Development of Arlington County s Marked Crosswalk Guidelines Jon Lawler, P.E. Design Engineer Arlington County, VA April 13, 2015
Transportation System Users Residents Estimated 215,000 in 2014 Lowest resident drive alone commute rate in Virginia 46% of residents use non single occupancy vehicle as primary commute mode Employees Over 220,000 jobs in 2014 200,000+ jobs clustered around transit in Arlington s high-density corridors. 160,000+ workers commute into Arlington daily Visitors 4 million plus visitors to Arlington National Cemetery Over 11,000 hotel rooms used as a base for visitors from outside the region Many daily visitors from adjacent jurisdictions Through travelers & commuters 2
Providing Travel Options Investing to enhance the quality of all travel options. 1,094 lane-miles of streets and 19 miles of HOV lanes Over 5,300 on-street metered parking spaces 12 miles of Metrorail and 11 stations VRE commuter rail Extensive regional and local bus service Car-share program with over 80 cars Bikeshare program with 69 stations 50 miles of multi-use trails and 36 miles of on-street bike lanes and sharrows Extensive and growing network of sidewalks 3
Traffic Trends Smart growth has allowed Arlington to add population while decreasing traffic volumes. Traffic on main arterials is down over 15-year period. Street Segment Street Type 1996 2011/2012 % Change 1996-2012 Lee Hwy - Rosslyn EW 6-lane arterial 37,770 31,951-15.4% Wash. Blvd. - VA Square EW 4-lane arterial 20,469 17,500-14.5% Clarendon Blvd. EW 2-lane 1-way arterial 13,980 13,292-5.0% Wilson Blvd. - Clarendon EW 2-lane 1-way arterial 16,368 12,603-23.0% Arlington Blvd. EW 6-lane arterial 55,865 65,259 16.8% Glebe Road - Ballston NS 6-lane arterial 35,230 31,000-12.0% Glebe Road - South of Columbia Pike NS 4-lane arterial 29,000 27,000-6.0% George Mason Drive NS 4-lane arterial 20,002 20,518 2.3% Jefferson Davis Hwy north of Glebe Road NS 6-lane arterial 52,000 44,000-15.4% 4
Transit Ridership Trends Arlington is focused on the development of high-quality transit moving more people without more traffic. Transit ridership grew significantly over 15-year period. FY1996 Actual FY2013 Actual % Growth Metrorail Arlington Stations 45,335,000 59,528,744 31.3% Metrobus Arlington Routes 12,049,000 14,848,036 23.2% VRE Crystal City 567,000 1,102,076 94.4% Arlington Transit (ART) 105,000 2,644,000 2,518% Total Annual Ridership 58,076,000 78,122,856 34.5% 40% of Virginia s total annual transit ridership is from Arlington-related trips. 5
Population Growth Trends Of the County s major transit corridors, the most significant population growth through 2040 will occur along Columbia Pike. 6
Arlington County Background 7
VA State Code Crosswalk Definition Means that part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface. Crosswalks exist whenever sidewalks extend across a street at an intersection 8
Existing County Guidance Lacked standards or guidelines Only dictated how crosswalks should be marked Primary purpose of a marked crosswalk is to identify the preferred path for pedestrian and bicyclists to cross the road where there may be potential conflict. 9
2003 MUTCD Guidance Mark at all intersections where there is substantial conflict between vehicular and pedestrian movements Section 3B.18: crosswalk lines should not be used indiscriminately Perform engineering study at uncontrolled locations Install warning signage at mid-block crossings 10
Current MUTCD Guidance 11
Current MUTCD Guidance Crosswalk lines should not be used indiscriminately Uncontrolled locations: Perform engineering study # of lanes Median presence Distance from adjacent signalized intersections Pedestrian crossing volumes & delays ADT Speed Geometry Potential for consolidating multiple crossing points Street lighting Do T mark crosswalk when speed limit exceeds 40 mph AND: 4+ lanes w/o raised median and ADT > 12,000 vpd 4+ lanes w/ raised median and ADT > 15,000 vpd 12
Current NACTO Guidance Design criteria ADT > 3,000 vpd Speed > 20 mph # of lanes > 2 Frequent crossings reinforce walkability Designers should be sensitive to the misperception that a crosswalk is the only legal place to cross the street Mark all crosswalks at signalized intersections 13
FHWA Crosswalk Safety Guidance Ped crash rate was much higher at marked crosswalks than at unmarked crosswalks when: ADT > 15,000 vpd ADT > 12,000 vpd on multilane facilities w/o raised median 14
FHWA Crosswalk Safety Guidance 15
FHWA Crosswalk Safety Guidance C = Candidate sites for marked crosswalks P = Possible increase in pedestrian crash risk may occur if crosswalks are added without other pedestrian facility enhancements N = Marked crosswalks alone are insufficient, since pedestrian crash risk may be increased by providing marked crosswalks alone 16
