Signal coordination benefits for pedestrians

MR Virkler - Transportation Research Record, 1998 - journals.sagepub.com
MR Virkler
Transportation Research Record, 1998journals.sagepub.com
The potential benefits of reducing pedestrian delay through signal coordination are
examined through field data from 10 intersection approaches. The approaches had cycle
lengths ranging from 60 to 90 s, walking lengths from the upstream signals ranging from 87
to 105 m, and varying levels of midblock traffic generation. Significant platooning of
pedestrians, due to upstream signals, was found on the approaches. This pedestrian
platooning could greatly increase or decrease pedestrian delay at the downstream signals …
The potential benefits of reducing pedestrian delay through signal coordination are examined through field data from 10 intersection approaches. The approaches had cycle lengths ranging from 60 to 90 s, walking lengths from the upstream signals ranging from 87 to 105 m, and varying levels of midblock traffic generation. Significant platooning of pedestrians, due to upstream signals, was found on the approaches. This pedestrian platooning could greatly increase or decrease pedestrian delay at the downstream signals, depending on the signal coordination plan. For low green times, the effect of pedestrian platooning on delay was found to be greater than that generally recognized for the automobile mode. Three techniques are described for determining appropriate signal offsets to benefit pedestrians. The first two techniques use average speed and would benefit pedestrians who have speeds that are equal to or greater than the average speed. The third technique determines the delay to be expected from any offset and can, therefore, be helpful in making trade-offs between pedestrian and vehicular delay.
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