Roadside Feature Placement and Pedestrian Safety on Low and Intermediate Speed Roads

Status: Active
Project Start Date: 07/22/2024

Summary:

Existing research on the design of low- and intermediate-speed (35 mph and 40-45 mph posted speeds, respectively) urban roadsides does not provide adequate guidance to designers balancing complete streets design principles and roadside safety concerns. While MnDOT design guidance has grown more flexible and emphasizes the role of engineering judgment, designers need relevant, empirical models and evidence on which to base this judgment. The methodology used for this study will be particularly important. However, prior research methods do not answer the question of whether maintaining the recommended lateral offsets will significantly reduce fixed-object crashes or if errant vehicles will simply travel a few extra feet before meeting a fixed object. Nor does the guidance address the potential for trees and other roadside infrastructure to influence operating speed or other driver behavior.

Final Deliverables:

Related Materials:

New Project:Roadside Feature Placement and Pedestrian Safety on Low and Intermediate Speed Roads (Blog Post)

Related Research:

Project Personnel:

Principal Investigator: Kakan Dey

Co-Principal Investigator: Subasish Das, Tim Gates, Peter Savolainen

Technical Liaison: Hannah Pritchard

Project Coordinator: Chad Kooistra