Guidelines from Comparable Agencies Washington DC (DDOT) San Francisco (SFMTA) Seattle (SDOT) Boulder (City of Boulder, CO) Commonwealth of Virginia (VDOT) 17
Common Design Criteria Minimum vehicle volume Minimum pedestrian crossing volume Minimum distance to nearest crosswalk Crosswalk visibility 18
Minimum Vehicle Volume 1,500 vpd threshold Unless school crossing < 1,500 vpd are considered low-volume streets DDOT & Boulder use 1,500 vpd threshold 19
Minimum Pedestrian Crossing Volume 20 peds/hour 45 peds crossing over any 3 hours Adjacent land use type 40 peds/hour at mid-block crossings No differentiation in pedestrians ages 20
Minimum Distance to Nearest Xwalk 300 minimum spacing requirement to nearest controlled crosswalk 200 for crossings located within a Metro Station Area Minimum Spacing Agency 300 DDOT 300 SFMTA 200 SDOT 300 (200 in urban areas) City of Boulder 300 VDOT 21
Metro Station Areas 22
Metro Station Areas 23
Sight Distance 8 x speed limit DDOT & Boulder 8 x speed limit VDOT 10 x speed limit Design Speed (mph) AASHTO Design SSD Multiplier 25 6.20 30 6.67 35 7.14 40 7.63 45 8.00 24
Nighttime Visibility Lighting requirement is 2X requirement for the roadway SFMTA explicitly requires street lighting adjacent to crosswalk 25
Arlington Marked Crosswalk Matrix Crossing is at a stop controlled or uncontrolled location ADT > 1,500 Identify candidate crossing location Identify candidate crossing Identify location candidate crossing location Crossing is at a signal controlled location Install marked crosswalk (a) Minimum Pedestrian Volume Thresholds -20 peds crossing during any hour -45 peds crossing during any 3 hours (b) Pedestrian Generators -School, hospital, park, library, senior center, shopping center, or office building (3+ stories) (c) Distance to Nearest Controlled Crosswalk -300' or further throughout most of the County -A spacing reduction to 200' is applicable based on engineering judgment if location is situated within a Metro Station Area (see Appendix) Crossing is at a stop controlled Crossing is at a stop controlled or uncontrolled or uncontrolled location location Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk unless it is a minor-street approach crossing at an unsignalized intersection along a busy arterial, it is intended to be a school crossing, or it is necessary to direct pedestrians along the proper crossing path. See Table 1. ADT > 1,500 ADT > 1,500 Crossing is at an intersection 20 peds crossing during any hour (a) Crossing location is midblock Crossing is located along frontage of ped generator (b) 40 peds crossing during any hour Multi-use trail crossing Multi-use trail crossing Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Crossing is at a signal Crossing is at a signal controlled controlled location location Go to Table 1 Install Install marked marked crosswalk crosswalk Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk need unless to justify it is a minor-street crosswalk approach crossing at an minor-street unsignalized intersection rossing along a at busy an arterial, it is d intersection intended to be a school crossing, or it is necessary y arterial, it is to direct pedestrians o be along a school the proper crossing it is necessary path. See Table 1. pedestrians oper crossing Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Go to Table 1 Nearest controlled crosswalk located 300' or further away (c) Adequate stopping sight distance (8 x speed limit) Street lighting adjacent to crosswalk Crossing is at an intersection Crossing is at an intersection Remove visual obstruction 20 peds crossing Provide street during any hour (a) lighting (crosswalk lighting req. is 2X req. for the road) 20 peds crossing during any hour (a) T FEASIBLE T FEASIBLE Crossing location is midblock Crossing location is midblock Unsafe location for crosswalk; consider alternate location Crossing is located along frontage of ped generator Crossing (b) is located along frontage of ped 40 peds crossing during any hour 40 peds crossing during any hour Multi-use trail crossing 26 Multi-use trail crossing
