Although the need for traffic signals in the city is not anticipated in the next several decades, this section briefly discusses the role of traffic signals in the bicycle/pedestrian environment.
(A) Full signalized crossings. The federal government provides guidance to determine where traffic control signals should be considered for installation. The pedestrian volume signal warrant is intended to be applied where traffic volumes on a major street are high enough that pedestrians on an approaching side street or path experience excessive delay in crossing the major street. Section 4C.05 of the MUTCD details Warrant Four, Pedestrian Volume. For signal warrant analysis, a location with a wide median, even if the median width is greater than 30 feet, should be considered as one intersection.
(B) Half signalized crossings. In situations where there are few “crossable” gaps and where vehicles do not stop for pedestrians waiting to cross, there are a number of innovative pedestrian traffic signals that do not operate as full signals that exist, including the Toucan signal and Hawk signal. Many of these models have been used successfully for years overseas and their use in the United States has increased dramatically over the last decade.
(C) Signal timing evaluation and modification. Providing adequate pedestrian crossing time is a critical element of the walking environment at signalized intersections. The MUTCD recommends traffic signal timing to assume a pedestrian walking speed of four feet per second, meaning that the length of a signal phase with parallel pedestrian movements should provide sufficient time for a pedestrian to safely cross the adjacent street. It should be noted however that the four feet per second walking speed does not reflect the walking rates of many users. At crossings where older pedestrians or pedestrians with disabilities are expected, crossing speeds as low as three feet per second may be assumed.
(D) Pedestrian countdown signals. According to the MUTCD, “Pedestrian Signal Heads provide special types of traffic signal indications exclusively intended for controlling pedestrian traffic. These signal indications consist of the illuminated symbols of a WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) and an UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DON’T WALK)”. An advanced type of pedestrian signal head contains a countdown signal, in addition to the WALK/DON’T WALK symbol. The countdown signal displays the number of complete his or her crossing.
(Ord. passed 6- -2009)