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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0304.001 2002-2004 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS COUNTY OF HAWAII HILO, HAWAII y~~ DATE: August 29, 2003 %/[.e~1G~2Q~lA~l~lt To: LENINGRAD ELARIONOFF, Chairman r Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations S'/2 R1C~ Hawaii County Council Gauriy found! Thru: BRUCE C. McCLURE, Director Department of Public Works G~ From: CASEY K. YANAGIHARA, rvision Chief Traffic Division SUBJECT: TRAFFIC ('ODE AMENDMENT, BILL NO. 133 HIGHWAY 1 L, Mid-Block Crosswalk As requested, attached you will find our report for the proposed deletion of the mid-block crosswalk on Mamalahoa Highway (HWY 11). We hope Chic explains the reasons why we chose to relocate this crosswalk to the appropriate intersection of Ala Ke'eke'e Place. Should there be any additional questions, please feel free to contact Casey Yanagihara in our "Craffic Division at 961-8341. Attachment Copy: DPW-ENG-KON Comm. No. 0 Ref. To:~ Ref. Dote,,,~P~-~ County of Hawaii D~artrrlexltofPublic Wolics -TtafficDivi.~ion n,ly aoo3 CENTRAL KONA UNION CHURCH Mid-block Crosswalk Removal /Relocation Report SYNOPSIS: The following is a report that provides justification for the removal and relocation of the mid-block crosswalk in front of the Central Kona Union Church, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. This analysis and the proposal to remove the Central Kona Union Church crosswalk comes as a result of a pedestrian fatality that occurred at the subject location on December 2. 2001. SITE DESCRIPTION.• The crosswalk is situated on Mamalahoa Highway and is approximately 50 feet north of Ala Ke'eke~e Place. Adjacent to one end, on the west side of Mamalahoa Highway is the Central Kona Union Church. Near the other end, on the east side of Mamalahoa Highway is a preschool. The Traffic Division believes that the. crosswalk was installed to provide a crossing point be~wccn the church and the preschool. HISTORY: Li 2001, a new street /intersection off of Mamalahoa Highway called Ala Ke'eke'e Place was completed. The Hale Ke'ckc'e Subdivision, which was also finished in 2001, sits adjacent to and is accessible from Ala Ke'eke'e Place. During the design phase of the aforementioned projects, a proposal to relocate the mid-block crosswalk was made by the Civil Engineer to the Central Kona Union Church members. At that time, the majority of the church community strongly opposed the proposal. Since then, a pedestrian fatality at the crosswalk provided furtherjustificatio? and motivation to seriously look into removing and relocating the Central Kona Union Church mid-block crosswalk. The Traffic Division has researched the issue and found several sources that provide theoretical and logical proof of the ineffectiveness and dangers of mid-block crosswalks. The Traffic Division presented its finding and has now received 50%n support from the Central Kona Union Church members, support from the Kona Traffic Safety Committee and the support of Michael Matsukawa, Esy. ARTICI I;S: From the Spring 2003 Edition of Tech Transfer Pedestrian Safety: • Over three-yuarters (78%) of all pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersections. • Herms' study found an increased incidence of pedestrian collisions in marked crosswalks, compared to unmarked crosswalks. Mid-block Crosswalk Removal /Relocation Report July 2003 Page 2 of 3 • Under no condition did the presence of a marked crosswalk alone at an uncontrolled location result in a significantly lower pedestrian accident rate when compared to the pedestrian accident rate of an unmarked crosswalk. From the article Traffic En~ineerine -Myths and Realities, by Benjamin E. Burritt, P.E.: • Marked crosswalks are widely classified as "safety devices" and most jurisdictions give the pedestrian the right-of-way when within them. Tnterestiogly, however, there is strong evidence that these very facts prompt many pedestrians to feel overly secure when using a marked crosswalk - to a degree that they aggressively place Chemselves in a hazardous position with respect to vehicles in the mistaken belief that the motorist can and will stop in all cases, even when it may be impossible to do so. [t is not unusual, also, fur this type of aggressive pedestrian behavior to cause rear-end collisions. • Motorists' views of a crosswalk are greatly reduced when they are at the safe stopping sight distance -where they should be able to perceive and react to a pedestrian in a crosswalk - due to the effects of foreshortening and distance diminishment. • Their view of the crosswalk is further affected by road alignment, irregularities in the pavement, and other variables like weather, dirty windshields, gl.ve, and adverse lighting conditions. • Meanwhile, pedestrians views of the same crosswalk are quite impressive and they are prone to assume that, since they can see the crosswalk so well, certainly motorists can see itjust as clearly. This resulting overconfidence is seen as another factor in the disproportionate share of accidents in marked crosswalks. • Crosswalks, legally are defined us existing at all public street intersections, marked or unmarked; marked crosswalks are only required at mid-block locations. From the MUTCD Millennium Edition: • G~osswalk lines should not be used indiscriminately. An engineering study should be performed before they are installed at locations away from traffic signals or STOP signs. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: illegally parked vehicles along the subject area of Mamalahoa Highway makes the mid-block crosswalk unsafe by nog providing sufficient stopping sight distance for drivers. • An existing crest vertiail curve lhrther restricts the amount of sight distance available at the mid-block crosswalk. • The posted speed on Mamalahoa Highway is 35 mph. • The stopping sight dis[aince required for 35 mph is 250-ft. At the mid-block crosswalk, the measured sight distance does not meet the required 250-ft,in both directions. Mid-block Crosswalk Removal /Relocation Report July 2003 Page 3 of 3 • An existing street light will he supplemented by additional street lights at the new crosswalk location. • A longitudinal marked crosswalk, that provides added visibility, will be used to identify the new crosswalk location. • Additional signage will be used ~o further warn pedestrians to cross at the intersection and not at the mid-block location. • Fluorescent Yellow Green (FYG) pedestrian crossing signs, and advanced warning crosswalk signs will he used al new crosswalk location. • Embedded warning lights were considered, but were found to be unwarranted and unable to meet the stopping sight distance. CONCLUSIONS: Therc may have been a time when mid-block crosswalks were always safe and acceptable to use. However, given the specific site conditions, the increased vehicular speeds of the modern driver and the general mentality of both driver and pedestrian, the Traffic Division recommends to have the mid-block crosswalk at the Central Kona Union Church removed and appropriately relocated to [he intersection at Ala Ke'eke'e Place. The new site will not only provide a safer place for pedestrians to cross, but also be. a more natural, expected location that drivers can anticipate.