Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System

 

An example of a crosswalk closure/ pedestrian detour, from ATSSA ‘Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility in Work Zones’.


Source: Flickr – Jaysin Trevino (2012) Pedestrian detours can be used to protect the safety of pedestrians in work zones, and ensure they are not led into conflicts with work site vehicles or other motorists.
Source: Flickr – Jaysin Trevino (2012)

 

Source: Flickr - Lynn Friedman (2012) Pedestrian detours should seek to provide a safe, convenient, and accessible path that as closely as possible replicates the existing sidewalk(s) or footpath(s).
Source: Flickr - Lynn Friedman (2012)

 

 

Work Zones – Pedestrian Detours

Pedestrian detours can be used to protect the safety of pedestrians in work zones, and ensure they are not led into conflicts with work site vehicles or other motorists. All detours should seek to provide a safe, convenient, and accessible path that as closely as possible replicates the existing sidewalk(s) or footpath(s).

When using detours, advanced notification of the closure/detour should be provided, as well as channelizing devices to delineate the temporary route. This allows pedestrians to make timely decisions about routes through or around the work zone using the detour. The detour should be clearly defined, and minimize any additional time and distance the pedestrian must travel. Signs should be placed at intersections, rather than mid-block, to avoid mid-block crossings. All temporary crosswalks should be clearly marked, and have curb ramps. All detour routes must be compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Pedestrians must be protected from all potential work site safety issues, using the arrangement of overhead protection, a boardwalk, and/or barrier separation.12 Finally, exit information should be provided to direct the pedestrian back to the original route.

Purpose

Around 15 percent of fatalities resulting from crashes in work zones involve non-motorists (i.e. pedestrians, workers, and bicyclists). There is a need to provide safe and convenient passage to pedestrians in work zones, particularly with respect to the interactions of work-site vehicles and other motorists.

Considerations

• The detour should replicate as nearly as practical the most desirable characteristics of the existing facility.
• Pedestrian access to businesses should be considered, as well as access to residences and transit stops.
• Any detour must be in compliance with ADA requirements.
• Temporary lighting may be needed for the pedestrian walkway detours.
• The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) has a list of items to consider during planning, design, and while in the field called “Pedestrians Checklist and Considerations for Temporary Traffic Control Zones.”13
• A more comprehensive PowerPoint presentation has been created by The American Traffic Safety Services.14
• The MUTCD has guidance on work zones.15

Estimated Cost

Case Studies

New York State