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1. Pedestrian Countdown
Signals Signaux Piétonniers À
Décompte |
committee
recommendations as amended
That Council approve:
1.
The installation of
pedestrian countdown signals at new traffic control signals and pedestrian signals locations or locations being rehabilitated as
part of a capital reconstruction project; and,
2.
That Traffic and Parking
Operations include for consideration, as part of the Draft 2009 Capital Budget
Estimates, $500,000 for the Pedestrian Signal Countdown Installation Program as a 2009 Capital Strategic
Initiative.
3. The establishment of the principle
that intersections having a high percentage of children, seniors and mobility
challenged pedestrians will have the highest priority for the new countdown
pedestrian crossing signals.
4. That the fourth bullet in the
guidelines to be used to determine the highest priority for installing the
pedestrian countdown signals be reworded to read:
·
are at least
four traffic lanes wide
Recommandations modifiées du comité
Que le Conseil approuve :
1.
L’installation
de signaux piétonniers à décompte aux nouveaux emplacements de feux de
circulation et de signaux piétonniers ou aux emplacements remis en état dans le
cadre d’un projet de reconstruction des immobilisations.
2.
Ddans le cadre des prévisions budgétaires
d’immobilisations de 2009, l’inclusion par la Direction de la circulation et du stationnement d’une somme de 500 000 $ aux
fins.
3.
L’établissement du principe que les intersections utilisées par le plus
fort pourcentage d’enfants, de personnes âgées et de piétons à mobilité réduite
soient prioritaires quant à l’installation de nouveaux signaux piétonniers à
décompte.
4.
Le remaniement du quatrième point centré des lignes directrices, utilisé
en vue de déterminer les plus hautes priorités en matière d’installation de
signaux piétonniers à décompte, afin
que l’on lise :
·
sont
d’une largeur d’au moins quatre voies.
Documentation
1. Deputy City Manager’s report (Public
Works and Services) dated 6 October 2008 (ACS2008-PWS-TRF-0027).
2. Extract of Draft Minute, 15 October
2008.
Documents
1. Rapport conjoint des Directeurs
municipaux adjoints (Services et Travaux Publics) daté le 6 octobre 2008
(ACS2008-PWS-TRF-0027).
2. Extrait de l’ébauche du procès-verbal,
le 15 octobre 2008 (disponible en anglais seulement).
Report to/Rapport au :
Comité des transports
and Council / et au Conseil
61
October 2008 / le 61
octobre 2008
R.G. Hewitt, Deputy City Manager/Directeur
municipal adjoint,
Public Works and Services/Services et Travaux publics
Contact Person/Personne Personne-ressource
: Michael J. Flainek, M.Eng., P.Eng.,
Director, Traffic and Parking
Operations/Directeur, Circulation et stationnementStationnement
613-580-2424 x 26882,
Michael.Flainek@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That Transportation Committee recommend Council approve:
1. The installation of pedestrian countdown signals
at new traffic control signals and pedestrian signals
locations or locations being rehabilitated as part of a capital reconstruction
project; and,
2. That Traffic and Parking Operations include for
consideration, as part of the Draft 2009 Capital Budget Estimates, $500,000 for
the Pedestrian Signal Countdown Installation Program as a 2009 Capital
Strategic Initiative.
2. That
Traffic
and Parking Operations include for consideration,
as part of the Draft 2009 Capital Budget Estimates, $500,000 for the Pedestrian
Signal Countdown Installation Program as a 2009 Capital Strategic Initiative.
.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité des transports recommande au
Conseil d’approuver :
1. L’installation de signaux piétonniers à décompte aux nouveaux emplacements de feux de circulation et de signaux piétonniers ou aux emplacements remis en état dans le cadre d’un projet de reconstruction des immobilisations; et
2. Ddans le cadre des prévisions budgétaires
d’immobilisations de 2009, l’inclusion par la Direction de la circulation et du stationnement d’une somme de 500 000 $ aux
fins d’examen pour le Programme
d’installation des signaux piétonniers à titre d’initiative
stratégique d’immobilisations de 2009.
BACKGROUND
In the City of Ottawa, pedestrian displays, consisting of the walking pedestrian (“Walk”) symbol and stop hand (“Don’t Walk”) symbol, are in place at virtually all of the City’s signalized intersections. Pedestrian displays are always timed so as to allow for a safe and complete crossing; however, some pedestrians misunderstand the meaning of the displays and express concerns that not enough crossing time has been provided. In an effort to provide a better understanding of these displays, traffic manufacturers have developed a numerical countdown device that displays to pedestrians, during the flashing “Don’t Walk” interval, the number of seconds remaining to complete their crossing.
DISCUSSION
Pedestrian signals at signalized intersections are the devices that inform pedestrians when it is permitted to cross the various legs of an intersection. They are programmed to work in conjunction with the traffic control signals whether the signal phasing is complex or a basic two direction fixed time operation. The standard configuration of the pedestrian signal has two display heads, one on top of the other, with the top display providing the “Walk” signal (white walking pedestrian) and the bottom, the flashing “Don't Walk” and the steady “Don't Walk” signal (orange stop hand). Each leg of the intersection has a set of the displays for each crossing direction. Recently, the City has modified this approach with the introduction of single head displays using Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology. This one head displays both the walking pedestrian as well as the stop hand signal.
The meaning of the pedestrian signal displays are defined in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and thus have the full support of the law. The “Walk” display indicates that pedestrians may start their crossing. This is followed by the flashing/solid “Don’t Walk” that tells pedestrians not to start crossing, or if they have already started, is timed to allow for a complete crossing before conflicting traffic is permitted to proceed.
When the flashing “Don't Walk” hand appears, some pedestrians within the crossing become uneasy as they are not sure how much time is left to complete their crossing before stopped cross street traffic starts to move. It is this uncertainty that causes much of the confusion and concern with today’s operation of pedestrian signals, and the reason for the introduction of a countdown display.
The City of San Francisco completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of pedestrian countdown signals at 14 intersections. The evaluation included assessing behavioural impacts and attitudes towards the countdown signals along with a collision analysis prior to and after the installation of the pedestrian countdown signals. The evaluation provided the following conclusions:
- pedestrian countdown signals appeared to reduce pedestrian injuries;
- the portion of pedestrians finishing their crossings on the red was reduced;
- there was not a significant increase in the number of pedestrians starting to cross during the pedestrian clearance phase;
- the countdown signal display did not result in an increase in drivers running red lights;
- the pedestrian countdown signals were viewed very favourably by pedestrians for providing additional information.
Given the extended use of pedestrian countdown signal heads across North America and the ever-increasing demand to use the device by many municipalities, the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), initiated a review of this traffic control device in 2004. As the national body responsible for research and adoption of standards of traffic control devices, the purpose of the study was to review the safety benefits of the device and establish national guidelines for its implementation and operation. The study report’s recommendations included:
- pedestrian
Countdown Signal (PCS) be adopted as an optional device for installation
at locations where pedestrian signal heads are installed;
- the PCS is to
count down during the flashing hand pedestrian clearance period only;
- the PCS
Information Sign may be installed adjacent to the pedestrian pushbuttons
to inform pedestrians of the usage of the PCS.
The Chief Engineers’ Council approved this report and its recommendations in January 2006. In the recently updated Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 12 – Traffic Signals (November 2007), the guidelines allow for the optional use of pedestrian countdown signals displays at the discretion of the signal operating agencies.
It should be noted that the countdown is not intended to replace the existing pedestrian displays but to supplement them. The countdown section will be mounted directly below the existing “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” assembly and will begin at the start of the flashing “Don’t Walk” interval and display in descending sequence the amount of time (in seconds) remaining to cross the street.
Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that the City of Ottawa adopt the installation of pedestrian countdown signals for all approaches at all traffic control signals and pedestrian signals. The installation would be done when a new traffic control signal or pedestrian signal is being installed; when an existing traffic control signal or pedestrian signal is being rebuilt as part of a road construction project; and through the creation of a Pedestrian Countdown Signal Installation Program.
The Pedestrian Countdown Signal Installation Program would be a multi-year program that would retrofit all existing intersections with the pedestrian countdown signal. The retrofit involves replacing the two-section pedestrian displays and replacing them with a single section LED “Walk/Don’t Walk” display and a single section pedestrian countdown module. Attachment 1 illustrates the proposed PCS housing configuration and operation of the pedestrian display during the walk, flashing don’t walk and solid don’t walk intervals.
It is proposed that the following guideline be used to determine the highest priority for installing the pedestrian countdown signals. They would be installed first at locations that:
- have a history of high pedestrian and vehicle
conflicts;
are ranked high in pedestriancollisions; - are in areas that have a high percentage of
children, seniors, and
- generate high pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic such as shopping malls, tourists attractions, recreational facilities, medical facilities, etc.; and,
- are over four traffic lanes wide.
Staff estimate that approximately 600 existing traffic control signals/pedestrian signals will require the installation of the pedestrian countdown signals at a cost of $4,000 per location, and that, approximately 100 existing traffic control signals/pedestrian signals will require a controller change along with the installation of the pedestrian countdown signals at a cost of $25,000 per location. This controller change is required as some older signal controllers (20-30 years old) will not be able to accurately display the correct time remaining to cross at an intersection.
Therefore, the total cost to retrofit all existing traffic control signals and pedestrian signals with pedestrian countdown signals is approximately $4,900,000. It is proposed that $500,000 be allocated in the Pedestrian Signal Countdown Installation Program per year until such a time that all existing traffic control signals are equipped with the pedestrian countdown signal.
There is an additional cost (approximately $1,000) to install the pedestrian countdown signal at a location where a new traffic control signal/pedestrian signal is to be installed or where a traffic control signal/pedestrian signal is being rebuilt as part of a construction project (approximately 70 intersections per year). However, these costs would be borne out of the capital account for the installation of new traffic control signals/pedestrian signals, the construction project or by a third party who is funding the installation of a new traffic control signal.
CONSULTATION
No public consultation been undertaken with regard to the installation of pedestrian countdown signal at all Traffic Control Signals or Pedestrian Signals within the City of Ottawa.
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN
The measures identified within this report align themselves with the general principles of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), in that when compared to personal motor vehicles, they promote safe and secure alternative travel modes. Specifically, the implementation of the identified measures fulfills the following TMP committed action items:
- TMP, Section 4.4 - New Infrastructure and Services
Action Item 1 - the City will add infrastructure and services that improve the safety,
speed and convenience of walking, cycling, transit and ridesharing;
- TMP, Section 5.1 – Walking – Essential Supporting Measures
Action Item 4 – conduct initiatives that promote safe travel behaviours by pedestrians and other road users, including initiatives focused on vulnerable pedestrians including children and seniors; and
- TMP, Section 9.4 - Road Safety
Action Item 5 - the City will identify and apply best practices to address public
perceptions and influence behaviours related to road safety, including that affect levels of
walking, cycling, transit use.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The pedestrian countdown signal device will not incur any additional costs to the operation and maintenance of the traffic control signal or pedestrian signal.
Countdown Signals at new traffic control signals and pedestrian signals locations or locations being rehabilitated as part of a capital reconstruction project will be accommodated within the annual Capital Budget provisions as well as with third party agreements at new signal installations.
The proposed program to convert all existing Signals to Countdown Signals is estimated to cost $4,900,000 and is anticipated to be completed over an estimated ten-year timeframe.
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Traffic and Parking Operations will include $500,000
for the Pedestrian Signal Countdown Installation Program as a 2009 Capital
Strategic Initiative.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 - Proposed Pedestrian Signal Operation
DISPOSITION
Should Council approve the use of the Pedestrian Countdown Signal, these devices would be installed in the Fall of 2008 at all new signalized intersections and at signalized intersections that are within intersections that are being rebuilt as part of a road construction project (Bank and Laurier, Bank and Somerset, Preston and Somerset, Wellington and Parkdale, Wellington and Holland). As well, the new Pedestrian Countdown Signal Installation Program will be identified in the 2009 Capital Budget and funds in the amount of $500,000 will be requested.
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