HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports #5 9-08-87 REPORTS
NO. 5
DATE: SEPTEMBER Z, 1987
WILLIAM 14UgTON. CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARlt4ENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJECT: REPORT ON REQUEST FOR CROSSWALK ON MAIN STREET
RECOMMENDATI6N:
A pedestrian crosswalk should not be installed on Main Street in front of the
Library Building.
BACKGROUND:
A requ.est was made by City Council to the Engineering Deparment to evaluate the
possible installation of a crosswalk on Main Street between Centennial Way and the
Library Building. The proposed location is located approximately 380 feet west of
the Main Street/Newport Avenue intersection~
EXISTING CONDITIONS:
Main Street in the vicinity of the Library Building is a four lane arterial with a
painted center left-turn lane. The left-turn lane provides direct access to the
shopping center which is located across the street from the library, and to the
Civic Center and Public Works Department on Centennial Way. The speed limit for
this segment of Main Street is 40 miles per hour (MPH).
Based on an August 1986 traffic count-, Main Street carries an average traffic
volume of 11,160 vehicles per day west Of Newport Avenue. This volume would
relate to a Level of Service "A" for this type of roadway facility. Level of
Service "A" is defined as occurring when traffic volumes equal approximately 60%
of the roadway's theoretical capacity. Hence, the roadway appears quite open,
turning movements are easily made, and nearly all drivers find freedom of
ope rat i on.
Pedestrian counts were taken on Main Street at two different time periods for a
total of four hours. The time periods counted were from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
and 4:30 p.m. to *5:30 p.m. The locations included the existing crosswalks on
Centennial Way, Main Street {parallel to Newport Avenue} and the area in front of
the Library. The results are summarized as follows:
Number of
Location Ti me Peri od Pedestrians
Centennial. Way 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 19
Centennial Way 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 0
Main Street/Newport 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 10
Main Street/Newport 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 7
_ibrary 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 40
Library 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 11
The accident data for a 'three year period (1984-86) was reviewed for the Library
area. There were two reported accidents near the driveway entrance to the
Library. One was a right-angle and the other was classified as a rear-end type of
accident. Both of these accidents occured in the 'general area of the proposed
crosswalk area.
EVALUATI ON:
The proposed location for a crosswalk would be considered an "uncontrolled
crossing." his terminology refers to any mid-block crosswalk or intersection
where the vehicles in potential conflict with pedestrians are not subject to
traffic sign_als or stop signs. Section 21950 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC)
applies to locations such as this. As stated, the Vehicle Code requires that a
driver yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway as long as the pedestrian is
using due care for his or her safety whicle in the crosswalk. This section of the
CVC is enforceable at any intersection whether the crosswalk is painted on the
roadway or not.
Although there were forty pedestrians crossing the street in the early morning
period, there are several factors that must be considered before installing a
mid-block crosswalk. First, crosswalk markings serve primarily to guide
pedestrians into the proper path and should, not be used indiscriminately as their
presence can be detrimental to pedestrian safety. Second, the 85th percentile
approach speed in both directions should be 35 MPH or less. Third, there should
be adequate crosswalk illumination and the pedestrian volumes should meet the
levels required to ~ustify the installation of traffic signals~ The pedestrian
volumes required to justify traffic signals are 150 on the minor street and 600 on
the major street.
In addition, there are some important safety considerations. For example, the
accident experience at crosswalks in California is well documented in three well
known studies which were conducted' in the City of San Diego, the City of Long
Beach and the County of Los Angeles. The. significant finding was that marked
crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections experience ?.5 times more accidents that
unmarked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections. This has led to ten agencies
establishing policies to remove marked crosswalks at uncontrolled locations.
Based upon the results of our engineering investigation, it is concluded that a
crosswalk should not be installed at this location. For information purposes, we
have attached a copy of a report published by the Institute of Transportation
Engineers on crosswalks.
Bo e en ec er Dennis D. Barnes
Director of Public Works/City Engineer City Traffic Engineer
DD 1
~ac~e~t
TRAFFIC
INFORMATION
PROGRAM
CROSSWALKS
WHEN IS A CROSSWALK UNSAFE?
Apparently, whenever it is painted on the street!
A number of years back, the City of San Diego published some startling results of a very
extensive study of the relative safety of marked and unmarked crosswalks. San Diego
looked at 400 intersections for five years (without signals or ~our-way stops) that had a
marked crosswalk on one side and a.n unmarked crosswalk on the other. About two and
one half times as many pedestrians used the marked crosswalk, but about six times as
many accidents were reported in the marked crosswalks! Long Beach studied pedestrian
safety for three years (1972 through 1974) and found eight times as many reported
pedestrian accidents at intersections with marked crosswalks than at those without.
One explanation of this apparent contradiction of common sense is the false security
pedestrians feel at the marked crosswalk. Two painted lines do not provide protection
against an oncoming vehicle and the real burden of safety has to be on 'the pedestrian
to be alert and cautious while crossinc, any street. A pedestrian can stop in less than three
feet, while a vehicle traveling at 25 MPH will require 60 feet and at 35 MPH
approximately 100 feet.
The California Vehicle Code says that a crosswalk exists at all intersections unless
pedestrian crossing is prohibited by s'igns. Some of these crosswalks are marked with
painted limes, but most of them are not. Pedestrian crosswalk marki~§ is a method of
encouraging pedestrians to use a particular crossing. Such marked cro~i~gs may not be
~s safe as an unmarked crossing at the same location. Therefore, crosswalks should be
marked only where necessary for the guidance and control of pedestrians, to direct them
to the safest of several potential routes.
Southern California Section