HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4City of Lakeville
Public Works – Engineering Division
Memorandum
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Zach Johnson, City Engineer
Paul Oehme, Public Works Director
Copy: Justin Miller, City Administrator
Date: September 28, 2020
Subject: Crosswalk Policy
City Council Action Requested
None. City staff will present a draft policy, seeking Council feedback and direction on next steps.
Overview
The City strives to maintain, promote and prioritize public safety. Pedestrian/bicyclist travel are a
key element of the City’s multimodal transportation system and important to the health and
quality of life for its citizens. Safe crossing locations provide connectivity to neighborhoods,
trail/sidewalk corridors and popular destinations, and are essential to the City’s trail/sidewalk
network. Developing a successful pedestrian/bicyclist crossing policy will improve conditions and
better serve mobility and access needs of the public to travel easily and safely. The policy would
establish guidelines and a consistent, uniform approach for improving pedestrian/bicyclist safety
at uncontrolled crossing locations using best management practices. Also, the policy would help
staff address community request for enhanced crosswalk installations.
Although Minnesota State Statutes define the rights of pedestrians at roadway
intersections/crossings, research and crash history indicate that vehicles continue to fail to stop
and yield the right-of-way. The attached policy establishes a consistent, uniform approach for
improving pedestrian/bicyclist safety at uncontrolled crossing locations using best management
practices. Not all intersections are suitable for crossings and enhancements. Best management
practices must be used to ensure their effectiveness and high rate of compliance. Several factors
influence decisions relating to crossing locations and enhancements including, but not limited to:
a) existing field conditions, b) surrounding land uses, c) system connectivity, d) local/regional
destinations/access, and e) existing/future pedestrian and vehicle volumes. The policy is designed
to provide a clear, understandable/relatable process and demonstrate the reasoning for potential
enhancements.
Attached: Draft Crosswalk Policy
Adopted by City Council on September XX, 2020
PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLIST CROSSWALK POLICY
Policy 5.XX
1. PURPOSE
This policy establishes guidelines and a consistent, uniform approach for improving
pedestrian/bicyclist safety at uncontrolled crossing locations using best management practices.
A successful pedestrian/bicyclist crossing program has a positive impact to multimodal
transportation comfort and safety, and creates crossing locations accessible to all ages and
abilities. This policy represents a shared understanding between the City Council, Staff and
residents and is supported through ongoing engineering, education and enforcement efforts.
2. STATE STATUTES
Crosswalk. “Crosswalk” means (1) that portion of a roadway ordinarily included with the
prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections; (2) any portion of a
roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
(§169.011 Subd. 20)
Rights in absence of signal. (a) Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the
driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within
a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver must remain
stopped until the pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped. No pedestrian
shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle
which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. (§169.21 Subd. 2)
Crossing between intersections. (a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than
within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk shall yield the right-
of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. (§169.21 Subd. 3)
3. AUTHORITY
This policy is based on administrative implementation of policy and Minnesota State Statute
169. The policy is administered under the direction of the City Engineer and applies to
roadways under the City's jurisdiction.
4. BACKGROUND
Uncontrolled crossing locations occur where sidewalks/trails intersect roadways where no traffic
control (i.e. traffic signal, STOP sign or roundabout) exists. Examples include intersections
(crossings may be marked or unmarked) and midblock locations (crossings must be marked).
Factors such as traffic volume and the number of lanes can create challenges and impair the
ability to accurately judge vehicle speed and traffic gaps. Not all intersections are suitable for
crossing infrastructure. Identifying effective and prioritized crossing locations and appropriate
best management practices maximizes driver/pedestrian/bicyclist compliance and improves
pedestrian/bicyclist safety.
5. EVALUATION
The City Engineer will be responsible for installing crosswalks and other safety measures at
locations within City right-of-way and City-owned property. The Public Works Department will be
responsible for the installation and maintenance of crosswalk elements. Infrastructure
installation will be based on Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN MUTCD)
guidelines. Infrastructure will be maintained in a high state of visibility and meet reflectivity
standards.
