Feasibility of Implementing Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) Signals for Improving Safety and Mobility in Nevada (NDOT 142-21-803)

Many urban and suburban roadways in Nevada are wide and straight, with long distances between intersections and high travel speeds. Safely crossing these roadways can be difficult for pedestrians, with notable risks for children, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Pedestrians account for nearly 25% of all Nevada fatalities and 15% of serious injuries. Several types of signalization have been developed to improve safety at mid-block pedestrian crossings, such as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs), and mid-block traffic signals. These devices have differing physical characteristics, operational requirements, safety performance, installation costs, and maintenance requirements. As a result, it is often unclear which device is most appropriate for a specific site. To address this knowledge gap, this research will develop device selection criteria, along with signal timing guidance for corridors with mid-block pedestrian crossings. The criteria will be based on evidence gathered through literature review, stakeholder outreach, and traffic simulations. The criteria are likely to involve combinations of traffic speed, roadway width, motor vehicle traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, and other situational factors. The overall goal is to maximize pedestrian safety while avoiding unnecessary delays to motorized traffic. This research will result in guidelines/warrants for the installation of PHBs and recommendations for PHB signal operations and timing. The results can immediately be used by Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and local jurisdictions throughout Nevada to identify locations for PHBs, as well as implement PHBs that are coordinated with the adjacent traffic signals to allow for mobility of both pedestrians and vehicles on the roadway network.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $225823
• Contract Numbers:

  P142-21-803

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Nevada Department of Transportation

  1263 South Stewart Street
  Carson City, NV  United States  89712

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Nevada DOT Research

  1263 South Stewart St
  Carson City, Nevada  United States  89712
• Project Managers:

  Bickett, Jeff

  Koury, Lucy

• Performing Organizations:

  Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

  5370 Kietzke Lane
  Suite 100
  Reno, Nevada  United States  89511

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Institute for Transportation
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, Iowa  United States  50010-8664
• Principal Investigators:

  O'Brien, Molly

  Shaw, John

• Start Date: 20210426
• Expected Completion Date: 20230731
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Transportation, Planning, Research, and Development
• Subprogram: Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beacons; Crosswalks; Midblock crossings; Pedestrians; Traffic signal timing
• Geographic Terms: Nevada
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01851102
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Nevada Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: P142-21-803
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 6 2022 5:48PM