High Speed Pedestrian Crossings 4

[agoodall]

I am looking for an alternative pedestrian crossing that would not require a pedestrian bridge. This area is a 55mph county highway and the cost of building a bridge is not justified in this area. I was just wondering what other alternatives other than a bridge were out there.

 

[InDepth]

How about a tunnel?

 

[agoodall]

I am sorry I forgot to mention that this area is prone to flooding and a tunnel is not an option.

 

[civilman72]

If you have cost restraints, there is probably only so much you can do. If you answer these questions, it might help paint a clearer picture:

Is it acceptable to slow traffic down (i.e. stoplight, speed bumps or stop sign)?

How much sight distance is available?

What volume of peds and vehicles do you anticipate?

Have there been past vehicle/pedestrian accidents/incidents in this area?

How wide is the driving surface (two or four lane highway?) and is it paved?

 

[msquared48]

Since you are dealing with high speed pedestrians, they should be able to outrun the cars, so where's the problem?

Seriouly though, if you can't go under or over, what other options do you have left other than through?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[msquared48]

I would seriously consider the tunnel option.

It seems to me that measures can be taken to de-water the tunnel sfter the flooding, possibly with an automatic sump pump system hooked to a solar array and a battery bank above the flood line (assuming there is an above). The system could be remotely activated once the flooding had subsided. A video link might be handy too to monitor the situation.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[coloeng]

You could always try catapults.

Sorry, it's been a long week.

 

[msquared48]

My wife suggested a sky slide... as through a rain forest.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[bimr]

Have you consiered an highway overpass with a pedestrian walkway installed at the existing grade?

If there is an existing crossing located within several hundred feet, you could put up a barrier and routr the pedestrians to the other highway crossing.

 

[Ron]

I didn't think there were any high speed pedestrians in the country.

coloeng...yep, it's been a long week!

 

[rmw]

I was thinking when I read the title and the OP that if the pedestrians were that high speed, there wouldn't be any problem; they could beat the traffic. Then I read MSsquared's post. Yes, it has been a long week.

What about a solar powered on demand crossing light that the pedestrians could activate when they want to cross which would then stop traffic with a red light and let them cross. When there is no one with a request to cross, the traffic has a green light.

rmw

 

[hokie66]

All my jokes have been taken, so I might just suggest a serious answer. Maybe a crossing with a refuge median, protected from traffic by barriers. You enter the refuge, walk along the median a ways, then continue across the road. Now that I think of it, is this for chickens?

 

[francesca]

I would suggest flashers, in addition to the refuge median suggested by hokie, and whatever other treatments (sidewalk!) might help improve visibility and hint to drivers to expect pedestrians. Having been mugged in an underpass, I can see how one in a rural area might go entirely unused.

 

[hokie66]

francesca,

I don't think it would be unused, just unused for the intended purpose. Probably used in the same way as the ones in cities, shelter/toilets for deadbeats. And muggers.

 

[kslee1000]

Overhead cable cars like those in ski resort - nobody stops until it falls by wind.

 

[Debaser]

"What about a solar powered on demand crossing light that the pedestrians could activate when they want to cross which would then stop traffic with a red light and let them cross. When there is no one with a request to cross, the traffic has a green light."

Like a Puffin/Pelican crossing?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffin_crossing

55mph might be too high a speed for signals (certainly in the UK) on an otherwise unconstrained section of highway.

If you were to provide an uncontrolled crossing, with dropped kerbs and tactile paving and associated warning signing for motorists, would you be opening yourself to liability issues? If an accident occurred over here at such a crossing, we'd probably have a justification that such a facility was only an invitation or opportunity to cross, but it would ultimately be down to the pedestrian to judge their own safety. Would you have the same protection as the Engineer or would the crossing need to be essentially 'idiot proof'?

 

[ACtrafficengr]

Hokie, Debaser, and Francesca are on the right track. Grade separated crossings, whether over or under, are expensive and unlikely to be used, unless the terrain on either side is favorable (i.e. the road is either elevated or depressed).

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust

 

[IFRs]

How far is the nearest existing crossing? If not too far then a sign pointing that way would be all you need.

 

[Drumchaser]

agoodall

I do not think there are any viable alternatives to above or below grade crossings. (in this case)

I cannot recall (other than signalized intersection) where a crossing would be permitted at this speed.

You could:
drop the speed, install cant. flashers, install warning signs.

Save up for the overhead bridge.

 

[kslee1000]

Now be serious.

In several suburban areas around Chicago, the speed limits on major business highways are arranged from 45 to 55 mph. There are traffic lights but rather far apart. Every once a while, there are person killed by taking short cut and competing with cars. Whenever I hear that, I feel bad for both. Also, adding extra traffic lights isn't an ideal option, without proper study on roadway geometries, surrounding environments, traffic volume and pattern, more problems could arise, such as running traffic lights. Lowering speed limit sounds good, but nobody would vote fot it when a 30 min drive becomes 45 or more.

Properly planned, designed, light duty pedestrain bridge seems a better solution. The design/construction cost can be offset by saving a few lifes, also, maight be paid by commercial advertisements.