Pedestrian Tools

Home , Pedestrian crossing

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Pedestrian Tools Streetscapes Streetscape Streetscapes essentially define the • Improves pedestrian safety • Street furniture should be designed Improvements character of the street. Everything • Encourages walking and installed in a way that does not that is found in the space between • Enhances pedestrian hinder movement along the buildings on each side of the street environment sidewalk or access to transit stops or can be considered part of the • Enlivens commercial districts by stations. streetscape realm. Providing street fostering community life • Certain improvements can be trees, landscape improvements and expensive street furniture along the sidewalks contribute to a successful streetscape.

Sidewalks Sidewalks The sidewalk zone is the portion of • Improves pedestrian safety • Street furniture may be an obstacle the street right-of-way between the dramatically or hazard to pedestrians curb and building front. Within this • Improves mobility for zone, there are four distinct areas pedestrians and provides access that serve different organizational for all types of pedestrian travel purposes: the edge/curb zone, the furnishing zone, the throughway zone and the frontage zone. Intersection Reconfiguration Tools

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Curb Extensions Also known as a pedestrian bulb- • Reduces pedestrian crossing • Not recommended on streets with a out, this traffic-calming measure is distance curb-edge bus stop meant to slow traffic and increase • Can add sidewalk space for the • Can pose obstacles to street driver awareness of pedestrians. It installation of a curb ramp sweepers, drainage and trash consists of an extension of the curb • Helps slow turning vehicles by accumulation into the street, making the reducing the corner radius • Potential loss of on-street parking pedestrian space (sidewalk) wider • Improves visibility of • Increase the potential for conflicts and reducing roadway crossing pedestrians by “daylighting” between bicyclists and motorists distances. corners • May impact turning ability of trucks

and other heavy vehicles Reduced Curb Reducing turning radii fosters • Reduces pedestrian crossing • May decrease vehicular capacity at Radii compact intersection design and distance intersection improves sight distance, in which • Vehicle turn speeds are reduced • Impact the turning ability of trucks dimensions of the curb at the • Improves pedestrian visibility and other heavy vehicles intersection directly affects the • Improves signal timing because speed of the approaching vehicle. the time for the pedestrian A large turning radius (generally 30 crossing phase can be reduced feet or greater) allows vehicles to • Have the same effect on traffic turn at high speeds. Reducing the speeds as installing bulb-outs radius forces approaching vehicles but are less difficult to install to slow down while still and more suitable for streets accommodating larger vehicles, with bicycle lanes thus reducing the frequency and • On-street parking and bicycle severity of pedestrian collisions at lanes can allow for smaller curb intersections. Note that on-street radii while maintaining the parking should be restricted in same effective curb radius advance of crosswalks, to improve visibility for pedestrians.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Pedestrian Refuge An island located in the middle of • Enables pedestrians to focus on • Can be expensive Islands the street where pedestrians can crossing each direction of traffic • May require installation of wait, allowing them to cross half separately and provide a safe detectable warnings for visually the distance of the street at a time. place in the middle of the street impaired pedestrians The minimum recommended width to wait • Pedestrians have been observed for a median island is 5-6 feet in • Reduces pedestrian crossing forgetting to look the other way order to accommodate bicyclists. distance before proceeding across the second In different contexts, the refuge • Improves pedestrian safety half of the crossing island can be extended if there are higher amounts of pedestrian

activity or additional travel lanes.

Intersection Traffic Control Tools Traffic Signal or Conventional traffic control devices • Reduces pedestrian-vehicle • May require accessible pedestrian All-Way Stop with warrants for use based on the conflicts signals for visually impaired Manual on Uniform Control Devices • Slows traffic speeds pedestrians, increasing the cost (MUTCD).

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Longer Traffic Extending the time the WALK • Low cost • Pedestrians may already be in the Signal Walk symbol is displayed before starting • Makes signalized intersections crosswalk as the DON’T WALK Phases the DON’T WALK phase. more pedestrian friendly phase begins

Pedestrian Pedestrians are permitted to cross • Making signalized intersections • May reduce the capacity of the Scramble in all directions at an intersection, more pedestrian friendly intersection for vehicular traffic including diagonally, during an • The diagonal direction tends to • May require accessible pedestrian exclusive pedestrian phase. During better reflect walking patterns signals for visually impaired the time period when the diagonal • Reduces vehicle turning pedestrians, increasing the cost crosswalk pedestrian indication conflicts • A longer pedestrian clearance permits pedestrians to cross, the • Reduces walking distance for interval is needed to allow vehicle indications display red on all those who want to cross pedestrians sufficient time to walk approaches of the intersection. diagonally the longer diagonal distance across