When evaluating crosswalk requests, City Staff will utilize this policy, guidance from the Federal
Highway Administration and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and other sources.
The use of crossing treatments is not mandated or required, and shall be based on engineering
judgement. Further analysis and monitoring may also be required. A traffic engineering study
may be required. The City may require the traffic study cost be paid by the requesting party. The
level of detail required for a traffic engineering study will vary by location. Crosswalks and other
safety features shall be based on engineering judgement.
6. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
The City Engineer will be responsible for installing crosswalks and other safety measures at
locations within City right-of-way and City-owned property. The Public Works Department will be
responsible for the installation and maintenance of crosswalk elements. Infrastructure
installation will be based on Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN MUTCD)
guidelines. Infrastructure will be maintained in a high state of visibility and meet reflectivity
standards.
PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK POLICY
EVALUATION
Requests for crossing locations shall include an evaluation of the following:
• Safety Data
o Crash reports
o Documented public comments
• Existing Field Conditions
o Lighting conditions
o Parking
o Roadway design (travel lanes/width)
o Stopping sight distance
o Traffic control devices
o Traffic volumes
o Vehicle speeds
• Destination access
o Network connectivity (pedestrian facilities at each end)
o Pedestrian generators
o Surrounding land development
• Existing and potential pedestrian/bike volumes (travel patterns)
o Behaviors (travel patterns, time-of-day/day-of-week)
o Crossing distance
o Demographics/population
• Treatment effectiveness and cost
o Known safety benefits
o National, state and local guidelines
If, after applying engineering judgement through a traffic study, a crossing location is identified
and recommended, the table below will provide guidance in applying appropriate Best
Management Practices.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MATRIX
Roadway
Design
Vehicle ADT < 9,000 Vehicle ADT 9,000 – 15,000 Vehicle ADT > 15,000
30 mph 35 mph 40 mph 30 mph 35 mph 40 mph 30 mph 35 mph 40 mph
2 Lanes B-C-D-G
E-F-I-J
B-C-D-G
E-H-I-K
B-G-H-K
E-I
C-D
B-C-D-G
E-F-I
B-C-D-G
E-H-I-K
B-G-H-K
E-I
C-D
B-C-D-G
E-F-H-I-K
B-G
E-H-I-K
C-D
B-G-H
E-I
C-D
3 Lanes
With Median
B-C-D-G
A-E-F-J
A-B-C-D-G
E-H-K
A-B-G-H-K
E
C-D
B-G
A-E-F-H-K
C-D
A-B-G
E
C-D
A-B-G-H-K
E
C-D
B-G
A
C-D
B-G
E
C-D
B-G
E
C-D
3 Lanes
No Median
B-C-D-G
A-E-F-H-I-J-K
A-B-C-D-G
E-H-I-K
A-B-G-H
E-I
C-D
B-G
A-E-F-H-I-K
C-D
A-B-G-H-K
E-I
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-I
C-D
A-B-G
E-F-H-I-K
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-I
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-I
C-D
4 Lanes
With Median
A-B-C-D-G
E-H-K-L
A-B-C-D-G
E-H-K-L
A-B-G-H
E-L
C-D
A-B-G
E-H-K-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-K
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-K
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H
E-L
C-D
4 Lanes
No Median
A-B-C-D-G
E-H-I-K-L
A-B-G-I
E-H-K-L
C-D
A-B-G-I-H
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-I
E-H-K-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-I-K
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-I
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-I-K
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-I
E-L
C-D
A-B-G-H-I
E-L
C-D
A = Advance Stop Here for Pedestrians Sign
and Stop Line
B = Crosswalk lighting
C = Crosswalk pavement markings
D = Crosswalk warning signs
E = Curb extension
F = In-street pedestrian crossing sign
G = Parking restrictions on crosswalk
approach
H = Pedestrian hybrid beacon
I = Pedestrian refuge island
J = Raised crosswalks
K = Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon
L = 4 to 3 lane conversion
BOLD = Always consider
ITALICIZE = Also consider
UNDERLINE = Use only with other crossing treatments