14-018 Code Vt. R. 14-010-018-X

Current through August, 2024

Section 14 010 018 - GUIDELINE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CROSSWALK MARKINGS AND PEDESTRIAN SIGNS AT MARKED AND UNMARKED CROSSINGS

INTRODUCTION

The 1988 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices states:

"Crosswalk markings at signalized intersections and across intersection approaches on which traffic stops, serve primarily to guide pedestrians in the proper paths. Crosswalk markings across roadways on which traffic is not controlled by traffic signals or STOP signs must also serve to warn the motorist of a pedestrian crossing point at non-inter-section locations, these markings legally establish the crosswalk...

"Crosswalks should be marked at all intersections where there is a substantial conflict between vehicle and pedestrian movements. Marked crosswalks should also be provided at other appropriate points of pedestrian concentration, such as at loading islands, mid-block pedestrian crossing, or where pedestrians could not otherwise recognize the proper place to cross...

"Crosswalk markings should not be used indiscriminately. An engineering study should be required before they are installed at locations away from the traffic signals or STOP signs."

This guideline should be used to insure that there is consistency applied statewide when determining the need for crosswalk markings and to insure that sign installation practices are consistent across Vermont when crosswalk markings are determined to be unnecessary.

It must be recognized that not all situations can be adequately addressed in this guideline, therefore, engineering judgement must be used at all times.

Ultimately, it is up to the driving public and pedestrians of all ages to understand current Vermont laws, and thus act accordingly.

It is important that the driver and pedestrian recognize what marked crosswalks can and cannot do. Pedestrians need to know that they should be just as careful in using a marked crosswalk as when using an unmarked crossing area.

This guideline addresses the issues and sign layout requirements for the following situations:

. Traffic Signal intersection control

. STOP sign intersection control

. Uncontrolled approach to an intersection

. School crossing

. Non-intersection crossing or mid-block

. Unmarked pedestrian crossing

MARKED CROSSWALKS

Rules to Implement

Title 19 V.S.A., Section 905b

1. Prior to the marking of pedestrian crosswalks on public highways under their respective jurisdictions, the responsible municipal official or the District Transportation Administrator shall review the plan of the proposed markings to insure that the crosswalks conform to the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), Part 3, Markings. Crosswalk markings should only be installed and/or maintained after receiving written approval from the appropriate governing entity, i.e., Agency of Transportation in the case of State Highways; Select Board in the case of town highways.

2. Crosswalks should be installed at locations protected by traffic signals or stop signs, and at other locations where justified by an engineering study and adequately protected by warning signs in accordance with the MUTCD. It is recommended that crosswalks be evaluated using the engineering study as detailed in the Agency of Transportation's latest edition of, "Guideline for the Installation of Crosswalk Markings and Pedestrian Signs at Marked and Unmarked Crossings."

3. A crosswalk on a State highway shall be marked with white paint or a durable pavement marking material. The crosswalk shall be at least six (6) feet wide, measured inside of the crosswalk edge lines, and the crosswalk edge lines shall be twelve (12) inches wide, and shall conform to the "crosshatch" pattern shown in the detail below. Crosswalks in municipalities should be in accordance with selections shown in the MUTCD.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

4. Within two years of the effective date of this rule, all existing crosswalk markings shall conform to the details shown above, or as shown in the MUTCD. Within two years of the effective date of this rule, all crosswalks shall be reviewed for compliance, in the case of town highways by the responsible municipal official, or the District Transportation Administrator. All crosswalks not meeting the guideline should be removed.

5. Meanings of "Shall", "Should" and "May". In the sections dealing with the design and application of traffic control devices, the words "shall", "should" and "may" are used to describe specific conditions concerning these devices to clarify the meanings intended by the use of these words, the following definitions apply:

a. SHALL - a mandatory condition. Where certain requirements in the design or application of the device are described with the "shall" stipulation, it is mandatory when an installation is made that these requirements be met.

b. SHOULD - an advisory condition. Where the word "should" is used, it is considered to be advisable usage, recommended but not mandatory.

c. MAY - a permissive condition. No requirement for design or application is intended.

CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS

Traffic Signal Intersection Control

1. Traffic signal with an exclusive pedestrian phase shall have crosswalks applied on all roadway approaches which are used by pedestrians.

2. Traffic signals with concurrent pedestrian movements shall have crosswalks applied on the roadway approaches that have sidewalks that guide the pedestrian to the point of crossing in the intersection. Crosswalks should not be installed in the absence of sidewalks unless adequate shoulders exist.

3. Traffic signals that are not timed to accommodate concurrent pedestrian movements or have traffic signal heads that cannot be seen by the pedestrian, shall have no crosswalks applied on the roadway approach which might be used by pedestrians.

There shall be no signs installed at the marked crosswalks or advance signs placed on the roadway approaches denoting pedestrian activity at the intersection.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

STOP Sign Intersection Control

1. A crosswalk may be placed across the approach controlled by a STOP sign if a sidewalk exists on both sides of the roadway approach controlled by the STOP sign. Note: If a crosswalk is stencilled, a stop bar shall be stencilled, and it shall be a minimum of 4 feet from the crosswalk, measured as a 4 foot gap between markings.

There shall be no signs installed at the marked crosswalk, or advance signs placed on the roadway approach denoting pedestrian activity at the intersection.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS

Uncontrolled Approach to an Intersection

A crosswalk may be placed at an intersection on a roadway approach that is not regulated by a traffic signal or a STOP if all the following criteria are met:

1. The speed limit is 40 MPH or less, and;

2. There exists 20 or more pedestrians per hour during the vehicular A.M. and P.M. peak period and a study indicates that pedestrians have to wait more than 60 seconds to cross the roadway. Lessor values can be used if a large percentage of the pedestrian population consists of young, elderly, or disabled pedestrians, and;

3. A determination has been made that the pedestrian shall have the right-of-way over the vehicular traffic. For example: this would occur in urban areas, at parking lots or access points to public buildings, as there is a need to channelize pedestrian movement to avoid pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, and;

4. No parking or other obstructions occur which prohibit the motorist from seeing the pedestrian standing on the shoulder or curb and parking is prohibited 20 feet approaching the crosswalk (unless a bulb-out exists restricting parking), see example on page 15, and;

5. The marked crosswalk or the regulatory sign must be visible to the vehicle driver at a distance in excess of the safe stopping sight distance (chart on page 17) for the speed limit, and;

6. Multiple crosswalks should be at least 150200 feet apart in either direction of a proposed location.

Regulatory Signs (VR-004a) shall be installed at the crosswalk location and warning signs (W11-2) shall be installed on the roadway approaches as shown on the sign layout detail. Advance warning signs (W11-2) will not be required in urban areas where pedestrian activity is an expected feature of the driving environment.

When installed crosswalks should be placed as close to perpendicular to traffic as possible.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

School Crossing - Non-Intersecting Crossing or Mid-Block.

Crosswalks should be applied at locations on established routes to school where there is conflict between vehicles and school children, or where students would not otherwise know the proper place to cross. There does not need to be a specific number of students. Signs and pavement markings should be installed if all the following criteria are met:

1. The crossing occurs in a section of roadway where the posted speed limit is 40 MPH or less, and;

2. The marked crosswalk or the regulatory sign must be visible to the vehicle driver at a distance in excess of the safe stopping sight distance (chart on page 17) for the speed limit, and;

3. No parking or other obstructions occur which prohibit the motorist from seeing the school child standing on the shoulder or curb, at least 100 feet in advance of and 20 feet beyond the crosswalk (unless a bulb-out exists restricting parking), see example on page 15 and;

4. A trained crossing guard shall be used at the times when there is crossing activity by the students, and;

5. Multiple crosswalks should be at least 150-200 feet apart in either direction of a proposed location.

Signs (VR-004a, S2-1) shall be installed at the crosswalk location and a warning sign (S1-1) shall be installed on the roadway approaches as shown in the sign layout detail:

When installed crosswalks should be placed as close to perpendicular to traffic as possible.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

Non-Intersection Crossing or Mid-Block

A marked crosswalk may be used across a roadway if all the following criteria are met:

1. The speed limit is 40 MPH or less, and;

2. No other crossing exists within a distance of 150-200 feet in either direction, and;

3. There exists 20 or more pedestrians per hour during the vehicular A.M. and P.M. peak period and a study indicates that pedestrians have to wait more than 60 seconds to cross the roadway. Lessor values can be used if a large percentage of the pedestrian population consists of young, elderly, or disabled pedestrians, and;

4. A determination has been made that the pedestrian shall have the right-of-way over the vehicular traffic. For example: this would occur in urban areas, at parking lots or access points to public buildings, as there is a need to channelize pedestrian movement to avoid pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, and;

5. No parking or other obstructions occur which prohibit the motorist from seeing the pedestrian standing on the shoulder or curb, at least 100 feet in advance of and 20 feet beyond the crosswalk (unless a bulb-out, see example, page 15, exists restricting parking), and;

6. The marked crosswalk or signs must be visible to the vehicle driver at a distance in excess of the safe stopping sight distance (chart on page 17) for the speed limit, and;

Regulatory signs (VR-004a) shall be installed at the crosswalk location and a warning sign (W11-2) shall be installed on the roadway approaches as shown on the sign layout detail. The advance warning signs (W11-2) will not be required in urban areas where pedestrian activity is an expected feature of the driving environment.