• Low cost the intersection Leading Equipment or new timing is • Reduces pedestrian-vehicle • May require accessible pedestrian Pedestrian Signal installed at signalized intersections conflicts signals for visually impaired Intervals to release pedestrian traffic 3 • Provides benefits of exclusive pedestrians, increasing the cost seconds in advance of turning pedestrian phase timing while vehicles for signals with protected permitting most of the left-turn movements or all pedestrian crossing time to run movements for permitted left-turn concurrent with nonconflicting movements. The WALK indication vehicle phases or walking person symbol is • Low cost displayed 3 seconds in advance of the green signal indication for vehicles.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Intersection Crossing Enhancement Tools Advanced Limit Standard white STOP or limit lines • Increase visibility of pedestrians • If the limit lines are too far back, Lines are placed preferably at least 4 feet • Potential reduction in the risk of visually impaired pedestrians may in advance of marked crosswalks at right-angle collisions caused by not hear the sound cues that tell signalized intersections. red light running them that vehicles have stopped to • May reduce the risk of allow them to cross the street pedestrian crashes involving • May reduce availability of on-street left-turning vehicles parking

Pedestrian Signal The countdown timer starts either • East to understand • Higher installation and maintenance Countdown at the beginning of the pedestrian • Increased feeling of safety when costs Timers phase or at the onset of the crossing the street • Not accessible to pedestrians with pedestrian clearance interval. The • May discourage some impaired vision timer continues counting down pedestrians from crossing with • Some suppliers start the countdown through the pedestrian clearance few seconds left at the beginning of the pedestrian interval. At the end of the • Appropriately suited for wide phase and others at the beginning of pedestrian clearance interval, the crossing and areas where there the pedestrian clearance interval; countdown device displays a zero are many senior citizens and this may confuse some pedestrians and the DON’T WALK indication people with walking disabilities appears. • The majority of installations are simple drop-in replacement Marked Marked crosswalks are the portion • Increases visibility of the • May give pedestrians a false sense of Crosswalks of the roadway designated for pedestrian crossing area security when crossing the street pedestrians to use in crossing the • Defines the space for crossing, • Crosswalk markings alone are street. Various crosswalk marking and draws pedestrians to the unlikely to benefit pedestrian safety patterns are given in the MUTCD. appropriate crossing point • The boundary between the sidewalk High-visibility markings include a • Reduces traffic speeds at the and street is not readily detectable family of crosswalk striping styles crosswalk by visually impaired pedestrians such as the “ladder,” the “zebra” • Makes it easier for pedestrians unless tactile cues are installed on and the “continental.” to cross the sidewalk at each end of the

crosswalk

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Raised Crosswalks Similar to speed humps, raised • Reduces traffic speeds at the • Can be expensive crosswalks provide an elevated crosswalk • May cause discomfort for bus surface above the travel lane that • Makes it easier for pedestrians passengers and drivers if raised attracts the attention of the driver to cross crosswalk crosses bus route and encourages lower speeds. It is • Tactile treatments are needed at the useful in areas with high pedestrian sidewalk/street boundary so that activity by essentially raising the visually impaired pedestrians can road surface over a short crossing identify the edge of the street. distance. This treatment includes a flat area on the top that constitutes the crosswalk. This flat area may be made of asphalt, patterned concrete, or brick pavers. Supplementary Regulatory pedestrian signage is • Improved pedestrian safety • May become less effective over time Pedestrian posted on lane edge lines and/or • Low cost • Must be periodically replaced Crossing road centerlines. The In-Street • Positive feedback Channeling Device Pedestrian Crossing sign may be • The signs are flexible and have (SPCCD) used to remind road users of laws no metallic parts; will not regarding right of way at an damage a vehicle that hits the unsignalized pedestrian crossing. sign nor become dangerous The cones incorporate a graphic projectiles to pedestrians panel which reads with some • Signs can be removed for street variation of “YIELD TO cleaning PEDESTRIANS IN CROSSWALK”. High-Visibility High-visibility fluorescent yellow • Improves the visibility of the • Not useful for pedestrians who are Signs and green signs are posted to increase crossing from the driver’s visually impaired Markings the visibility of a pedestrian perspective and for pedestrians • Overuse may negate long-term crossing. with low vision effectiveness • Can increase motorist compliance on multi-lane roads

Mid-Block Crossing Enhancement Tools

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO HAWK Beacon HAWK Beacons (High Intensity • Drivers are likely to stop for any • May require driver education for Activated Crosswalks) are form of traffic control alternating flashing red signals pedestrian-actuated signals that resembling a traffic signal • Drivers have a tendency to remain are a combination of a beacon • Minimizes delay for major street stopped when it is safe to proceed flasher and a traffic control signal. traffic and avoids attracting • It may be confusing to have a dark When actuated, a HAWK beacon additional vehicular traffic to signal display, which may convey a displays a yellow (warning) the side street, which may be power outage to some drivers indication followed by a solid red residential • If located on bus routes could impact light. During pedestrian clearance, the predictability of transit schedule the driver sees a flashing red “wig- as actuation will slow down auto wag” pattern until the clearance traffic interval has ended and the signal • May require accessible pedestrian goes dark. Though less expensive signals for visually impaired than a full signal, the overall pedestrians, increasing the cost effectiveness depends on the education of drivers. The HAWK is included in the 2009 Federal MUTCD, but not yet approved for use in California.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO In-Pavement The devices are mounted in the • Provides a visual cue to drivers • Significant costs for installation and Flashing Lights street pavement adjacent to the of the presence of pedestrians, maintenance Crosswalk outside of the crosswalk markings especially during adverse • May be a hazard to some bicyclists Warning System and typically protrude less than 0.5 weather conditions such as inches above the pavement. They darkness, fog, and rain are normally dark, but they are actuated to provide a flashing yellow light while the pedestrian crossing is in use.

