Giving pedestrians a head start at crosswalks is a simple fix that could save lots of lives. New York City has already seen a significant reduction in fatalities and injuries.
Leading pedestrian intervals, or LPIs, are traffic signals that give pedestrians a few seconds of walking time before cars enter the intersection. Laura Bliss covers how they've been linked to lower fatalities where they're installed.
"Given even a few seconds of priority," Bliss writes, "most [pedestrians] wind up at least halfway into the crosswalk—where they're plenty visible to drivers—before cars are allowed to go straight or make turns (including the ultra-dangerous left)."
Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle have all been experimenting with LPIs as part of their Vision Zero platforms. But as we've seen, New York City has achieved the best outcomes so far. NYC boasts 2,483 LPIs, and "a 2016 study of 104 intersections by the NYC Department of Transportation found that pedestrian and bike fatalities and severe injuries declined by nearly 40 percent at locations where LPIs have been installed."
Among Vision Zero enhancements, LPIs stand out for their comparatively low costs. According to a New York City DOT spokesperson, Bliss reports, the average cost per crosswalk is just $1,200.
FULL STORY: The Incredibly Cheap Street Fix That Saves Lives
NYC Launches Daylighting Plan
The city will install visibility improvements at over 1,000 intersections to improve traffic safety.
San Francisco Implements ‘Daylighting’ at Intersections
Vehicles are prohibited from parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk as part of the city’s Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic deaths and make roads safer.
San Francisco Officials Call for Citywide Ban on Right Turns on Red
A proposal to prohibit turns on red at some downtown intersections prompted calls for a blanket ban for the entire city.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks
Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.
To Build More Housing, Cities Must Be Smarter in How They Use Land
How strategic land use policy decisions can alleviate the housing crisis and limit unsustainable sprawl.
Parking Reform Can Boost Homebuilding 40 to 70 Percent
More evidence that parking flexibility is key to housing abundance.
California Adds Complete Streets to Transportation Funding Guidelines
The state transportation commission previously declined to include bike and pedestrian infrastructure in its updated funding guidelines, despite a new state law requiring Complete Streets efforts in all Caltrans projects.
Omaha Streetcar Yielding $1.5 Billion in TIF Funds
The line, scheduled for completion in 2027, is bringing billions in new investment to the city’s urban core.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Prescott
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
Temple University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
CORP - COnsulting Research Projects
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners