Date of Completion

9-4-2015

Embargo Period

9-3-2016

Advisors

Nalini Ravishanker, Norman Garrick

Field of Study

Civil Engineering

Degree

Master of Science

Open Access

Open Access

Abstract

Exclusive and concurrent phasing are the two primary traffic signal treatments for pedestrians in the state of Connecticut. Exclusive phasing, which shuts down an intersection to vehicular traffic, is commonly believed to be safer while concurrent phasing, which moves pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the same time, is often seen as more efficient. Research into the subject acknowledges that, while they exist, the safety benefits of exclusive phasing are only possible when pedestrians are compliant and cross roadways when told to by the traffic control device.

This thesis describes a comparison of pedestrian compliance between exclusive and concurrent phasing for a sample of signalized intersections in Connecticut. Pedestrians crossing each intersection were observed and classified according to what signal they crossed on as well as whether or not they were in a designated crossing area. Intersections were selected to represent both types of signal phasing while controlling for other physical characteristics. Comparisons were made using strict compliance rules, which follow the letter of the law, and relaxed compliance rules, where exclusive phased crossings were rated using concurrent phasing rules in order to see if pedestrians treaded the signal types differently. In addition to direct comparison, binomial regressions were performed with random effects to account for locational differences between sites which were not measured. It was found that not only did intersections with concurrent phasing see greater rates of pedestrian compliance, but that pedestrians in the study area appear to treat signals with exclusive phasing as though they had concurrent phasing.

Major Advisor

John N. Ivan

Download

Share

COinS