Staggered Refuge islands are longer medians • By requiring pedestrians to walk • Construction costs can be significant Pedestrian Refuge in the center of the roadway. The toward traffic, the refuge • The path of travel may be unclear to Island crosswalks leading to the island are provides them a better view of visually impaired pedestrians unless staggered such that a pedestrian oncoming traffic and allows tactile pavement is included crosses half the street and then drivers to clearly see • Adequate space must be provided must walk towards traffic to reach pedestrians for persons in wheelchairs to make the second half of the crosswalk. • Increases the concentration of turns between the staggered They must be designed for pedestrians at a crossing, crossings accessibility by including rails and making them more visible to • Increases the distance a pedestrian truncated domes ( See Truncated motorists has to walk; the increased length of Domes tool ) to direct sight- pedestrian phases increases cycle impaired pedestrians along the lengths and delays to vehicles and

path of travel. the next pedestrian phase unless pedestrian crossing movements can be accomplished in two signal phases

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Road Diet Tools Roadway Narrow 10-12 foot wide travel lanes • Pedestrians’ exposure to • Requires more use of striping on Narrowing are created by striping residential moving traffic is minimized residential streets where typically streets and providing extra-wide while crossing there is no striping or just a left-turn and bike or parking lanes • Parking lanes can be made centerline (see Bikeways tools ). The street can wider to provide more room for • If the travel lane is narrowed so that be physically narrowed by bicyclists parked vehicles are closer to the extending sidewalks and • Narrow lanes have a calming moving traffic, this can result in landscaped areas, or by adding on- effect and reduce the distance bicyclists conflicting with open doors street parking within the former pedestrians must travel when of parked vehicles curb lines. crossing Lane Reductions This treatment involves reducing • For undivided roadways without • The reduced number of travel lanes Before: the number of travel lanes by turn pockets, the change to may affect the traffic-carrying widening the sidewalks, adding fewer through lanes and the capacity of the roadway, and thus bike and parking lanes ( see addition of turn lanes can may cause traffic to divert onto Bikeways tools ), converting parallel reduce rear-end and sideswipe adjacent residential streets parking to angled or perpendicular accidents parking, or converting one-way • Increase on-street parking and streets to two-way with a center landscaping areas median. • For residential streets, lane reductions with bike lanes can calm traffic and, if bike lanes are After: provided, can improve driveway accessibility

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Street Lighting Tools Street Lighting for Lights are installed, generally 150- • Provides better ambient lighting • Energy cost for installing and Pedestrians watt bulbs at 100-foot spacing, 10- conditions for drivers to see operating pedestrian-oriented 12 feet high, on both sides of the pedestrians lighting is significantly higher than street. • Improves feeling of safety for that for vehicle-oriented lighting pedestrians

Roadway Lighting It is best to place streetlights along • Motorists will be able to see • Potentially high energy costs both sides of arterial streets and to pedestrians better at nighttime provide a consistent level of • Well-lit commercial districts will lighting along a roadway. enhance business Nighttime pedestrian crossing • Enhance safety for all roadway areas may be supplemented with users, particularly pedestrians brighter or additional lighting. This includes lighting pedestrian crosswalks and approaches to the

crosswalks.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO ADA Access Improvement Tools Accessible Treatments for pedestrian signal • The redundant auditory • Older types of audible pedestrian Pedestrian Signals indications, including directly information results in getting all signals do not respond to ambient audible or transmitted tones, pedestrians to leave the curb sound and are often either too loud speech messages, Talking Signs, faster, thereby speeding both or too quiet and vibrating surfaces, make real- pedestrian and vehicular flow • The directional guidance afforded by time pedestrian signal information • Most accessible signal products older type signals is poor, and they accessible to pedestrians who are in the USA are responsive to do not indicate to users whether visually impaired. Through the use ambient sound, so they are not they need to push a button of infrared modulated transmitted intrusive in neighborhoods • May give ambiguous or incorrect light, a voice message is carried to a • Directly audible or transmitted information handheld receiver and is announced speech messages can identify through a speaker on the receiver the location of the intersection or an earphone. It is directional so and the specific crosswalk that the user knows exactly where controlled by that push button the transmission is coming from. • A vibrating arrow at the push Under the ADA, accessible button can provide signal pedestrian signal information is information to persons who required at newly signalized have hearing impairments intersections that have actuated pedestrian signals and at intersections that lack the cues needed by people with visual disabilities and that are undergoing

signal upgrades.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Push Button At signalized intersections, • Provides more information to • Potential for vandalism Treatments pedestrian pushbuttons (PPBs) are pedestrians about the operation installed in combination with of the signals pedestrian signals that inform • LED device improves nighttime pedestrians when to cross. For visibility of the push-button traffic signals, pedestrian actuation devices changes signal timing to • Minimizes delay to vehicular accommodate pedestrian walk traffic when pedestrians are not times. In other cases, pedestrian present actuation may activate a device, such as in-roadway warning lights.

