This report summarizes the research completed in the third phase of a three-phase project. This phase was directed at identifying and evaluating alternatives to full signalization at pedestrian crossings. These pedestrian crossings are located at the intersection of a high-volume arterial street and a low-volume residential street. The selection of alternatives could not include grade-separated pedestrian structures, midblock crossings, or full signalization. Five alternatives were selected for field evaluation with the following traffic devices on the major and minor streets, respectively: Sign and Stop Sign, Flashing Yellow Signal and Flashing Red Beacon, Flashing Green Signal and Stop Sign, (Sg-44) Signal and Stop Sign, and Crossing Guard with stop signs on the residential street. The report compares the five school-pedestrian crossing designs with their fully signalized control sites discussing their relative advantages and disadvantages. Further comparisons were made between the various alternatives. The Crossing Guard, (Sg-44) Signal and Stop Sign, and Flashing Green Signal and Stop Sign were determined to have operating characteristics significantly more desirable than those of a fully signalized intersection. Of these, the Crossing Guard and the Signal and Stop Sign were recommended as alternatives to full signalization at pedestrian crossings. The report includes guidelines for the selection of the alternatives and the appropriate site criteria. (Author/publisher)
Abstract