controlled location Arlington Marked Crosswalk Matrix (c) Distance to Nearest Controlled Crosswalk Crossing is at a stop controlled or uncontrolled location Identify candidate crossing location Install marked crosswalk Crossing is at a signal controlled location shopping center, or office building (3+ stories) -300' or further throughout most of the County -A spacing (a) reduction Minimum Pedestrian to 200' Volume is Thresholds applicable based on -20 peds crossing during any hour engineering judgment if location is situated -45 peds crossing during any 3 hours within a Metro Station Area (see Appendix) (b) Pedestrian Generators -School, hospital, park, library, senior center, shopping center, or office building (3+ stories) Crossing is at an intersection 20 peds crossing during any hour (a) Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk unless it is a minor-street approach crossing at an unsignalized intersection along a busy arterial, it is intended to be a school crossing, or it is necessary to direct pedestrians along the proper crossing path. See Table 1. ADT > 1,500 Crossing location is midblock Crossing is located along frontage of ped generator (b) Crossing is at an intersection 20 peds crossing during any hour (a) 40 peds crossing during any hour Crossing location is midblock Crossing is located along Multi-use frontage of trail ped generator crossing (b) Install marked crosswalk 40 peds crossing during any hour Multi-use trail crossing Multi-use trail crossing Multi-use trail crossing Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk (c) Distance to Nearest Controlled Crosswalk -300' or further throughout most of the County -A spacing reduction to 200' is applicable based on engineering judgment if location is situated within a Metro Station Area (see Appendix) Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Go to Table 1 Go to Table 1 Nearest controlled crosswalk located 300' or further away (c) Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Nearest controlled crosswalk located 300' or further away (c) Adequate stopping sight distance (8 x speed limit) Remove visual obstruction T FEASIBLE Unsafe location for crosswalk; consider alternate location Adequate stopping sight Go to Table 1 Remove visual Street lighting adjacent to crosswalk T Provide street lighting (crosswalk lighting req. is 2X req. for the road) T FEASIBLE Unsafe location for crosswalk; consider 27
edestrians per crossing Table 1. Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Crossing is located along Arlington 20 peds Marked crossing Crosswalk Multi-use Matrix trail during any hour (a) frontage of ped crossing Crossing is at a stop controlled or uncontrolled location ADT > 1,500 Identify candidate crossing location Nearest controlled crosswalk located 300' or further away (c) generator (b) Crossing is at a signal controlled location Install marked crosswalk (a) Minimum Pedestrian Volume Thresholds -20 peds crossing during any hour -45 peds crossing during any 3 hours (b) Pedestrian Generators -School, hospital, park, library, senior center, shopping center, or office building (3+ stories) (c) Distance to Nearest Controlled Crosswalk -300' or further throughout most of the County -A spacing reduction to 200' is applicable based on engineering judgment if location is situated within a Metro Station Area (see Appendix) Ins to j Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk unless it is a minor-street approach crossing at an unsignalized intersection along a busy arterial, it is intended to be a school crossing, or it is necessary to direct pedestrians along the proper crossing path. See Table 1. Crossing is at an intersection Adequate stopping sight distance (8 x speed limit) 20 peds crossing during any hour (a) Crossing location is midblock Crossing is located along frontage of ped generator (b) 40 peds crossing during any hour Remove Multi-use visual trail obstruction crossing Multi-use trail crossing Insufficient T need to justify a marked crosswalk FEASIBLE Go to Table 1 Unsafe location for crosswalk; consider alternate location Insufficient need to justify a marked crosswalk Go to Table 1 Nearest controlled crosswalk located 300' or further away (c) Street lighting adjacent to Adequate crosswalk stopping sight distance (8 x speed limit) Remove visual obstruction Provide street lighting (crosswalk lighting req. is 2X req. Tfor the road) FEASIBLE Unsafe location for crosswalk; consider alternate location T FEASIBLE Go to Table 1 Street lighting adjacent to crosswalk Provide street lighting (crosswalk lighting req. is 2X req. for the road) T FEASIBLE 28
Arlington Crosswalk Treatments 29
Crosswalk Warning Signage 30
Questions Contact Information Jon Lawler, P.E. Arlington County Government 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 900 Arlington, VA 22201 703-228-3724 jlawler@arlingtonva.us 31
Washington DC (DDOT) 32
San Francisco (SFMTA) 33
San Francisco (SFMTA) 34
City of Seattle 35
City of Boulder 36
City of Boulder 37
Virginia (VDOT) 38