Small Cost – Big Impact:
Lessons in Low-Cost
Safety Improvements
Gustave Scheerbaum, PE
Complete Streets Safety Engineer
ARLE Grant Programs Manager
City of Philadelphia
Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems
@GScheerbaum
1. Must be used for Transportation Safety
Improvements
2. Lots of potential locations for improvements
3. A project’s funding must be used within 3 years –
concept to construction
4. Funding may not be used for maintenance
5. Resources are limited
~35,000 annual traffic deaths nationally
~1,265 annual traffic deaths in PA
~156 annual pedestrian deaths in PA
97 traffic deaths in Philadelphia in 2014
38 Philadelphia pedestrian deaths in 2014
Traffic Fatalities by Mode
60
50
40
Pedestrians
30
Cyclists
20
Motorcyclists
10
Drivers & Passengers
Parties Involved in Crashes by Mode
and Severity
100%
90%
Percentage of Total Parties Involved in Crashes
Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and
Motorcyclists are
disproportionally killed and
severely injured relative to
mode share.
80%
70%
60%
Drivers & Passengers
50%
Motorcyclists
Cyclists
40%
Pedestrians
30%
20%
10%
0%
0
Count
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Severe Injuries
Average 2010-2014
Fatalities
Crash reduction factor (CRF) is the percentage crash
reduction that might be expected after implementing a
given countermeasure. Also referenced as crash
modification factor (CMF)… See cmfclearinghouse.org
Pedestrian countdown signals (CRF ≈ 25%)
Seventy nine intersections were
updated with countdowns with
$230K ARLE program budget.
12’ stop bar setbacks (CRF ≈ 18%)
Use of Sharrows
Bike Box installation (CRF ≈ 36%)
Two-stage Left
Improved Street Lighting – HPS to LED fixtures (CRF ≈ 25%)
BEFORE – Spruce St
AFTER – Spruce St
A number of relatively low-cost-safety traffic engineering
countermeasures geared towards pedestrian and bicycle
safety have been shown to reduce crashes for all users.
Spruce Pine
Right Sizing
(Bike Lanes) Project
(CRF = 30%)
Walnut Street – left sided bike lane
Due to the nature of low-cost-safety countermeasures, such interventions
can be implemented more widely based on the total funding available for
each program. The costs below indicate the approximate implementation
cost per location.
o Traffic Calming Measures ($5K to $50K)
o Signal Retiming ($4K to $10K)
o Pedestrian Countdown Signal upgrades ($2K to $4K)
o Updated Pavement Markings ($2K to $5K)
o Updated Signing ($1K to 2K)
o Street Lighting ($3K to $10K)
o Curb Extensions ($5K to $150K)
Low Cost Safety Improvements
Pedestrian Countdown Signals
• ten-year reportable crash data
• ADT
• nearby transit stops
• impending work
• Streets / Planning recommendations
• ten-year reportable crash data
• street width
• existing or forthcoming ped-countdowns
• existing hand/man ped signals
• corridor fill-in
• recommendations from Streets
Curb Extensions
• five-year reportable crash study
(depending on intervention expense)
• street width and complexity
• nearby transit stops
• proximity to schools, parks, rec centers
• existing/impending project
• Streets / Planning recommendations
Traffic Calming
• five-year reportable crash study
(depending on intervention expense)
• speed studies – excessive speeding
• Streets / Planning recommendations
• classification
• street length
• ADT
NOTE: Incidence of fatal crash history may influence priority
Parking Chicanes
Speed Cushions
Separated bike lanes
ALSO:
• Midblock Crossings (with RRFB)
• Neighborhood Bikeway (with
greenback sharrows)
Hunting Park Avenue (eastbound)
Before
After
• Signal Coordination (CRF ≈ 15%)
• Lead Pedestrian Interval (CRF ≈ 5%)
• Signal Retiming (CRF ≈ 12%)
• Prohibit Right Turn on Red (CRF ≈ 23%)
Over 500 intersections were
retimed $1.5M ARLE &
CMAQ program budgets.
2015
$4M has been spent on
ARLE funded low-costsafety pavement marking
and signing projects.
Shared Path Signs
This sign in combination w/
sharrow pavement markings
Two-Stage Left Sign
BEFORE – Springfield & Baltimore
“The response in the neighborhood
has been phenomenal! There has
been an outpouring of appreciation;
especially nice for a project of this
scale.”
- University City District re.
Springfield & Baltimore
“We have seen a major decrease in
vehicle / bicycle / pedestrian
crashes.”
- Superintendent Penn Police
regarding 38th & Spruce
AFTER – Springfield & Baltimore
Higher-cost countermeasure locations are selected based on a more robust
investigation of crash histories, risk, and anticipated impact.
• Installation of red-light cameras (CRF = 24%)
Philadelphia has 30 intersections city-wide with cameras
• Design/Construction of large curb extension projects
Intersection construction costs over $150K and up to $1M
• Design/Construction of modern roundabouts (CRF ≈ 35%)
Current program targeting project construction costs of ~$300K
• Adaptive response signals at key locations
• Implementation of city-wide signal system integration
• Corridor modernization for signals, island work, ramps.
Philadelphia is continually working to introduce new
ways of improving safety and draws upon our Complete
Streets and Traffic Calming tool boxes and inspiration
from other cities…
Neighborhood traffic
calming circles
Pedestrian refuge as a chicane
“Green-Wave”
Progression
Protected bike lanes
Neighborhood traffic diverter
For more information, please contact:
Gustave Scheerbaum, PE
City of Philadelphia
Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems
+1 215-686-5698
[email protected]
@GScheerbaum
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