Overview of Pinellas County Pedestrian Safety Programs and Initiatives FHWA Pedestrian Safety Peer Exchange Miami, FL August 2, 2012 Peter Hsu, P.E. District Safety & Special Projects Engineer Florida Department of Transportation
Engineering, Education & Enforcement (3E) Pedestrian Safety Approaches www.d7ctst.org walkwisetampabay.com
Pedestrian Safety Engineering Programs Crash Data Management System Road Safety Audit ( RSA) Design Build Push Button Contract for Pedestrian Safety Treatments District-wide Pedestrian Countdown Signals Safe Route to Schools Sidewalk Program Qwick Kurb (Access Management) Program School Speed Feedback Signs & Flasher Program Bright Stick Enhanced Sign Post Program Local Agency Engineering Support Program Safety Engineering Workshops & Info. Sharing New Pedestrian Safety Initiatives for Year 2012
Crash Data Management System Very Effective & Time Saving Tool to Analyze Crash Problems. Won the National Roadway Safety Award in year 2007. Pinellas County is using Web CDMS starting in year 2010 (using local funds).
Road Safety Audit/Assessment (RSA) The formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. Conducted 10 School related RSAs in Pinellas County in 2010/2011.
Design Build Push Button Contract Pedestrian Safety Treatment Fast Response Design & Construction using Safety Funds up to 270 Days! Improved 150+ State highway intersections & highway segments in Pinellas County (2011) Ped Ahead pavement messages, High Emphasis Crosswalks, Ped Signals.
D/W Countdown Pedestrian Signals & Push Button Plaques 8000+ Pedestrian Countdown Signals & Plaques were purchased in years 2007 & 2008 and provided to all local agencies for all roadway intersections. Pinellas County finished the installation in year 2009.
Safe Route to Schools Sidewalk Program More than 7 miles of sidewalks along County roads were built or programmed starting year 2009/2010.
D/W Qwick Kurb, Solar Powered Speed Feedback Sign & Flasher Programs More than 50 Speed Feedback Signs + 50 School Flashers were purchased starting in year 2009, and installed in Pinellas County by year 2010. Qwick Kurb is used as a quick response tool to address access safety concerns.
D/W Bight Stick Enhanced Sign Post Program Low Cost Safety approach to address Sign Retro-Reflectivity! Idea generated from the High Risk Rural Highway RSAs conducted in Citrus County. More than 1,000 bright sticks were rolled out to all highways in Pinellas County to address Lane Departure & Vulnerable Road User crashes.
Local Agency Engineering Support & Off-System Safety Projects FDOT Tampa Bay District provides FREE engineering analysis, RSA & engineering support! More than $3M worth of off-system safety projects in Pinellas County were approved to address intersections, corridors and safe routes to school projects!
FREE Safety & Traffic Engineering Workshops & Information/Award Sharing! More than 20 Safety & Traffic Engineering workshops (more than 100 PDH credits) were offered through FHWA or District 7 Safety office starting in year 2007. Safety Info. & Award Sharing with local engineering and enforcement agencies.
New Pedestrian Safety Initiatives for Year 2012 R10-15 signs & LOOK for Turning Vehicles performed pavement messages. Statewide Parking Lot Pedestrian Safety Research. RRFB & Pedestrian Median/Refuge Islands. Enhanced Intersection Street Lighting. Enhanced Mid Block Crossing Policy.
Pedestrian Safety Education Programs Tampa Bay Multi-Media Pedestrian Education Campaigns Safe Routes to School Education Program Safety Education Tip Cards & Publications Gulf Boulevard Flag Program
Tampa Bay Multi-Media Education Campaigns Stop & Look Ped Man in year 2009 -- $150,000 Walk Wise in years 2010, 2011 & 2012 -- $320,000 See the Blind Spots in year 2011 -- $175,000 Walk Wise Tampa Bay is a pedestrian safety Grass Root education Outreach program. More than 200 face to face presentations were given to politicians, seniors, homeless and community groups in Pinellas County for the past 2 years.
Safe Routes to School Education Program School Walking & Biking Safety Education budget (Pinellas County): $150,000/year Handled by All Children s Hospital (www.allkids.org) More than 10,000 students in 20+ Elementary & Middle schools were taught yearly.
Safety Education Tip Cards & Publications Created more than 10+ pedestrian safety education materials starting 2009 Pedestrian Safety Posters for more than 500+ County & School Buses (2010) Rest room pedestrian safety advertisement in major local restaurants (2010)
Gulf Boulevard Flag Program Coordinated effort with Locals & Pinellas MPO in late year 2010. Installed @ more than 50 mid block crossings along Gulf Blvd. Purchased 5,000 flags by FDOT. Locals restocks flags.
Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Programs Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Overtime Program Warehouse of the safety education material & goodies
Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Overtime Program 8 (Eight) law enforcement agencies in Pinellas County! More than $300,000 State & Federal funds were allocated starting in year 2010.
Warehouse of the safety education material & goodies for Law Enforcement
Local Agency Initiatives Pinellas MPO Implement Web-Based Crash Data Management System (CDMS) --2009 Stop Here for Pedestrians Law --2009 www.stpete.org St. Petersburg Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB or Enhancer) -- 2007 Mutch.fhwa.dot.gov
Local Agency Initiatives Pinellas County High visibility crosswalk policy 2009 $3 million/year allotted for general and ADA sidewalk programs City of Clearwater Cleveland Street redevelopment 2009 Emphasis on street lighting $100k Share the Road Grant www.dunedindailyphoto.com www.wikimedia.org
Effectiveness of Pinellas PSAP Pinellas PSAP was approved by the Pinellas MPO on 9/9/09 Overall pedestrian crashes in Pinellas County & Tampa Bay were decreasing Number of Intoxicated Pedestrian Fatalities were increased starting in year 2011!
Questions & Contact: Peter Hsu, P.E. District Safety & Special Projects Engineer Florida Department of Transportation 11201 N. McKinley Drive Tampa, FL 33612 Phone: (813) 975-6251 Fax: (813) 975-6278 E-mail: ping.hsu@dot.myflorida.com