BEST PRACTICES for ACCOMMODATING PEDESTRIANS at INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CROSSINGS By
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BEST PRACTICES FOR ACCOMMODATING PEDESTRIANS AT INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CROSSINGS by Steven P. Venglar and Karen P. Fierro Project performed by Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research Report 186040-00005-1 Project 186040-00005, Best Practices for Accommodating Pedestrians at International Bridge Crossings September 2010 Report prepared by Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research Texas Transportation Institute 4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 151 El Paso, TX 79902 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ iii Disclaimer and Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 Existing International Bridge Infrastructure in Texas ................................................................ 7 Modal Connectivity Needs at International Bridges ................................................................. 10 Literature Review...................................................................................................................... 11 Pedestrian Safety Measures .................................................................................................. 11 Bridge and Supporting Facility Design................................................................................. 17 Multimodal Service Integration ............................................................................................ 19 Chapter 2: Texas-Mexico Border-Crossing Site Investigations ............................................. 21 McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge (Hidalgo, Texas) .......................................... 21 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 21 Pedestrian Circulation ........................................................................................................... 24 Transit Service ...................................................................................................................... 27 Gateway International Bridge (Brownsville, Texas) ................................................................ 28 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 28 Pedestrian Circulation ........................................................................................................... 31 Transit Service ...................................................................................................................... 32 Paso Del Norte International Bridge (El Paso, Texas) ............................................................. 34 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 34 Pedestrian Circulation ........................................................................................................... 37 Transit Service ...................................................................................................................... 40 Gateway to the Americas International Bridge (Laredo, Texas) .............................................. 41 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................... 42 Pedestrian Circulation ........................................................................................................... 44 Transit Service ...................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3: Best Practices ........................................................................................................... 50 Planning—Facility Needs Assessment and Location ............................................................... 50 Design—Modal Transfer Elements .......................................................................................... 50 Design—Pedestrian Separation Elements ................................................................................. 51 Design—Pedestrian Canopies ................................................................................................... 51 Design—Appropriate Pedestrian Signing ................................................................................. 52 Operations—Flexibility for High-Volume Events.................................................................... 52 References .................................................................................................................................... 53 Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research Texas Transportation Institute Page i LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Southern U.S. Border Crossing Pedestrian Entries—2000–2009. ................................. 3 Figure 2. U.S. Southern Pedestrian Border Entries by Urbanized Region—2008. ....................... 4 Figure 3. Texas Pedestrian Border Crossing Entries—2000–2009. .............................................. 5 Figure 4. Texas-Mexico Border Entries by Mode—2000–2009. .................................................. 6 Figure 5. Texas-Mexico Border Entries—Passengers by Mode—2000–2009. ............................. 7 Figure 6. Pedestrian Travel Mode to International Bridges (Left Chart) and from (Right Chart) International Bridges (3). ....................................................................... 10 Figure 7. Guidelines Plot for 72-ft (22 m) Pavement, ≤ 35 mph (55 km/h), and 3.5-ft/s (1.1 m/s) Walking Speed (11). .............................................................................................. 15 Figure 8. Guidelines Plot for 72-ft (22 m) Pavement, > 35 mph (55 km/h), and 3.5-ft/s (1.1 m/s) Walking Speed (11). .............................................................................................. 16 Figure 9. Progreso International Bridge Crossing in Progreso, Texas. ....................................... 17 Figure 10. McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge Land Port of Entry. ....................... 22 Figure 11. McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge Land Port of Entry. ....................... 23 Figure 12. Pedestrian Pathway Desire Lines to/from International Crossing. ............................. 25 Figure 13. Southbound US 281 Approaching the International Bridge....................................... 26 Figure 14. Crosswalk near LPE Pedestrian Processing Building (Viewing West). .................... 26 Figure 15. Transit Center Adjacent to McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge Land Port of Entry. ............................................................................................................... 27 Figure 16. Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge Timeline ()........................................................ 28 Figure 17. Gateway International Bridge and Vicinity (Brownsville, Texas). ............................ 29 Figure 18. Open-Air Plaza near Gateway International Bridge Southbound Pedestrian Entrance. ............................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 19. Elizabeth Street in Front of Gateway International Bridge (Facing Southeast). ........ 31 Figure 20. Market Square BUS Transit Center (Facing West on East Side). .............................. 32 Figure 21. Paso del Norte International Land Port of Entry and Good Neighbor Bridge. .......... 35 Figure 22. Signalized Intersection of 4th Avenue and Santa Fe Street. ....................................... 36 Figure 23. Pedestrian Warning Signing on Santa Fe Street West of Lion‘s Plaza. ..................... 36 Figure 24. Major Pedestrian Routes to/from International Crossing. .......................................... 38 Figure 25. Westbound Pedestrian Crossing El Paso Street at 6th Avenue. .................................. 39 Figure 26. Northbound Departure from Paso del Norte International Bridge Land Port of Entry. ......................................................................................................................... 40 Figure 27. Bert Williams Downtown Santa Fe Transfer Center (El Paso, Texas). ..................... 41 Figure 28. Gateway to the Americas International Bridge and Vicinity. .................................... 42 Figure 29. Gateway to the Americas International Bridge Management Complex. .................... 43 Figure 30. Gateway to the American International Bridge West-Side Pedestrian Plaza, South Side of Water Street (Viewing West). ........................................................................ 44 Figure 31. Gateway to the Americas International Bridge—AM Peak-Hour Operation (Facing South). ...................................................................................................................... 45 Figure 32. Pedestrian Exit from Gateway