Evaluation of Local Pedestrian Safety: The California Pedestrian Safety Assessments Program Presentation for MTC’s Pedestrian Safety Summit Meghan Mitman, AICP Fehr & Peers January 29, 2010

PSA Program History CA Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) UC Berkeley ITS Tech Transfer Consultant: Fehr & Peers

OTS Vision for Ped Safety Enable California communities to: Improve pedestrian safety at specific locations and citywide Create safe, comfortable, accessible, and welcoming environments for pedestrians Enhance walkability, livability, and economic vitality

OTS: Building upon TSE Traffic Safety Evaluations (TSE) – 10 years Combining two experts: traffic engineering and enforcement Field site visit and staff interview Recommendations for enhancing traffic safety

Scope: Primary Focus Infrastructure Engineering Planning Policy Economic Vitality

Scope: Secondary Considerations

PSA Advisory Panel Dan Burden, Glatting Jackson Christopher Murphy, Office of Traffic Safety Lisa Dixon, Office of Traffic Safety Ken Kochevar, Federal Highway Administration William Kootsikas, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Rosalind Tianco, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Richard Haggstrom, Caltrans Ken McGuire, Caltrans Bruce Appleyard, UC Berkeley Charlie Zegeer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Rudy Umbs, Federal Highway Administration

Feedback from Rudy Umbs, FHWA:

Elements of the PSA

Collision Data and OTS Rankings TABLE 2-2. WALNUT CREEK TRAFFIC COLLISIONS AND RANKINGS, 2007 TYPE OF COLLISIONVICTIMS KILLED & INJURED RANKING BY DAILY VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED (of 103 cities) RANKING BY AVERAGE POPULATION (of 103 cities) Total Fatal and Injury35979 (77 percentile)29 (28 percentile) Alcohol Involved2391 (88 percentile)64 (62 percentile) HBD (Had Been Drinking) Driver < (73 percentile)67 (65 percentile) HBD Driver (81 percentile)63 (61 percentile) Pedestrians3149 (48 percentile)16 (16 percentile) Pedestrians < (78 percentile70 (68 percentile) Pedestrians (17 percentile)5 (5 percentile) Bicyclists993 (90 percentile)86 (83 percentile) Bicyclists < (89 percentile)82 (80 percentile) Composite86 (83 percentile)41 (40 percentile) Speed Related7355 (53 percentile)23 (22 percentile) Nighttime (9:00pm - 2:59am) 2387 (84 percentile)51 (50 percentile) Hit and Run1387 (84 percentile)71 (69 percentile) DUI ARRESTS396 Source: California Office of Traffic Safety,

Pre-Visit Interview: Programs, Policies, and Practices

Range of Issues Addressed

Interview Benchmarking: Key Strengths, Enhancements, and Opportunities

Benchmarking Matrix

Key Strengths - Examples

General Plan establishes pedestrian opportunity areas and encourages the development of pedestrian nodes Key Strengths

Public Art is present throughout Walnut Creek Key Strengths

Enhancement Areas - Examples

Establish a Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA) Establish TDM policies as conditions of development approval Enhancements

Police Enforcement –Routinize efforts –Share resources with neighbors –Educate officers –Enhance involvement of enforcement in planning, design, construction, and operation of pedestrian facilities Enhancements

Opportunity Areas - Examples

Establish a crosswalk policy to address: –Installation –Removal –Enhancements Opportunity Areas

Involve Health Agencies (including EMS) in the planning or design of pedestrian facilities Opportunity Areas

Field Visit: Multi-disciplinary participants and walking audit

Multi-disciplinary Participants ADA Coordinator* Engineering/Public Works Department Staff (including maintenance staff)* Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee MembersHealth Organizations including EMS Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator*Local/Regional Utilities Companies Business Owners or Residents in Focus Location(s)Neighborhood Preservation or Services Department Staff Business AssociationsParking Management Staff Caltrans District/ Headquarters StaffPedestrian Advocacy Organization Members City ArchitectPlanning Commission and/or Board Members City Landscape ArchitectPolice Traffic Safety Enforcement Officer* City Manager or AssistantProject Development/ Property Owners City Planning Department Staff (Long Range and Development Review)*Redevelopment Agency Staff Civic Engagement Department StaffRegional Agency/ MPO Representative Community Development Department StaffRepresentatives from Non-English Speaking Communities Community AssociationsSchool District Staff/PTA/PTO Leaders Department of AgingSenior Citizen Advocates Disability Rights Advocacy OrganizationTraffic Safety Advisory Committee Members Elected OfficialsTransit Services Staff

Field Audit Participants

Field Audit Types Walking Audit Nighttime Audit Economic Vitality Target Citizen Group Windshield Aerial/GIS-Based Site Plan Review Intercept Surveys Focus Groups

Walking Audit Route Overview

Sample Observations and Recommendations

North Broadway and Duncan Street (Walnut Creek)

Veterans Boulevard Significant jaywalking between Kaiser and Kmart, bus stop; recent fatality

Glossary of Candidate Treatments

Recommendations

The Report

Related Programs in California Pedestrian Safety Action Plans (PSAPs) Community Pedestrian Safety Engagement Healthy Transportation Network

Questions or Comments? Meghan Mitman