Detectable A detectable warning is a • Provides information to visually • Pattern may cause discomfort for Warnings standardized surface feature, impaired pedestrians about the some wheelchair users; parallel specified in the “Americans with boundary between the sidewalk alignment of domes can help Disabilities Ace Accessibility and the vehicular way minimize the discomfort Guidelines” (ADAAG), comprised of raised truncated domes and used to inform visually impaired pedestrians of the hazards in the area immediately ahead. Detectable warnings are placed at the base of curb ramps or on the sidewalk edge of the street at blended curbs and at flush transitions from the sidewalk to the crosswalk. Alignment of domes is parallel to the primary direction of travel.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Curb Ramps Curb ramps provide access between • Provide access to street • Can be expensive the sidewalk and roadway for crossings people using wheelchairs, strollers, • Improve accessibility for and also pedestrians with mobility persons in wheelchairs and impairments who have trouble persons with mobility stepping up and down high curbs. impairments Directional ramps are preferred over diagonal ramps as they provide direct access to each crosswalk. Curb ramps should be ADA compliant to accommodate mobility and visually impaired pedestrians. Interchange Improvement Tools Pedestrian Apply design features to improve • Provides a consistent message • May decrease vehicular capacity at Accommodation pedestrian safety at interchanges that pedestrians should be intersection at Interchanges and connect pedestrian facilities expected and that drivers are no efficiently with surrounding land longer on the freeways when uses and transit stations. using on- and off-ramps • Vehicle speeds are reduced and pedestrian visibility is improved

Bicycle Tools Bikeways Class I Path Class I paths provide a completely • Improve mobility for bicyclists • Right-of-ways separated from separate right-of-way and are and provide access for all types motorized vehicle traffic are not designed for the exclusive use of of bicycle travel always available bicycles and pedestrians with • Increases bicycle use by • Requires higher investment than for vehicle cross-flow minimized. improving feeling of safety separated Class II or III bikeways • Do not affect motorized vehicle traffic flow

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Class II Bike Lane Class II bike lanes, provide a • Provide dedicated bicycle space • Drivers may cross the line (either by restricted right-of-way and are on the roadway accident or when turning right or designated for the use of bicycles • Help define road space and parking) which can cause conflicts with a striped lane on a street or promotes a more orderly flow of with bicyclists highway. Bicycle lanes are typically traffic; • Often time bike lanes drop in five feet wide. Vehicle parking and • Encourage bicyclists to ride in advance of the intersection, where vehicle/pedestrian cross-flow are the correct direction, with the conflicts are most likely to occur. permitted. Certain sections of the flow of traffic Stripe lanes through to the bike lane may be colored or marked • Give bicyclists a clear place to intersection to designate space for utilizing special stencils to highlight be so they are not tempted to bicyclists. high-risk locations, where motorists ride on the sidewalk are permitted or required to merge • Signal to motorists that cyclists into or cross the bike lane. In order have a right to the road to provide increased safety, bike lanes may be physically separated from motorized traffic by either barriers or differences in elevation.

Class III Bike Route Class III bike routes provide a right- • Suitable for streets with low • No lines are striped on the roadway, of-way designated by signs or vehicle volumes and speeds which may lead to confusion pavement markings for shared use • Reduces and slows through between bicyclists and drivers with pedestrians or motor vehicles. vehicle traffic • Bike routes are not suitable for While a basic Class III route may • Low cost streets with high vehicle speeds or simply have signs and markings, a volumes Bicycle Boulevard is a special type of shared route that optimizes bicycle travel. Bike boulevards can have a variety of traffic calming elements to improve safety and comfort for bicyclists and often

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO feature reduced speed limits.

Bicycle Parking Bike Rack Bicycle racks are devices to which • Provides bicycle/transit • Possible risk of bicycle theft or bicycles may be securely attached. commuters a short-term vandalism The rack itself should be securely alternative to bringing their • If racks are not covered, bicycles attached to the ground or a bikes onboard may be exposed to the elements stationary object such as a building. • Encourages bicycle use Weather protection may also be provided in the form of a cover or shield. Bike racks are appropriate for short-term use.

