Davis Highway Pedestrian Safety Project West Florida Hospital

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Davis Highway Pedestrian Safety Project_at_ West
Florida Hospital

• SR 291, Pensacola, FL

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Project Location
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Project Location
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Fatal Pedestrian Crash Summary

• Investigate February 3, 2005 crash involving Ms.
  Henderson-Dunn and Ms. Caraway on Davis Highway
  at Klinger Street, while crossing from the
  hospital parking lot to the hospital where they
  worked as nurses.
• Within four weeks of crash, FDOT conducted field
  studies to evaluate timing of traffic signals,
  local vehicle speeds, roadway signage, crash
  history, accessibility of the overpass crossing
  Davis Highway just south of the intersection,
  roadway lighting, and pedestrian activity between
  the parking lot and hospital.
• Explored different types of equipment which may
  be used to enhance the crosswalk.
• Were not able to review the traffic crash report
  from the Florida Highway Patrol however.

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Existing Conditions _at_ Klinger Ave

• Signalized T intersection of Davis Highway
  (major) and Klinger Street (minor).
• Crosswalks on north, east legs. Only the north
  leg has pedestrian signal features.
• Traffic signal heads replaced through recovery
  work following Hurricane Ivan.
• Posted speed 45 mph.
• ADT 30,000
• Traffic volumes on Klinger are low.
• Majority of pedestrians are crossing Davis
  Highway, between hospital on west side and
  employee parking lot on the east side.

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Crash History

• Performed an intersection analysis using FDOT's
  CAR program on Davis Highway between Johnson Ave
  (MP 7.4) and Klinger Street (MP 7.2).
• Most recent data used (1/1/01 to 12/31/03), over
  a three year period.
• 16 total Long Form crashes, 0 fatalities, 13
  injuries, 0 collisions w/ pedestrians,
  0 collisions w/bikes.
• Crash occurred in outside southbound lane.

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Pedestrian Activity

• Studies conducted on February 15th from 330
  500 PM and from 630 830 AM on February 16th,
  2005.
• PM study 161 peds crossed Davis Highway from
  hospital to parking lot (west to east movement).
  Only one pedestrian crossed east to west. No
  pedestrians were observed crossing outside of
  marked crosswalk or walk/flashing dont walk
  portion of signal phase. 53 groups were observed
  crossing, ranging in size from one to 11.
  Average group size was 3 persons.
• AM study 279 peds crossed Davis Highway from
  parking lot to hospital (east to west movement).
  Four peds crossed east to west. Of the 279
  pedestrians, 12 crossed outside of the
  walk/flashing dont walk portion of the signal
  phase. Seventy-four groups were observed
  crossing, ranging in size from one to 12 persons.
  The average group size was 3.8 persons.
• Two pedestrians were observed crossing Davis
  Highway east to west at 731 AM, approximately
  100-200 feet north of the marked crosswalk.
• Other site visits observed additional east to
  west crossing movements outside of the crosswalks
  between the intersections of Johnson and Klinger,
  or without benefit of the walk phase of the
  traffic light.

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Signal Timing

• Department personnel examined the WALK and DONT
  WALK timing intervals resident in the traffic
  controller.
• Signal provided 7 seconds of the white walk
  light, followed by 14 seconds of a flashing dont
  walk clearance time for the pedestrian phase
  crossing Davis Highway.
• At this location Davis Highway consists of 4
  through travel lanes (2 in each direction) plus a
  southbound left turn lane (56 feet wide).
• Although Davis Highway has a coordinated traffic
  signal system, the Klinger signal is currently
  operating in the free mode. Sequence at
  Klinger cycles totally independent and without
  regard to the sequence at the adjacent signals of
  Johnson and University.
• Net effect of this operation allows for creation
  of gaps in the progressive traffic flow along
  Davis Highway, and quicker response time for the
  pedestrian phase.

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Speed Limits and Actual Vehicle Speeds

• The existing posted speed limit on Davis Highway
  transitions from 35 MPH to 45 MPH between
  University Parkway and Klinger Street, with the
  intersection at Klinger posted for 45 MPH.
• On February 9, 2005 FDOT conducted a speed study
  which began at 620 AM and ended at 730 AM.
• The 85th Percentile South Bound 32 mph, 85th
  Percentile North Bound 40 MPH were within the
  established requirements.
• Study may have been influenced by the presence of
  a marked law enforcement vehicle positioned in
  the painted median south of the crosswalk with
  their lights flashing.
• Given the recent increase in traffic volumes on
  Davis Highway and expansion of hospital
  facilities, appropriate to extend the 35 MPH
  speed zone north on Davis Highway to include the
  hospital and intersection with Johnson Avenue.

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Accessibility of the Overpass

• An overpass exits 0.10 miles south of the
  intersection at Klinger Street on Davis Highway.
  
