SR 61, Tallahassee

1
Monroe Street Pedestrian Safety Project

• SR 61, Tallahassee

2
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

3
Existing Conditions _at_ Apalachee Parkway

• Marked, signalized crosswalks on South Monroe
  Street (south, east legs) at Apalachee Parkway,
  no crosswalk on north leg, conflicts reported
  with right turning vehicles.
• Historical, mid-block crossing at Veterans
  Memorial. Serves parking lot accessed from
  Calhoun Street, heavy pedestrian traffic to
  Capitol. Posted as No Crosswalk, but has ramp
  on east side of Monroe Street.
• Sidewalks on Monroe are accessible.

4
Potential Improvements _at_ Apalachee Parkway

• Post Turning Traffic Must Yield to Peds signage
  at crosswalks with conflicts.
• Create raised, landscaped island in existing
  painted median to attract pedestrians to
  signalized crosswalks.
• Remove curb ramp at historical mid-block
  location.
• Develop driver, pedestrian education and
  enforcement activities with Tallahassee Police
  and Capitol Police Depts.

X
5
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).

6
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.

7
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.

8
Existing Conditions _at_ East Madison St.

• Unmarked crosswalk on South Monroe St. at East
  Madison St., between Caldwell Building steps and
  parking garage pedestrian exit.
• Restricted by signed No Pedestrian Crossing .
• Heavily used by pedestrians, 50 in 15 minute
  counts between 715 800 am, lunch time.
• Sidewalks on east side of Monroe St. not
  accessible (no ramps at curb, parking lot
  entrances, steep running slope)

9
Potential Improvements _at_ East Madison St.

• Add curb ramps on east side of Monroe St. at
  East Madison St.
• Post Turning Traffic Must Yield to Peds
  signage.
• Remove on-street parking bay on west side of
  Monroe St. at Caldwell Building, relocate to
  Madison St. or parking lot on south side of
  building on hold for further study.
• Remove steps on Monroe St. side of Caldwell
  Building between sidewalk and street on hold
  for further study.

X
10
Potential Improvements _at_ Apalachee Parkway,
Madison Street, Gaines Street

• New signage options from MUTCD to encourage
  driver yielding, awareness of responsibility.
• Signs should be located adjacent to the signal
  face to which they apply post or mast arm.
• MUTCD In order to remind drivers who are
  making turns to yield to pedestrians, especially
  at intersections where right turn on red is
  permitted and pedestrian crosswalks are marked, a
  TURNING TRAFFIC MUST YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS
  (R10-15) sign may be used.
• Continue to evaluate driver compliance, consider
  No Right on Red if necessary.

11
Potential Improvements _at_ Apalachee Parkway,
Madison Street, Gaines Street

• Install count down pedestrian heads at existing
  signalized crosswalks.
• Coordinate installation with the City of
  Tallahassee, who is the maintaining agency.
• May help to resolve confusion with the intent of
  the walk and flashing dont walk portions of the
  existing pedestrian signals.
• Provide education to pedestrians on count down
  signals.
• Consider adding accessible features to signals to
  assist those who have visual impairments.

12
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.