When installed, crosswalks should be placed as close to perpendicular to traffic as possible.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

UNMARKED CROSSINGS

Unmarked Pedestrian Crossing

When the criteria for a marked crosswalk is not met, warning signs as specified in the MUTCD, (Part II-C), Warning Signs, may be installed.

If signs are determined to be warranted based on available sight distance, the following sign layout detail should be used where applicable:

CASE A

1. The pedestrian crossing activity occurs randomly over a long distance at various points. A warning sign (W11-2) and a supplemental plaque should be used to denote the distance between the signs (which blanket the crossing area). The plaques should not indicate a distance in excess of one mile.

2. There does not need to be a specific pedestrian volume, merely crossing activity.

Cases to consider would be on highways adjacent to lakes and ponds, where summer camps and the associated activities occur, or connections for a hiking trail require travel along the roadway.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

CASE B

1. The area of concentrated pedestrian activity occurs over a length of 500 feet or less and is within the view of the motorists. These crossings take place only at the location identified, and at various times.

2. Supplemental plaques shall be used to denote the distance between the crossing signs (W11A-2). The advance pedestrian signs (W11-2) should be used with the crossing signs.

This situation tends to be seasonal locations or locations of activity during certain days. Cases to consider would be locations where some attraction such as fishing or swimming occur on one side of the highway and parking occurs on the other.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

CASE C

1. The location of pedestrian activity occurs at a specific location but does not meet the guidelines for a marked crosswalk.

2. Crossing signs (W11A-2) may be used to supplement advance Crossing signs (W11-2) as a means of assisting the vehicle operator in defining the specific point of crossing. Such signs should be used only at locations that are unusually hazardous or at locations not readily apparent. When used, the Crossing sign (W11A-2) should be located immediately adjacent to the crossing location.

[See illustration in printed publication.]

If this distance exceeds 50 feet, then Case B applies.

ATTACHMENTS

EXAMPLE

STATE OF VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC & SAFETY DIVISION

CROSSWALK APPROVAL

In accordance with 19, V.S.A., § 905(b), Maintenance District.... is hereby permitted to install a crosswalk on the state maintained portion of .... at the following location:.....;

The approval is contingent upon the installation and maintenance of the crosswalk in accordance with State as shown in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as adopted by State Law Title 23, § 1025.

The Traffic and Safety Division reserves the right to withdraw approval and require removal of this crosswalk based on safety, maintenance and engineering issues, and as future conditions dictate. The appropriate signs shall be in position prior to the crosswalk installation.

Approved .....Traffic & Safety Engineer Date....

Sketch of location (if applicable)

[See illustration in printed publication.]

[See illustration in printed publication.]

[See illustration in printed publication.]

		Brake Reaction
Design Speed (mph)	Assumed Speed for Condition (mph)	Time (sec)	Distance(ft)	Coefficient of Friction	Braking Distance on Level (ft)
20	20-20	2.5	73.3-73.3	0.40	33.3-33.3
25	24-25	2.5	88.0-91.7	0.38	50.5-54.8
30	28-30	2.5	102.7-110.0	0.35	74.7-85.7
35	32-35	2.5	117.3-128.3	0.34	100.4-120.1
40	36-40	2.5	132.0-146.7	0.32	135.0-166.7
45	40-45	2.5	146.7-165.0	0.31	172.0-217.7
50	44-50	2.5	161.3-183.3	0.30	215.1-277.8
55	48-55	2.5	176.0-201.7	0.30	256.0-336.1
60	52-60	2.5	190.7-220.0	0.29	310.8-413.8
65	55-65	2.5	201.7-238.3	0.29	347.7-485.6
70	58-70	2.5	212.7-256.7	0.28	400.5-583.3

	Stopping Sight Distance
Design Speed (mph)	Computed (ft)	Rounded for Design (ft)
20	106.7-106.7	125-125
25	138.5-146.5	150-150
30	177.3-195.7	200-200
35	217.7-248.4	225-250
40	267.0-313.3	275-325
45	318.7-382.7	325-400
50	376.4-461.1	400-475
55	432.0-537.8	450-550
60	501.5-633.8	525-650
65	549.4-724.0	550-725
70	613.1-840.0	625-850

Stopping sight distance (wet pavements)

14-018 Code Vt. R. 14-010-018-X

Effective Date: July 10, 1995 (Secretary of State Rule Log # 95-44)