Figure 14. Examples of Safety Tools

Pedestrian Safety Needs Assessment

The project team established and convened a ten-person community Steering Committee that met monthly from January to June 2021. The objective of the committee was to provide feedback on pedestrian safety goals and priorities within the Project Area and to identify pedestrian assets and challenges within the transportation network.

During the first two Steering Committee meetings, the project team went over the project purpose, coordination with other projects, existing conditions and reviewed a toolbox of safety measures that can improve pedestrian safety in the Project Area.

Pedestrian safety tools that were presented to the group included:

Access around the neighborhood

• New bike lanes • Bike signage and striping

Access to the Lake Merced Trail

• Dedicated bicycle signals • Green pavement markings

Reduced pedestrian crossing distances

• Pedestrian Refuge Islands • Close travel slip lanes that allow unsignalized right turns for vehicles

Improve pedestrian visibility

• Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB) • Traffic signal phase separation • Traffic signal timing improvements (e.g. Leading Pedestrian

Interval – including additional walk time) • Upgraded crosswalks • Repainted road striping • Retroflected warning signage • Upgraded traffic signal heads (larger sizes) • New or upgraded streetlights • Tree trimming

Reduced vehicle speeds

• Speed humps • Chicanes, sidewalk widening or bulb-outs • Road lane reduction or narrowing excessively wide vehicle travel lanes • Roundabout

During the second Steering Committee session, the group participated in a needs assessment activity using a Google Jamboard template where three slides displayed a map of the Project Area and three questions (below) were presented to the group. Members were asked to respond through virtual post-its and/or “thumbs up” to the three assessment questions:

What are your walking patterns?

• How do you access transit stops? • What other major destinations do you visit? • How do children get to school or other activities?

Identify the major gaps in the pedestrian network

• Missing pedestrian crossings and/or long blocks • Missing or damaged curb ramps • Gaps in transit such as the lack of bus stops and/or infrastructure • Identify additional gaps

Identify major barriers in the pedestrian network

• Vehicle traffic conflicts • Difficult places to cross • Lighting issues • Narrow, damaged or no sidewalks • Missing or damaged signage or roadway striping • Identify additional barriers