Many neighborhoods in Brentwood were developed when sidewalks were not required and prior to the focus on development of multi-use trails and other bike and pedestrian facilities. As a result, safe pedestrian facilities are limited or completely lacking in many areas of the community.
Providing expanded pedestrian opportunities to access schools, parks, and commercial districts is an objective of the Brentwood 2030 plan, but retrofitting existing developed areas is extremely difficult or impossible due to the impacts on private property. In locations where facilities are available, they are often only on one side of the road. Installation of mid-block pedestrian crossings (defined as a marked pedestrian crossing that does not include a traffic signal or a stop sign that requires motor vehicles to stop before entering the crosswalk) provides an opportunity to improve pedestrian connectivity throughout the community, but such crossings are not appropriate in all circumstances and must be considered carefully to insure pedestrian safety is not compromised and vehicular traffic is not overly impacted.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states the following regarding installation of pedestrian crosswalks at mid-block locations:
Crosswalk lines should not be used indiscriminately. An engineering study should be performed before a marked crosswalk is installed at a location away from a traffic control signal or an approach controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign. The engineering study should consider the number of lanes, the presence of a median, the distance from adjacent signalized intersections, the pedestrian volumes and delays, the average daily traffic (ADT), the posted or statutory speed limit or 85th-percentile speed, the geometry of the location, the possible consolidation of multiple crossing points, the availability of street lighting, and other appropriate factors.
The purpose of the proposed policy is to outline the conditions and process for determining where mid-block pedestrian crossings may be installed and the appropriate pavement markings and signage for such crossings. The objective of this policy is to provide safe and efficient pedestrian crossing facilities at appropriate locations that can reduce vehicle trips by providing access to traffic generators such as schools, parks, multi-use trails, commercial centers, etc.
Complete details are provided in the proposed policy attached, but the primary factors that will considered in determining whether a mid-block crossing is appropriate under the policy include:
- Minimum pedestrian volume
- Minimum and maximum vehicular volumes
- Posted speed limit
- Location of nearest controlled crossing
- Geometry of the location including driver sight distance
- Presence of street lighting
- ADA accessibility
Note that for obvious safety reasons, mid-block crossings would not be considered on state highways or streets that carry more than 15,000 vehicles per day. Also, the policy requires that there be sufficient pedestrian facilities on each side of the proposed crossing location to allow for safe pedestrian access to and from the crossing. In some instances, this may require installation of short sidewalk segments on one side of the crossing point.
The consideration for installation of a mid-block pedestrian crossing at or in close proximity to a neighborhood entrance will be initiated by a written request from the homeowner’s association representing the affected neighborhood to the City of Brentwood’s Public Works Department. If no homeowner’s association exists for the neighborhood, the request may come from a petition signed by residents representing 20% of the homes in a neighborhood located within a 1,000 foot radius of the proposed crossing point. The request must specifically identify the location of the requested mid-block pedestrian crossing. The consideration for installation of a mid-block pedestrian crossing within a commercial area may be initiated by a petition from a minimum of 20 employees who work within a 1,000 foot radius of the proposed crossing point. For a proposed crossing located adjacent to a school, the request must come from the principal of the school or the President of the Parent Teacher Organization.
Once a valid request is received, City staff, in conjunction with a traffic engineer, will assess the proposed location and determine whether it meets the various requirements of the policy. If the location does meet the requirements of the policy, the cost to install the crossing and associated signage, etc., including any required sidewalk additions, will be borne by the City, subject to funding availability through the normal budgeting process. If the addition of pedestrian facilities leading to/from the proposed crossing will cost more than $10,000, the policy requires approval by the City Commission. |