ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Zebra Pavement Markings and Wider Crosswalks

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for the use of zebra pavement markings at selected pedestrian crosswalks, and to inform Council of the use of wider crosswalks at high volume pedestrian crossings.

DISCUSSION

Pedestrian safety is one of the most important aspects in traffic and safety engineering. In order for pedestrians and motorists to share the road safely, there must be an orderly and consistent exchange of information. Therefore, the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) provides guidelines to standardize the use of pedestrian crossing devices as described in the Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual. This manual provides a hierarchical system of signing, marking, and signal control which helps to match pedestrian crossing devices with conditions found at specific locations. These devices range from marked crosswalks to pedestrian-actuated signals.

This report focuses on the application of pavement markings for marked pedestrian crosswalks. Although crosswalks exist at street intersections without pavement markings and signs, there is often the need to enhance driver awareness at a pedestrian crossing and to direct pedestrians to a preferred crossing location. Detailed studies are undertaken each year by staff to determine locations that require marked crosswalks. When evaluating a location for a marked crosswalk the following are considered: pedestrian volumes, age and ability; visibility conditions; traffic volumes and speeds; collision history; and proximity to adjacent pedestrian crossing devices. Simply marking a crosswalk may not improve safety, and there is some evidence that it may worsen conditions. Therefore, locations should be selected only after careful consideration.

The minimum standard for a marked crosswalk consists of ground mounted signs and pavement markings, as displayed in Appendix A. Where required, overhead and advanced warning signs are used. For crossings that are associated with a school route, school crosswalk signs would be used at the crossing. There are currently two designs of pavement markings recommended in the Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual, namely the standard crosswalk with twin parallel lines, and zebra markings. Zebra pavement markings have not been used in Vancouver and it is recommended that they be introduced because of the increased visibility of the design.

Staff have also been reviewing crosswalk widths at high volume pedestrian crossings. Basedon these reviews, it was determined that a number of intersections in the City would benefit from wider crosswalks, and most are located within Downtown.

Zebra Crosswalks

The zebra pavement marking is an alternative recommended for special circumstances. These circumstances include crossings involving school children, the elderly or disabled, mid-block crossings, pedestrian crossings of right turn channels, and Special Crosswalks.

Staff have investigated the use of zebra pavement markings at crosswalks in other jurisdictions and have found a study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) comparing different pavement marking designs for crosswalks. The FHWA is a part of the US Department of Transportation which provides federal financial assistance to American States to construct and improve the National Highway System, urban and rural roads, and bridges. The results from the FHWA tests showed that a ladder (zebra) design was the most effective pattern for pavement markings from a driver visibility point of view. The results from the tests can be found in Appendix B. The FHWA did not analyze collision rates. Based on these findings and the guidelines in the Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual, staff recommend the use of zebra pavement markings at crosswalks.

Based on the guidelines in the Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual, the majority of crosswalks that would require zebra pavement markings are already marked with twin parallel pavement lines. Therefore, it is proposed to install zebra pavement markings as part of the maintenance and replacement of existing markings. The proposed program would replace 35 crosswalks with zebra pavement markings each year over a period of 3 years. Priority would be given to school crosswalks. Crosswalks identified for zebra pavement markings are listed in Appendix C. The cost increase associated with the replacement is approximately $1,700 per zebra crosswalk, resulting in an annual cost increase of $60,000 to the Pavement Marking Maintenance Budget. It is recommended that the Stamark Grade Tape, developed by 3M, be used to for marking zebra crosswalks rather than Thermo Plastic which is currently used for pavement markings. Although the Stamark Grade Tape is more expensive than Thermo Plastic, it has a greater slip resistance and is more reflective; it has a thinner profile which will help to eliminate trip hazards; and has an expected life of approximately 3 years. At the end of the 3 year life cycle, the tape would be replaced as part of a continuing maintenance program. The existing twin parallel line pavement markings at these locations would be left in place and allowed to fade.

Wider Crosswalks

The guidelines in the Pedestrian Crossing Control Manual recommend a standard crosswalk width of 2.5 metres, but wider crosswalks may be used where higher pedestrian volumes exist. Staff are currently reviewing pedestrian volumes and movements at intersections throughout the City. Of the locations reviewed, almost 90% of intersections requiring wider crosswalks are located within Downtown. Because the Downtown Transportation Plan Team is also reviewing this and other related pedestrian improvements within the downtown, a policy for wider crosswalks should be deferred until completion of their work. The locations currently being reviewed for wider crosswalks are listed in Appendix D.

TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Council approved the Transportation Plan on May 27, 1997, which provides that measures to improve pedestrian safety and convenience are required (policy NP8). These measures help to implement this policy.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Future operating budgets will be affected by increases in maintenance costs associated with the installation of zebra pavement markings. The proposed program would replace 35 crosswalks with zebra pavement markings each year over a period of 3 years. The cost increase associated with the replacement is approximately $1,700 per zebra crosswalk, resulting in an annual cost increase of $60,000 to future Pavement Marking Maintenance Budgets. The twin parallel line pavement markings at existing crosswalks would be allowed to fade. Therefore, the net increase in the Pavement Marking Maintenance Budget would be $53,000. The Pavement Marking Maintenance Budget will be re-evaluated at the time of Budget review once staff have gained experience with zebra pavement marking installations. The Stamark Grade Tape has an expected life of approximately 3 years. At the end of the 3 year life cycle, the tape would be replaced as part of a continuing maintenance program.