Bike Locker A locker or box in which a single • Allow bicycle/transit commuters • More expensive than bike racks bicycle can be placed and locked in. an alternative to bringing their • Potential to be misused such as for Lockers may either be available on bikes onboard storage of things besides bicycles a first-come-first-served basis or for • Encourages bicycle use and being used by homeless people a fee. • Good for long-term use as places to sleep • Prevents theft and vandalism • Typically provide protection from the elements

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Bike Station A bicycle station is a building or • Allow bicycle/transit commuters • Can be expensive to build structure that provides services to an alternative to bringing their • Requires on-going staffing and bicycle commuters such as secure bikes onboard maintenance bicycle storage, showers, lockers, • Encourages bicycle use bicycle repair services, bike parts • Good for long-term use and accessories for sale, • Prevents theft and vandalism information for bicyclists, bike • Provide protection from the rental, etc. elements

Other Bicycle Tools Bicycle Signage Signs often convey important • Makes motorists more aware of • Overuse of signage may negate information that can improve road bicyclists on the roads long-term effectiveness safety. The intent is to let bicyclists • Improves bicyclist safety • and motorists know what to expect • Alerts bicyclists to upcoming in order to improve the chances turns or obstacles that they will react and behave • Helps bicyclists navigate the appropriately. roads without having to stop to look at a map or ask for directions

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Bicycle Detection When a bicyclist approaches an • Traffic signals can be activated • Can be expensive to install intersection, there are several without relying on bicyclists to • Can disrupt traffic flow on the cross means of detecting and facilitating push a button street his or her movements. Most of the • Improves efficiency, decreases • The equipment may not be capable innovations are passive detection bicycle delay and thus of detecting all types of bicycles devices such as loop detectors and discourages red light running by • Loop detectors are ineffective if infrared or video detection bicyclists bicyclists don’t know where to systems. A bicycle stencil informs • Encourages bicycle use position themselves bicyclists that their bicycles actuate • Helps to protect the bicyclist at • Weather conditions may reduce the the signal. Other detection devices an intersection, which may effectiveness of video detection are active, such as the bicycle push- improve real and perceived systems

button, which is similar to that used safety at high conflict areas • Infrared detection may have trouble by pedestrians. detecting smaller objects, including young children on bicycles Bikesharing Bike sharing is a form of bicycle • Improves mobility options • Potential for theft and vandalism rental where people can have • Encourages bicycle use • Ongoing maintenance costs convenient access to a shared fleet • May reduce drive alone trips • May not be applicable to all areas – of bicycles on an as-needed basis. • Demonstrate a city’s most successful in areas with Until recently, bicycle sharing commitment to investing in relatively level topography and programs worldwide have non-motorized transportation temperate climates experienced low to moderate options • Less effective in cities without a success; in the last five years, continuous bikeway network innovations in technology have given rise to a new generation of technology-driven bicycle sharing programs. These new bicycle sharing programs can dramatically increase the visibility of cycling and lower barriers to use by requiring only that the user have a desire to bicycle and a smart card, credit card, or cell phone. TDM Tools

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Employer-Based Incentives Alternative Work Alternative work schedules • Reduced travel times and load • May have negative effects on Schedule typically allow or encourage factors resulting in less carpooling/vanpooling due to employees to start and/or leave crowding on transit and staggered work schedules work outside of peak hours. These freeways • Not applicable to all employers can include flextime and staggered • Allows commuters to match • Some employers may be hesitant to shifts enabling or mandating work schedules with transit and implement employees to arrive and leave at rideshare schedules different times or a compressed • Reduced peak hour work trips work week where employees work and congestion fewer but longer days, such as four • Increased employee satisfaction 10-hour days each week (4/40), or 9-hour days with one day off every two weeks (9/80). Parking Cash-Out Parking cash-out is a policy • Provides individuals a choice on • Can be difficult to convince whereby employees who may be whether they want to use employers to offer a parking cash- offered parking as a benefit of their company provided parking out subsidy job are offered monthly cash • Encourages carpooling, biking, • Works best when part of a benefits or free transit passes in walking and transit use comprehensive TDM program exchange for giving up their free or • Frees up parking availability and employee-paid parking. Often, reduces existing or unmet revenues from paid parking parking demand facilities will pay for the free employee transit passes and other related benefits. A parking cash-out policy reduces employee parking demand through financial incentives or free alternative transportation.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Guaranteed Ride GRH programs provide an • Increased commuter security • Some employers may be hesitant to Home occasional subsidized ride to • Increased commuter flexibility provide GTH due to the possibility of commuters who use alternative • Supports use of alternative high costs per use, administration modes, for example, if a bus rider modes time or liability exposure must return home in an emergency, or a car pooler must stay at work later than expected.

