Back in February, our #GOPCThread was all about a new initiative where we will share good infrastructure ideas we find locally, nationally & internationally. ICYMI you can find the full thread here
One of the reasons we have undertaken this new initiative is due to the increases in pedestrian crashes around Ohio. Over the past decade, fatal pedestrian crashes have increased by 60%, with 10/88 counties accounting for 65% of these fatalities
More than 80% of pedestrian fatal crashes occur in urban settings, with a heavy concentration of crashes occurring mid-block (i.e. in the center of the road)
.@ODOT_Statewide set out to create a new program to rapidly implement low and medium-cost countermeasures along arterial and collector roadways designed to reduce the risk to pedestrians of being involved in minor to serious crashes.
The result was the Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program (PSIP), a pilot program which utilized $10M in funding at eligible priority locations in 8 cities. The goal was to implement proven low-to-medium cost ped safety countermeasures such as curb ramps, raised crosswalks + signs
Once cities agreed to participate, each was asked to prioritize locations along streets & assign specific countermeasures to each location. ODOT provided tech. assistance via task order consultants & safety program staff for planning + design work
PSIP was designed to reduce the admin & project dev. burdens cities face where possible. @ODOT_Statewide assumed engineering + construction & structured the program funding as budgets instead of fund transfers. Cities selected the countermeasures used & locations
The result was an innovative, time-saving program with a clearly identified schedule & clear program responsibilities for all involved.
W/ a $10M budget, cities were allocated base funding of $500K each, w/ additional funding correlated to their share of fatal & serious injury crashes. Once projects were approved, the program allowed projects to proceed from planning to construction within 12-18 months
The Results: More than 2,000 individual countermeasures deployed at 390 priority locations in 8 cities.
Among the projects which were undertaken by the PSIP program were projects in Columbus in several neighborhoods, including these on the Near East Side featuring curb bump outs, shortening the distance required to cross the street (images via @ODOT_Statewide)
.@city_of_toledo was able to install new ped. hybrid beacons that use a sequence of yellow and red lights to tell drivers to stop for pedestrians crossing the street
.@AkronOhioMayor was able to make improvements to at least 22 roadways, including the installation of mid-block crossings near a park and school, and a popular grocery store
$800,000 in ODOT Funding to Improve Pedestrian Safety in Akron | Cleveland Plain Dealer image via source
.@CityofCleveland partnered w/ @ODOT_Statewide on improvements at 61 locations, with projects beginning last spring, with the final projects wrapping-up later this year
A total of 24 projects in @CityofYou (Youngstown) will be underway this spring and summer, with projects including new high visibility markings, ADA curb ramps, curb extensions & refuge islands being installed across the city.
.@cityofdayton was able to improve 45 locations, including a curb extension of 16ft downtown which shortens the walking time crossing by about five seconds & puts the pedestrian closer to the travel lane to get in the motorist’s peripheral vision
Like Youngstown, @TheCityofCanton will see a total of 68 projects get underway this spring and summer, making travel that much safer for pedestrians across the city once completed.
.CityofCincy has invested in a number of ped. safety improvements, including 3 raised crosswalk, all located near schools.
Some projects initiated by PSIP are still in their final stages of completion. Once all projects are completed, ODOT will undertake a performance review & consider expansions to the program on the next tier of high crash cities.
For the cities that have been involved w/ the PSIP program, the improvements made should go a long way towards helping to improve pedestrian safety. Great work everyone involved in the PSIP program. We can’t wait to see what comes next.
Many thanks to Jeremy Thompson & everyone at @ODOT_Statewide for the help in putting this thread together. Your assistance is greatly appreciated
