Traffic Signal Phasing Study Summary & Staff Recommendations Consultant Study by Skipper Consulting, Inc. Staff Committee Recommendations by Randy Pewitt, Executive Director of Emergency Mgt. and Safety Sheila Chaffin, Executive Director for Campus Planning Anthony Purcell, Chief of Campus Police INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE During 2012, UAB hired Skipper Traffic Engineers to perform a study of selected intersections along University Boulevard from I-65 on the west, to 20 th Street South on the east, which is the highest volume of traffic per day on a State highway in the State of Alabama. This segment also bi-sects the ever growing University of Alabama at Birmingham campus which daily requires that thousands of students, faculty, staff and visitors walk across the Boulevard to reach required destinations on the other side during the course of their daily activities. The focus of this study was to gather accident data and compare the incidents to the physical design of the studied intersections, to see if traffic engineering changes were made to the left turns and right turns, would accidents be avoided. The Consultant assumed no further right-of-way would be acquired, that intersections would remain at their same locations as at present, that previously vacated UAB roads that intersect with the highway would remain at their current location as would all curb cuts, and principle buildings attracting pedestrians would remain the same. They studied most carefully the left turning movements involving thousands of cars and right turn actions since these have been the main locations in accidents with pedestrians. A staff committee was appointed by the Vice President for Financial Affairs and Administration to review the study and to make internal recommendations thereafter, based upon their expertise.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 13TH STREET SOUTH Convert the existing protected permissive signal phasing on the eastbound and westbound left turn lanes to protected only signal phasing. The left turn lanes will need to be reconstructed to provide additional storage. The eastbound left turn lane will require 220 feet of storage and the westbound left turn lane will require 100 feet of storage. Campbell Hall Changing the left turn phasing to protected only will require significant modifications to the median green space, as well as an adjustment of the current cycle lengths of the signal system. Based on available incident data, the cuts into the medium for additional queue lengths is not recommended at this time. Rather, it is recommended that no right turn on red signs be posted on all four approaches to the intersection to avoid pedestrian/vehicle hits.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 14TH STREET SOUTH Convert the existing protected permissive left turn phasing on University Boulevard to protected only phasing. Extend the eastbound and westbound left turn lanes to accommodate larger queues. The storage for the eastbound left turn lane should be 280 feet. The storage for the westbound left turn lane should be 110 feet. No right turn on red signs should be posted on all four approaches to the intersection. The analyses also show the need for protected left turn phasing for the northbound and southbound left turns on 14th Street South but is impractical with the current cycle lengths of the City s signal system. It is recommended that, when the Birmingham CBD signal system is reengineered, that the cycle lengths be sufficient to accommodate protected left turn phasing for these movements. Hill Univ Center Campbell Hall Take no action at this time. Don t cut into the medians but wait until the City traffic cycle is reengineered.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 15TH STREET SOUTH Retain the existing protected permissive left turn phase on University Boulevard eastbound. This intersection is proposed for modifications as part of the Replacement of Hill University Center project now underway. The modifications include removing vehicular access to vacated 15th Street South between University Blvd and 7 th Ave South. The signal will remain in place as a pedestrian crossing. At the time these modifications are made, the protected permissive signal phase should be removed. Hill Univ Center Rec Center Staff Committee Recommendation: Agree. Also, the median will be extended so vehicular access does not occur northward at 15 th Street as in the aerial photograph and it becomes a pedestrian medium continuously from 14 th to 16 th Streets South.
Consultant Final Recommendation: UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 16TH STREET SOUTH Convert the existing protected permissive left turn phase on University Boulevard westbound to a protected left turn phase due to limited sight distance. Volker Hall Rec Center Staff Committee Recommendation: We don t think there is a sight distance problem to mitigate. Rather, due to high pedestrian use of this intersection by School of Medicine, Public Health and Campus Rec Center nearby attraction activities, no right turn on red signs should be posted on all four approaches to the intersection to avoid pedestrian-vehicular conflicts.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 18TH STREET SOUTH Retain the existing left turn phasing. No additional queue lanes or medians are possible in this stretch of the highway due to overall narrowing of the right-of-way here and the multiple driveway cuts causing entry and exiting of traffic into the roadway, which slows down the traffic and yields fewer vehicular-pedestrian conflicts. Eye Hosp VA Hosp Rust Install no right turn on red signs on all four approaches to the intersection because many pedestrian incidents in this area were the result of right on red turns.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 19TH STREET SOUTH Convert the existing permissive left turn phases on University Boulevard eastbound and westbound to a protected only left turn phases and install no right turn on red signs on all four approaches to the intersection. Tinsley- Harrison VA Hosp Shelby Agree.
UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AT 20TH STREET SOUTH Change the protective permissive left turn phases on University Boulevard eastbound and westbound to protected only phases and install no right turn on red signs on all four approaches. The analyses show the need for protected left turn phasing for the northbound and southbound left turns on 20th Street South. But this is impractical with the current cycle lengths of the signal system. Thus, it is recommended that, when the Birmingham CBD signal system is reengineered, that the cycle lengths be sufficient to accommodate protected left turn phasing for these movements. Townhouse McCallum Agree on future configuration recommendation. Until traffic cycle re-engineered by the City, install no turn on red signs at all 4 portions of the intersection to guard against pedestrian and vehicular conflicts.
10TH AVENUE SOUTH AT 14TH STREET SOUTH Retain the existing left turn phasing. Install No right turn on red signs on all four approaches to the intersection to avoid cars making the turn and not seeing pedestrians. There is a vertical curve at this intersection and low horizon winter solstice sun which can impede a motorist and pedestrian s clear view of movements, hence need to slow down the turns at corners. Stern Snoozy s Blount Hall Agree. Install the no turns on red signs at all 4 parts of this intersection.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AREAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONSULTANT STUDY 10TH AVENUE SOUTH AT 17TH STREET SOUTH 17th Street 10th Ave. Al s Deli Due to dramatically increased pedestrian traffic because of the addition of the 10 th Ave. parking deck, a growing on-campus residential population and the popularity of nearby eateries, it is recommended that the proposed Master Plan be implemented and a traffic circle be installed at this intersection. The narrowing of 10 th Ave eastward of 17 th Street going towards 18 th Street will be mitigated by the proper installation of a traffic circle, traffic will be slowed down, an attractive urban feature will be introduced into the campus master plan benefitting both the campus and neighborhood, with cross walks marked. Pedestrian knobs should be installed where the circle enters 17 th Street to provide both parallel parking protection and safe haven for pedestrians. The center of the traffic circle should be landscaped with Campus Beautification results, possibly a vertical element such as a sculpture installed with night lights. In the short term, it is recommended that additional signage be posted. One instructing vehicles it is a State law to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk (as illustrated below). The other being caution signs indicating the crosswalks, preferably with a flashing light. Additional painting in the crosswalks is needed to make the areas more prominent.
Other intersections, not included in the study, have also had pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, as indicated by blue circles on the map below. Study intersections are indicated in red. Again, vehicles either turning left or turning right on red struck most pedestrians. It is recommended that, when the Birmingham CBD signal system is re-engineered, that the cycle lengths be sufficient to accommodate converting the existing protected permissive signal phasing, where it exists, to protected only signal phasing and those signals with no turn indicators at all be converted to protected left turn phasing for these movements.
In addition, for the core area of campus (as indicated below), the committee further recommends that all intersections within the red box have installed No right turn on red signs on all four approaches to the included intersections. It is also recommended that the intersections within this core area have the crosswalks striped in a way that is highly visible and signage added to remind drivers to be aware of pedestrians. To further monitor these intersections, it is recommended that PTZ cameras (pan, tilt, zoom) be installed. The cameras should be installed on UAB buildings where possible, however, because of vegetation or other obstructions, it may be necessary to request mounting them on city property. Summary In summary, the Committee recommends the following: 1. No right turn on red at core University intersections. 2. Left turns on arrow only at some intersections. 3. Additional signage to make drivers aware of pedestrian rights. 4. More obvious striping of crosswalks. 5. Installation of PTZ cameras at intersections. 6. Continue and enhance where possible an aggressive awareness campaign targeting faculty, staff and students reminding them to stay alert and aware of traffic and to avoid texting, listening to loud music and other distractions when crossing intersections.