On-Site Employers can offer a wide range of • Enables employees to easily • May require a coordinator to Transportation incentives to encourage the use of purchase transit passes establish contact and manage sales Sales Support commute alternatives among • Demonstrates employer at the worksite employees, including selling transit support for alternative • Requires support from the transit passes on-site, providing transit transportation agency to allow a third party to sell subsidies and establishing pre-tax • Additional revenue for the transit passes spending accounts to pay for transit agency commuting expenses.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Transit Access Information and Tools Transit Center Operations Management Shared Bus Bays Just as multiple airline flights use • Offers additional capacity at • May require upgraded passenger the same gate at an airport, transit centers information tools at the transit multiple bus routes can share a bus • Can maximize transit center center to direct riders to the correct bay. With dedicated bus bays, each efficiency buses bay has a permanent sign with the • Improves ease of transfers • Can be more confusing for users name of the agency and the route • Allows for some bays to be than dedicated bus bays that stops there. With shared bus shifted to dedicated layover • Requires procedures and policies, bays, typically signs that show spaces jointly developed by transit multiple routes are posted, or more operators, regarding use of shared often electronic signs are used that bus bays can be changed to show which bus will stop at that location and when.

Transit Service Enhancements Queue Bypass The right lane approaching the • Can move transit through • Queue bypasses require careful Lanes intersection is reserved for buses intersections where queue study and right-turning traffic. Typically, delays would otherwise be • Can be expensive a special brief signal phase gives a severe • Community perception can be that green light to this right lane only, • Improves transit vehicle travel transit is receiving ‘special’ while also giving a red light to the times and schedule adherence treatment and cars are being crosswalk to which right-turning • Does not disrupt the signal delayed traffic would otherwise yield. This progression of the main arterial • Requires roadway capacity for permits the right lane to clear out or intersecting arterial dedicated bus lane at intersection and for the bus to cross the • Offers other benefits for intersection prior to the parallel emergency services and traffic on the arterial. On the other evacuations side of the intersection, a lane (1) can be discontinued (queue jump), (2) can extend only a short distance and then buses must merge with the other lanes of traffic (queue

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO bypass), or (3) can be continuous along the length of the road, effectively offering a bus-only lane. This tool is often used for BRT. Traffic Signal An operational strategy that • Improves transit vehicle travel • Can be expensive Priority facilitates the movement of transit times and schedule adherence • Only effective on high frequency vehicles through signal-controlled • Does not disrupt the signal lines intersections. As the transit vehicle progression of the main arterial • May sometimes cause running approaches the intersection, it is • Offers other benefits for passengers to miss a bus detected and the traffic signal may emergency services and • Community perception can be that be adjusted based on a pre- evacuations transit is receiving ‘special’ programmed priority control treatment and cars are being strategy. delayed

Bus Stop Bus stops are public transit’s “front • Well located bus stops improve • Availability of space may be an issue Enhancement door” and offer riders their first transit operations, on-time • Costs can add up quickly impression of a transit service performance and safety • Local opposition to advertisements before even stepping on board. An • Enhanced passenger amenities on bus shelters can hinder their attractive, well maintained stop at bus stops provide added implementation that provides shelter and seating is comfort and safety • Difficult to relocate likely to be received in a much more • Can serve as a marketing tool positive manner compared to a simple sign-post with a bus schedule.

Bus Turnouts A bus turnout (also known as a bus • Allows traffic to proceed around • Buses must merge back into the flow bay) is a specially constructed area the bus, reducing delay for of traffic using the bus stop, which separated from the travel lanes and general traffic can cause delay to the bus and off the normal section of a roadway • Maximizes vehicular capacity of increase travel time that provides for the pickup and the roads • Although many jurisdictions discharge of passengers. This • Clearly defines the bus stop worldwide have instituted yield to design allows through traffic to • Passenger loading and bus laws, motorist compliance with flow freely without the obstruction unloading can be conducted in a these laws is often non-existent

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO of stopped buses. more relaxed manner • Uses additional space and may • Eliminates potential rear-end require right-of-way acquisition accidents • Bus turnouts can be used as an emergency turnout for the general public to prevent blocking a lane of traffic

Accessibility Paratransit The focus of this tool is to ensure • May reduce paratransit costs by • May require some fixed route bus Loading Area transit facilities incorporate a plan allowing some to transfer to bays to be shifted to other locations for paratransit vehicles. Transit other forms of transit agencies should work together to • Improve accessibility allot space that affords a minimal • Improves efficiency of transfers distance between a dedicated paratransit bay and other station amenities.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO ADA Accessible In accordance with the ADA, transit • Ensures compliance with ADA • May require some fixed route bus Environment at agencies are required to develop an and takes steps to bring out-of- bays to be shifted to other locations Transit Facilities Access Plan, which is also referred compliance into full compliance • May require costly modifications to to a Transition Plan, to address any • Improves overall accessibility at existing facilities that are out of deficiencies. Its purpose is to transit facilities compliance identify physical obstacles that limit • Improves efficiency of transfers the accessibility of facilities to individuals with disabilities, describe the methods to be used to make the facilities accessible, provide a schedule for making the access modifications, and identify the public officials responsible for implementation of the Transition Plan.