• Built in the 1970s, is well maintained and open
  to the public for use.
• Approach ramps do not meet current standards for
  an accessible route, having a slope of 13 on the
  approach ramps and no level landings.
• No handicap parking spaces are provided for
  employees in the parking lot on the east side of
  Davis Highway.
• The overpass is rarely used, and even made
  accessible, would likely not be used since the
  existing signalized at-grade is more convenient.

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Roadway Lighting

• No night time lighting is present on this section
  of Davis Highway.
• Crash occurred at approximately 625 AM, on an
  overcast morning. Civil twilight began at 613
  a.m., with sunrise at 638 a.m.
• Hospital staff felt there was sufficient light at
  the time of the crash for pedestrians to be
  observed by an approaching driver.
• Enhancing the lighting of the roadway may help
  illuminate pedestrians crossing in low light and
  night time conditions.
• Lighting enhancements would be the responsibility
  of Escambia County or West Florida Hospital.

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Equipment Options

• Hospital staff requested various strategies,
  including
• speed bumps on Davis Highway in advance of the
  crosswalk,
• a strobe above the signal head,
• red light running cameras,
• red light indicator lamps,
• and pedestrian count down signals.
• Speed bumps are precluded by Section 15.c.2 of
  the Florida Green book, which states Speed bumps
  may not be used on public streets.
• Use of strobes to call attention to traffic
  signals no longer approved by FHWA. Their
  research found them to not be very effective.
• Red light running cameras are not approved for
  use in Florida.
• Red light indicator lamps are support by FDOT.
  Working to obtain support from local law
  enforcement agencies and the judicial system for
  their implementation.
• Count down signals approved for use on state
  roadways though FDOT Topic No. 750-000-005,
  Traffic Engineering Manual, but not yet
  implemented in D 3.

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Adopted Strategies

• FDOT implemented extension of 35 MPH speed limit
  zone northward past the hospital, replaced the
  pedestrian warning signs, and upgraded the curb
  ramps at the signal to include truncated domes.
• Encouraged Hospital to work with Escambia County
  to improve the night time lighting in the
  corridor, and installation of the pedestrian
  count down signals.
• Design and installation of count down signals
  would be the responsibility of the hospital, with
  the approval of Escambia County since they are
  the maintaining agency for the signal equipment
  at the intersection of Davis Highway and Klinger
  Street.
• Hospital replaced a fence bordering its parking
  lot along Davis Highway and upgraded the
  frequency of its nigh time shuttle service.

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Monroe Street Pedestrian Safety Project

• SR 61, Tallahassee

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Project Location

• South Monroe Street (SR 61) from Apalachee
  Parkway (US 27/SR 20) south to Gaines Street
  (SR 371)
• Tallahassee, FL
• 0.15 miles

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Existing Conditions _at_ Madison Street

• Marked, signalized crosswalks on South Monroe St.
  (south, west leg) at Madison St., no crosswalk on
  north leg.
• Frequent conflicts with eastbound right turning
  vehicles, both on red and green.
• Madison Street has dual eastbound left turn
  lanes.
• Sidewalks on east side of Monroe St., south of
  Madison not accessible (no ramps at curb, parking
  lot entrances, steep running slope).

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Potential Improvements _at_ Madison Street

• Reconstruct ramp and crosswalk on south side of
  intersection to remove skew, shorten crossing
  distance.
• Create larger, accessible landing on SW and SE
  corners.
• Rebuild islands on east side of Monroe St. at
  Holland Building parking lot to include curb
  ramps, accessible slope.
• Consider revising traffic flow into lot to reduce
  conflicts with pedestrians.
• Create raised, landscaped island in existing
  median to attract pedestrians to signalized
  crosswalks.
• Post Turning Traffic Must Yield to Peds
  signage.

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Potential Improvements _at_ Madison Street

• 2nd Option Close driveways, construct sidewalk
  on east side of Monroe St. at Holland Building
  parking lot to include curb ramps, accessible
  slope
• Revise traffic flow into lot to reduce conflicts
  with pedestrians, access from Calhoun Street.

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Additional Information

• Crash history - There were 118 crashes over the
  past 6 and 1/2 years. Three involved a
  pedestrian, one a cyclist. These included 2
  crashes where the pedestrian and cyclist were
  struck in the crosswalk by vehicles turning
  right. None of the 118 crashes were fatal.
• Under review by DMS as to impacts to surface
  parking, state owned buildings and parking
  garages, event staging, and possible partnership
  with project.
• Tallahassee's Downtown Improvement Authority has
  an interest in the project. Similar pedestrian
  safety issues are presented in their Downtown
  Connectivity Plan.
• Members of Capital Region Transportation Planning
  Agency Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
  support pedestrian improvements at intersections,
  especially those which limit the risk of being
  struck by right turning vehicles while in the
  crosswalk.