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Bicycles/Pedestrians

Safety Toolbox: Engineering


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Grade-separated crossing



   

Several types of facilities have been used, including:

Overpasses:

  • Pedestrian Overpasses/Bridges
  • Elevated Walkways
  • Skywalks/Skyways

Underpasses:

  • Pedestrian Tunnels/Underpasses
  • Below-Grade Pedestrian Networks
objective To provide complete separation of pedestrians from motor vehicle traffic. To maintain the separate nature of off-street bikeways. To connect popular bicycling destinations.
applications Locations where attractors are separated from generators by high-volume and/or high-speed arterial streets.
target population All Pedestrians, All Bicyclists, Motorists
crash type Pedestrian R/W Violation-Intersection, Pedestrian Violation-Intersection, Excessive Speeds, Auto R/W Violation
advantages
  • Improve pedestrian safety, while reducing vehicle delay and accidents, and increasing highway capacity when appropriately located and designed.
  • Eliminates impediments to through bicycle travel and improves accessibility and network connectivity
  • .Allows bicyclists to avoid traveling through or near less safe or potentially dangerous conditions
disadvantages
  • The degree of use of such facilities by pedestrians depends on walking distances and convenience of the facility.
  • Other pedestrian barriers may also be needed to prevent pedestrians from crossing at-grade.
  • Cost for implementation and on-going maintenance may be a concern
  • Security for users may be a concern in some areas, if facility is isolated or obstructed from view
  • Locations may be subject to vandalism
pointers Grade-separated crossings are only well-used where egregious barriers such as freeways exist or where there are unusually high numbers of pedestrians (near coliseums or theme parks, for example).
cost High, from $500,000 to $4 million, depending on site characteristics.
responsibility Public Works
further reading

Moore, R.I. and S.J. Older, Pedestrians and Motorists Are Compatible in Today's World, Traffic Engineering, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, DC, September 1965

Bowman, B.L., J.J. Fruin, and C.V. Zegeer, Planning, Design, and Maintenance of Pedestrian Facilities, Report No. FHWA-IP-88-019, Federal Highway Administration, October 1988.
examples City of Palo Alto, CA; City of Eugene, OR; City of San Luis Obispo, CA; City of Las Vegas, NV
related tools none

Index: alphabetical / cost / crash type / target population

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