Facility Enhancement Tools Lighting Individuals report that they are • Improves visibility for • More light fixtures can lead to higher sometimes wary of using isolated pedestrians, transit users and maintenance costs or poorly lit transit facilities. transit operators • May create a more inviting Improved lighting enhances the • Improves sense of safety environment for transients feeling of personal safety and may • Reduces overall risk and eliminate some barriers to transit accidents use. Most existing transit facilities have electric wiring in place that allows additional lights to be added.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Passenger Waiting Sheltered waiting areas at transit • Low cost • May require regular maintenance Areas centers provide protection from • Improves satisfaction of transit • Adequate space is required to rain or sun. They can be created by riders accommodate shelters and benches adding a canopy above the existing • May encourage increased waiting area, installing pre- transit use fabricated bus shelters in a lot or on • Provide location to post transit a waiting platform, or building an information extension to an existing transit center. In some cases, sheltered waiting areas may already exist at a transit center, but bus stops can be relocated closer to the shelters. On-Site Staffing The presence of on-site staff, • Staffing provides an information • Can be expensive whether dedicated to security or resource for transit users • Additional workspace may be public information (or even the sale • Increases security and level of required at some transit facilities to of goods at a snack bar or maintenance of a transit facility accommodate a staff presence newsstand), offers a valuable tool • Can be combined with other for making a transit facility more amenities desirable for users, provides an • Can allow for better emergency enhanced sense of public safety, an response information resource for users, or a way to purchase goods and services.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Wayfinding and The purpose of this tool is to • Enhances the customer • If not placed properly, wayfinding Signage provide more comprehensive experience signs can block entryways, windows information at transit centers about • Improves safety and sight lines transit routes, availability of • Encourages transit use • Can be expensive services and how to ride. Transit • Improves access • May require ongoing maintenance center information can be in the • May reduce the transit agency’s form of fixed maps, schedules and customer service inquiries instructions, or brochures available for the public to take with them for personal reference.

Real Time Real-time information provides • Allows riders to make decisions • Can be expensive Information transit arrival information, usually about where to wait, how to use • Not all transit users have access to a updated at regular intervals, based their time and when to arrive cell phone or other mobile device on automated vehicle locator (AVL) • Improves satisfaction • Real time information is not always data, global positioning system • Reduces dependence on accurate (GPS) data, dispatch responders (or customer service staff based on modeled assumptions about speed), or even social networking feedback.

Shuttle Tools

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Shuttles Shuttle services provide point to • Address first-mile, last-mile gap • High start up cost point transportation, or between • Can provide an alternative to • Difficult to determine how to one point and many to fill gaps or those who do not work near equitable share costs make connections with the broader transit • Funding is variable public transit network, often for • Can reduce driving alone and • Requires constant monitoring and specific groups of individuals. traffic congestion refinements Shuttle services typically serve • Can serve as a tool for economic • May fail to meet ridership goals riders in a well-defined area or development along a specific route and provide convenient and direct service to desired destinations.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Auto Access Tools Ridesharing Casual Carpooling Casual carpooling usually falls into • Minimal advance planning • Some may have trouble getting to two categories, either “self- • Variable travel times the pick-up location or getting to organizing” programs that evolve • Can provide a link to/from their destination from the drop-off organically or “facilitated” transit stations location programs where private-sector • Can promote a more efficient • Some may feel unsafe getting into a (often social networking or car- use of road space car with a stranger sharing companies) are involved. In • Can provide an affordable most “self-organizing” programs, mobility option carpoolers do not exchange money (the time or money savings to drivers is the incentive to pick up passengers) but in facilitated programs, passengers may pay drivers to subsidize gas, tolls, or other costs (usually payment is via an online payment service such as PayPal). Dynamic Dynamic ridesharing systems • Minimal advance planning • Difficult making commuters aware Ridesharing consider each trip individually and • Variable travel times of service are designed to accommodate trips • Can promote a more efficient • Some may feel unsafe getting into a to random points at random times use of road space car with a stranger by matching user trips without • Can provide an affordable regard to trip purpose. Dynamic mobility option ridesharing systems have to provide match information close to the time when users need to travel. Dynamic ridesharing can either be an organized program run by an agency or an informal system run by users (casual carpooling).

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Taxi Sharing Taxi service differs from rental car • Can enhance access to and from • Measures to enhance integration of and car-sharing services in that the transit stations transit and taxi may require minor person making the trip: a) does not • Provides a “fallback option” in capital investments drive themselves, b) does not need emergencies • Increasing the number of cabs on the to reserve in advance, and c) can • Can increase high occupancy street could reduce driver incomes access the service at many different vehicle trips unless market demand increases locations. Under a taxi sharing • Provides an additional mobility sufficiently program, cab drivers can pick up option multiple passengers at the same time, provided each passenger is headed in the same direction. Carpool/ Vanpool Carpooling is the shared use of a car • Time and/or cost savings • Can be difficult matching users by the driver—usually the owner of • Preferential parking • Can be difficult to maintain due to the vehicle—and one or more • May reduce congestion changing travel patterns and needs passengers. When carpooling, • Can increase efficiency of the • Drivers carry the additional burden people either get a ride or offer a transportation system of potential legal action from ride to others instead of each passengers in case of an accident driving separately. Carpooling arrangements and schemes involve varying degrees of formality and regularity.

