NYMTC Regional Pedestrian Safety Study - New York Metropolitan ...

New York City
Subway/Sidewalk Interface Project (NYCDOT and NYC Department of City Planning, 2005):
This project addresses the problem created by the combination of elevated structures with
columns in the street and stairs from platform, bus stops where the bus cannot get to the curb,
high pedestrian volumes, and poor vehicular sight lines. The solutions include refuge islands,
raised medians with bollards, and neckdowns. (Available at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/transportation/td_projectspedestrian.shtml]
Citywide Pedestrian Bridge Safety
Project (NYCDOT): The most
common safety problem was at the
landing (exit/entrance) to the bridges.
NYCDOT developed a safety toolbox
of remedial measures for addressing
safety problems. Measures include
staggered fencing design, signs,
experimental pedestrian actuated
signals, and markings. To date over 30
(out of 122) bridges have received
remedial treatment.
Figure 3.1 Staggered Fencing at Foot of Pedestrian Bridge
Safe Routes to School Projects (NYCDOT, ongoing): A consultant is identifying traffic safety
issues for children walking to school by looking at traffic accidents near 135 primary schools.
This will be continued with the next 135 schools, and followed by a similar study for high
schools. The schools selected for this in-depth analysis were those with a history of safety traffic
issues. The schools not analyzed in this study are covered by a safety net of initiatives offered
through other NYCDOT programs. Another project is assessing the impact of reducing the
speed limit from 30 miles per hour to either 20 mph or 15 mph near 10 schools to determine the
effectiveness of changing posted speed limits. Reports on the Safe Routes to Schools for
individual schools are available at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/safety/saferoutes.html
New York City Bicycle Master Plan (NYCDOT and NYCDCP, May 1997): The goal of the
plan was to increase bicycle ridership with the objective of improving cycling safety. The safety
or suitability of existing roads was ranked using stress level methodology. Although the focus is
on bicycles, the off-street facilities accommodate multi-users such as pedestrians. It also
includes an appendix on pedestrian safety legislation. (Available at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/bike/mp.shtml)
NYC Greenway Plan (NYCDOT/NYCDCP/NYCDPR, 1993): The Greenway Plan presents the
city's vision for the nation's most ambitious urban greenway system of 350 miles of landscaped
bicycle and pedestrian paths crisscrossing New York City. Priority routes have been identified
NYMTC Pedestrian Safety Study 28