HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-02; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Consider the use of push button activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) systems at existing marked crosswalks in the Carlsbad Village area at four uncontrolledCITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: February 2, 2015 ITEM NO. 6E
LOCATION: Carlsbad Village: Carlsbad Boulevard and Grand Avenue
INITIATED BY: Doug Bilse, City Traffic Engineer
REQUESTED ACTION: Consider the use of push button activated Rectangular Rapid
Flashing Beacon (RRFB) systems at existing marked crosswalks in
the Carlsbad Village area at four uncontrolled intersections along
Carlsbad Boulevard and two uncontrolled mid-block sites along
Grand Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
DATA:
On April 10, 2012 the City Council approved the installation of improvements to
enhance pedestrian crossings along Carlsbad Boulevard {CIP Project No. 6322). On April
30, 2013 City Council approved the installation of a push button activated rectangular
rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) system at the marked crosswalk at the intersection of
Carlsbad Boulevard and Oak Street as a pilot project "to evaluate whether additional
RRFB systems would be appropriate at the other enhanced crosswalk locations on
Carlsbad Boulevard." Staff has determined that the push button activated RRFB system
is appropriate for use at four existing marked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections
along Carlsbad Boulevard. Staff is also recommending installing push button activated
RRFB systems at two addition existing crosswalk locations at uncontrolled mid-block
locations on Grand Avenue (see attached map).
RRFBs are user-actuated amber LEDs that supplement warning signs at un-signalized
intersections or mid-block crosswalks. They can be activated by pedestrians manually by
a push button or passively by a pedestrian detection system. RRFBs may be installed on
either two-lane or multi-lane roadways. In 2011 the Federal Highway Administration
{FHWA) granted the state of California interim approval to install RRFB systems at
uncontrolled pedestrian and school crosswalk locations {FHWA HOTO-1).
Following are the benefits of installing RRFB's according to a report prepared by the
Federal Highway Administration {Report FHWA-SA-09-009):
• Including RRFBs on the roadside increases driver yielding behavior significantly.
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COMMISSION MEETING OF:
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CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
February 2, 2015 ITEM NO. 6E
• Including RRFBs on a center island or median as well can further increase driver
yielding behavior, although with a lower marginal benefit than roadside beacons.
• RRFBs are a lower cost alternative to traffic signals and hybrid signals that are shown
to increase driver yielding behavior at crosswalks significantly when supplementing
standard pedestrian crossing warning signs and markings.
• An official FHWA-sponsored experimental implementation and evaluation
conducted in St. Petersburg, Florida found that RRFBs at pedestrian crosswalks are
dramatically more effective at increasing driver yielding rates to pedestrians than
traditional overhead beacons.
• The novelty and unique nature of the stutter flash may elicit a greater response from
drivers than traditional methods.
• The addition of RRFB may also increase the safety effectiveness of other treatments,
such as the use of advance yield markings with YIELD (or STOP) HERE FOR
PEDESTRIANS signs. These signs and markings are used to reduce the incidence of
multiple-threat crashes at crosswalks on multi-lane roads (i.e., crashes where a
vehicle in one lane stops to allow a pedestrian to cross the street while a vehicle in
an adjacent lane, traveling in the same direction, strikes the pedestrian), but alone
they only have a small effect on overall driver yielding rates.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve installation of push button activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
(RRFB} system at existing marked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections in the
Carlsbad Village area along Carlsbad Boulevard at the following intersections (see
attached map):
• Carlsbad Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue
• Carlsbad Boulevard and Maple Avenue
• Carlsbad Boulevard and Cherry Avenue
• Carlsbad Boulevard and Hemlock Avenue
Approve installation of push button activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
(RRFB} systems along existing marked crosswalks at uncontrolled mid-block locations in
the Carlsbad Village area along Grand Avenue at the following mid-block locations (see
attached map}:
• between State Street and Roosevelt Street
• between Carlsbad Boulevard and Garfield Street
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PROJECT NAME
MAP
RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING BEACONS AT CROSSWALKS
WITH RAISED MEDIANS ON CARLSBAD BOULEARD
LEGEND:
0 PROPOSED RRFB
• EXISTING RRFB
PROJECT
NUMBER
6322
EXHIBIT
2
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