Carsharing Carsharing Through car-sharing, individuals • Help to bridge the last mile gap • Faces challenges in gaining market gain access to vehicles by joining an between transit and the user’s acceptance organization that maintains a fleet destination • Regulatory obstacles such as zoning of cars and light trucks in a network • Enhanced mobility affordability and business licensing laws of locations. Members must pay a and equity • Determining the right locations for fee and pay per use. Vehicle • Provides alternative to owning a carsharing “pods” locations are distributed in car neighborhoods. Vehicle • May help to reduce vehicle reservations and access are self miles traveled service. Vehicles must be picked up

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO and dropped off at the same location. Off-Street Parking Management Tools Shared Parking Shared parking is based on the • More welcoming of customers • Can be perceived as a reduction in concept of using the same parking and visitors availability spaces for two or more different • Allows for fewer, strategically • Could result in increased spill-over land uses at different times. For placed lots and garages parking unless combined with other example, many businesses or • Enhances pedestrian strategies such as residential parking government offices experience environment permits their peak business during normal • Can be perceived as a loss of daytime business hours on prestige weekdays, while restaurants and bars peak in the evening hours and on weekends. This presents an opportunity for shared parking arrangements. Valet Parking Valet parking allows drivers to go • May increase demand • Necessary to hire attendants to park directly to their destination and • Can increase curb side parking and retrieve vehicles have an attendant park the car. The supply • Drivers may not feel comfortable attendants bring the drivers’ • Can increase sense of security having an attendant drive and park vehicles to less convenient their car locations -such as remote parking facilities or spaces the establishment leases nearby- and retrieve the vehicle for the departing customers.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Real Time Parking These systems range from • Increases parking efficiency • High installation and maintenance Information providing directions to an • Reduces need to cruise for costs appropriate parking garage to parking • Can be difficult to maintain accuracy guidance within the garage about • Reduces pressure on parking in of real-time information the location of available spaces. residential areas This information can be conveyed • Directs flow from full lots to motorists once they are at their • Aids motorists unfamiliar with parking destination (via signs or on area parking meters/facilities), when motorists are on their way to the parking destination (via cell phone or roadside signs), or even before the motorist has left the house (via the Internet). Parking Payment Rapid development in pay station • Provides multiple options to pay • Requires new equipment and Program technology is providing options for for parking signage variable pricing, accept multiple • Convenient for first time as well payment mediums, more user as regular users friendly payment methods, support • Allows for variable pricing ITS information on parking availability for users and provide better intelligence for parking system managers. This new technology allows for the development of pay stations with advance pricing capabilities.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Priority Parking Priority parking recognizes that • Encourages people to • Less parking available for general parking is a finite resource and carpool/vanpool use should be managed to assure • By encouraging ridesharing can • Requires additional administrative maximum access for patrons. It reduce automobile congestion time for enforcement reserves the most convenient parking spaces to support customer, client, vendor and visitor access and also to promote ridesharing in the form or carpool/vanpool or car-sharing (also sometimes used to promote Photo by Richard Drdul electric vehicles and motorcycles). On-Street Parking Management Tools Parking Meters New parking meters provide more • New meters decrease operation • Smart meters cost notably more to payment options, including bills and enforcement costs over install than traditional parking and credit/debit cards. This makes traditional meters meters payment more convenient for • New meters improve parkers. Pay-and-Display meters accountability since money is allow drivers to purchase a digitally accounted for “certificate” for paid parking time which can then be displayed on their dashboard to prove compliance. This eliminates the need to paint stalls which may increase the parking supply by as much as 20 percent.

THE GRID TOOLBOX TOOL NAME DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES/CONSIDERATIONS PHOTO Residential Permit A residential permit parking district • Helps protect residents from • Residents who park for free may be Parking is designed to protect local spill over parking hesitant to support a residential residents from parking difficulties permit parking district in areas near major destinations. • May be feasible only when spill over This is usually accomplished by parking becomes a problem issuing residents permits that allow them to park for free, while offering non-residents paid parking, either through a fee or by offering a finite number of permits. Parking Benefit Parking Benefit Districts utilize • Generates revenue which can be • May face opposition to District revenues generated by a variety of used to fund programs managed/priced parking means including assessments, • Improvements can attract more • Can be complicated to coordinate taxes or parking meters to support customers key stakeholders, who may have transportation-related services, and • Pricing of on-street metered varying wants and needs various infrastructure/ and or other parking spaces can be used to improvements to enhance the meet occupancy goals through viability of the area. Revenue variable pricing typically funds projects that encourage residents and visitors to use transit and bike/walk alternatives over driving.