Assessment of Vision Zero Treatments Providing Equitability for Pedestrians – Leading Pedestrian Intervals Case Study
Author(s): Hasanpour, Persaud Student Paper Competition: 1st Place
Slidedeck Presentation:
Abstract:
Background:
Pedestrian fatalities have increased on a concerning scale of late, particularly in urban areas. Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) has been proposed as a cost-efficient vision-zero strategy to improve pedestrian safety in urban signalized intersections. Although this strategy is considered successful, there can be a marked contrast in results from one location and another. Besides, there is, logically, a detrimental effect on operations because of reduced vehicle green times to accommodate the LPI.
Aims:
This study aims to identify and model the design, traffic, and operational factors that can impact the safety effects of LPI and also the effect of LPI development on operations, specifically queues and delays. These relationships will help to explore the balance between safety and operations in addressing equitability.
Methods:
To evaluate and model the effect of different intersection characteristics on the number and severity of traffic conflicts, microsimulation, facilitated by PTV VISTRO software, will be used. Simultaneously, the implications on operations, specifically queues and delays, will be assessed. An extensive, critical review of related literature will complement the analytical work.
Results:
The results will illustrate the quantification of improvement in pedestrian-vehicle collisions, as well as changes in the level of service (LOS) measures at treated intersections. This will help decision-makers in optimizing the selection of intersections for LPI implementation, considering both safety and operational aspects.
Discussion:
Although the safety benefits of LPI have been confirmed, the LPI treatment may, in many situations, create a sizable, detrimental imbalance between safety benefits and operations impacts. The implications for other vision zero strategies are discussed.
Conclusions:
This part is combined with the "discussion" field since the research is still in progress.