near the ½ mile mark close to Edgewater High School due to the

debris and construction equipment. Additionally, the poorly marked crosswalks along

the segment reduces pedestrian safety and comfort.

2. What is the most unpleasant and pleasant element of this segment?

The beginning of the segment was more unpleasant due to suburban nature of setback

commercial uses and driveway cuts. Closer in to the park provides more shade and

visual opportunity and creates a more pleasing atmosphere.

3. What improvements would make this segment more appropriate for pedestrian use?

Short of redeveloping the businesses at the beginning of the segment, more mature shade

trees or awning structures providing shade would go a long way in pedestrian comfort.

PEDESTRIAN AUDIT: ½ MILE SEGEMENT ANALYSIS

***Point of origin must be at least ½ mile from other Pedestrian Audits***

Albert Park

½ Mile Segment Location: Vassar from Edgewater Drive (Albert Park) west to Northumberland

Date: July 9, 2011

***PROVIDE PHOTO FOR EACH ITEM TO VERIFY, TURN IN AS PDF***

1. Pedestrian Facilities (High): presence of a suitable walking surface, such as a sidewalk

or path.

1. No permanent facilities; pedestrians walk in roadway or on dirt path

2.

3. Sidewalk on one side of road; minor discontinuities that present no real obstacle to

passage

4.

5. Continuous sidewalk on both sides of road, or completely away from roads

Field Notes

Pedestrian Facilities (High) – Score #4

Closest to the Vassar Street/Edgewater Drive portion of the segment the sidewalks go

from both sides of the street to abruptly ending on the north side. Sidewalks on both

sides of the road resume at the Westmoreland/Vassar intersection and are generally

comfortable for the pedestrian.

2. Pedestrian Conflicts (High): potential for conflict with motor vehicle traffic due to

driveway and loading dock crossings, speed and volume of traffic, large intersections,

low pedestrian visibility

1. High conflict potential

2.

3.

4.

5. Low conflict potential

Field Notes

Pedestrian Conflicts (High) – Score #4

This segment contains numerous residential driveway cuts, light traffic volume

depending on peak hour direction and relatively low speeds. Pedestrian visibility is

medium to high. One source of conflict seen several times during the field observation

was the occurrence of vehicles parked across the driveway apron forcing pedestrians to

walk into the street to maneuver around the parked vehicle. Those few occurrences are

not enough to low score.

3. Crosswalks (High): presence and visibility of crosswalks on roads intersecting the

segment. Traffic signals meet pedestrian needs with separate “walk” lights that provide

sufficient crossing time.

1. Crosswalks not present despite major intersections

2.

3.

4.

5. No intersections, or crosswalks clearly marked

Field Notes

Crosswalks (High) – Score #3

There are relatively few crosswalk treatments at the intersections along the segment.

However, the segment consists of mainly single family residential units and therefore

provides a sense of comfort to the pedestrian in crossing the small intersections. There

is one landscaped roundabout at the intersection of Vassar and Reading that provides a

more formalized area of traffic and pedestrian circulation.

4. Maintenance (Medium): cracking, buckling, overgrown vegetation, standing water, etc.

on or near walking path. Does not include temporary deficiencies likely to soon be

resolved (e.g. tall grass)

1. Major or frequent problems

2.

3.

4.

5. No problems

Field Notes

Maintenance (Medium) – Score #5

No major deficiencies noted and the few areas that may identified for purposes of this

analysis are not enough to low score. During the field analysis it was noted that some

segments of sidewalk went from 3’ to 4’. It is surmised that the difference in width was

due to redevelopment of those lots under an updated land development code.

5. Buffer (Medium): space separating path from adjacent roadway

1. No buffer from roadway

2.

3.

4 >4 feet from roadway

5 Not adjacent to roadway

Field Notes

Buffer (Medium) – Score #4

The sidewalks along the segment are buffered from the street by a large grassed

setback, approximately 10’ wide. On the other side of the grassed buffer the street is

immediately adjacent to a raised curb. No striping for on-street parking was observed.

6. Aesthetics (Medium): includes proximity of construction zones, fences, buildings,

noise, pollution, quality of landscaping, and pedestrian-oriented features, such as benches

and water fountains

1. Uninviting

2.

3.

4.

5. Pleasant

Field Notes

Aesthetics (Medium) - Score #5

The aesthetics for a majority of the segment are rather suburban (T3) in nature with

numerous driveway cuts and single family dwelling units setback from the road.

However, the closer in to the park and core of the neighborhood business district

(heading east on Vassar Street towards Edgewater Drive) the more diverse the segment

becomes, transitioning from a T3 to a T5 transect with several transitional businesses

and multi-family dwelling units pushed up to the street creating visual interest. The

further from the park and core heading west the less visual interest and more

residential the segment becomes.

7. Shade (Medium): amount of shade, accounting for different times of day

1. No shade

2.

3.

4.

5. Full shade

Field Notes

Shade (Medium) – Score #4

There were many pockets of mature shade trees along both sides of the segment. There

is room, however, for the addition of more trees in this area.

Sum of High Importance (1-3): 4+4+3 = 11 x 4 = 44

Sum of Medium Importance (4-7): 5+4+5+4 = 18 x 2 = 36

Total Score: 44+36 = 80

Observations

1. What is the most dangerous location along this segment?

The transitional area close to the Vassar Street / Edgewater Drive intersection near the

park where the sidewalk abruptly ends at the Skambis Law Firm on the north side of the

street. The pedestrian then has to cross the street to the south in order to use the

sidewalk.

2. What is the most unpleasant and pleasant element of this segment?

The most unpleasant part of the segment was the inappropriate parking over the

driveway apron by a few vehicles. However, the segment provided an overall pleasant

experience due to the varied, well-kept homes and variety in landscaping treatments.

3. What improvements would make this segment more appropriate for pedestrian use?

Providing striped crosswalk treatments at each intersection along the segment and

informing residents of appropriate parking behaviors (i.e. not in the driveway apron

blocking the sidewalk).