Safety Toolbox: Engineering

Index: alphabetical / cost / crash type / target population

Diagonal or perpendicular crossing

Transverse pedestrian crossing markings are placed perpendicular to the road to be crossed instead of parallel to the skewed intersecting road. For perpendicular streets, crossings are placed on the diagonal. This treatment can be accompanied by textured or decorative pavements to further delineate the crossing locations.

objective

To shorten pedestrian crossing distances and reduce pedestrian clearance signal timing.

applications

At skewed intersections.

target population

All Pedestrians, Motorists

crash type

Pedestrian R/W Violation-Intersection, Pedestrian Violation-Intersection

advantages

The shorter walking distance reduces pedestrian crossing times
The perpendicular direction tends to better reflect walking patterns, especially if the crossing is in the vicinity of a transit stop or adjacent land uses that attract pedestrian activity
This treatment can also benefit traffic signal operations in situations where the width of the major street dictates signal timing

disadvantages

Pedestrians crossing two legs of the intersection need to travel further or may disregard the marked crosswalk

pointers

Two curb ramps are required, although they can be smaller than a single one serving both crosswalks.

cost

Medium to High: $1,000-$2,000 for striping the crosswalk, $10,000-$20,000 if the crosswalk is constructed with special pavers.

responsibility

Public Works

further reading

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examples

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related tools

Marked Crosswalks and Enhancements, European Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing Innovations

Index: alphabetical / cost / crash type / target population

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Safety Toolbox: Engineering