* * * * *

 

General Mgr./Dept. Head:

Date:

This report has been prepared in consultation with the departments listed to the right, and they concur with its contents

Report dated:

May 16, 2000

Author:

Winston Chou

Phone:

7913

Concurring Departments

Financial Services

 
 
 

APPENDIX A

NOTE FROM CLERK - Second page of Appendix A, and Appendix B are not available in electronic form - on file in the Office of the City Clerk.

 

APPENDIX C

Crosswalks Identified for Zebra Pavement Markings

Adanac btw Rupert & Cassiar
Blenheim @ W 24th Ave
Blenheim @ W 39th Ave
Burrard @ Pacific
Cambie Bridge ramps
Cambie @ W 65th Ave
Clarendon @ E 37th Ave
Clark Dr. @ Frances
Commercial @ E 4th Ave
Cordova btw Burrard & Howe
Crown @ W 14th Ave
Davie @ Bidwell
Denman @ Comox
Denman @ Pendrell
Dundas @ Penticton
Dundas @ Slocan
E 16th Ave @ St. George
E 22nd Ave @ Cassiar
E 22nd Ave @ Penticton
E 33rd Ave @ Sophia
E 33rd Ave @ St. Catherines
E 33rd Ave @ Windsor
E 34th Ave @ Slocan
E 54th Ave @ Doman
E 54th Ave @ Elmhurst
E 54th Ave @ Killarney
E 57th Ave @ Ross
E Boulevard @ W 60th Ave
E Georgia @ Princess
Earles @ Euclid
Earles @ Horely
Elliott @ E 52nd Ave
Elliott @ Waverley
Fraser @ E 31st Ave
Fraser @ E 53rd Ave
Fraser @ E 61st Ave
Frontenac @ S of E 49th Ave
Granville Bridge ramps
Granville @ W 39th Ave
Hastings btw Carrall & Abbott
Hastings @ NB & SB Collectors
Heather @ W 14th Ave
Hemlock @ W 13th Ave
Hudson @ W 67th Ave
King Edward @ Brakenridge
King Edward @ Collingwood
King Edward @ Trafalger
Macdonald @ W 19th Ave
Maple @ W 45th Ave
N. Grandview @ Lakewood

N. Grandview @ Woodland
Nanaimo @ Brock
MacDonald @ Alamein
Matheson just E of Blake
Nanaimo @ E 37th Ave
Nelson @ Bidwell
Pender btw Columbia & Main
Puget @ W 29th Ave.
Renfrew @ E 15th Ave
Renfrew @ E 19th Ave
Renfrew @ E 3rd Ave
Renfrew @ E. Georgia
Renfrew @ Turner
S.W. Marine Dr. @ Balaclava
S.W. Marine Dr. @ Crown
S.W. Marine Dr. @ Olympic
Thurlow @ Comox
Trimble @ W 5th Ave
Venables @ Vernon
Venables @ Woodland
Victoria @ Charles
Victoria @ E 3rd Ave
Victoria @ Newport
Victoria @ Pender
W 4th Ave. @ Trutch
W 4th Ave. @ Wallace
W 10th Ave @ Carnarvon
W 10th Ave @ Collingwood
W 10th Ave @ Highbury
W 12th Ave @ Larch
W 16th Ave @ Balaclava
W 16th Ave @ Columbia
W 16th Ave @ Manitoba
W 16th Ave @ Richelieu
W 16th Ave @ Wolfe
W 29th Ave @ Highbury
W 39th Ave @ Balaclava
W 39th Ave @ Carnarvon
W 39th Ave @ Mackenzie
W 41st Ave @ Crown
W 41st Ave @ Columbia
W 41st Ave @ Wallace
W 43rd Ave @ Balaclava
W 49th Ave @ Montgomery
W 57th Ave @ Arbutus
W 57th Ave @ Laurel
W 57th Ave @ Maple
W 59th Ave @ Arbutus
W Boulevard @ W 60th Ave

APPENDIX D

Intersections Under Review For Wider Crosswalks

ALBERNI & BUTE
BEATTY & DUNSMUIR
BURRARD & HELMCKEN
BURRARD & PENDER
BURRARD & ROBSON
BURRARD & SMITHE
BUTE & DAVIE
BUTE & GEORGIA
BUTE & ROBSON
CAMBIE & DUNSMUIR
COMMERCIAL & 1ST
COMMERCIAL & BROADWAY
DENMAN & DAVIE
DENMAN & NELSON
GORE & KEEFER
GORE & PENDER
GRANVILLE & BROADWAY
GRANVILLE & DUNSMUIR
GRANVILLE & GEORGIA
GRANVILLE & HASTINGS
GRANVILLE & NELSON
GRANVILLE & PENDER
GRANVILLE & ROBSON
GRANVILLE & SMITHE
HOMER & GEORGIA
HOMER & ROBSON
HORNBY & DUNSMUIR
HORNBY & PENDER
HOWE & DUNSMUIR
HOWE & GEORGIA
HOWE & HASTINGS
HOWE & PENDER
MACDONALD & BROADWAY
MAIN & HASTINGS
MAIN & KEEFER
MAIN & PENDER

RICHARDS & CORDOVA
RICHARDS & GEORGIA
RICHARDS & HASTINGS
RICHARDS & ROBSON
SEYMOUR & GEORGIA
SEYMOUR & PENDER
SEYMOUR & ROBSON
THURLOW & ALBERNI
THURLOW & DAVIE
THURLOW & GEORGIA
THURLOW & MELVILLE
THURLOW & ROBSON