pooled fund Projects
In Progress
Warrants for Adding Pedestrian Signals to Existing Signalized Intersections - Updated March 2012
| Research Area | Pedestrian Signals |
| Responsible Council / Committee | Chief Engineers' Council Traffic Operations and Management Standing Committee |
| Related TAC publications | Canadian Traffic Signal Warrant Matrix Procedure (2005) Traffic Signal Warrant Handbook (2007) |
| Start Date | November 2010 |
| Completion Date | April 2013 |
| Research Agency | AECOM |
| Status | Work is in progress. |
| Project Funding Partners | Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation; City of Ottawa; Ministry of Transportation, Ontario; Transport Canada; Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal; Ville de Montréal; Alberta Transportation; Ministère des Transports du Québec; City of Calgary |
| Staff Contact | Sandra Majkic |
Abstract
In Canada, there is currently no national technical warrant to assess the need to add pedestrian signals at signalized intersections in urban settings. Furthermore, there is little guidance about how to treat pedestrian signals, whether they should be protected, semi-protected, exclusive, or scramble, etc. A national warrant is needed to assist practitioners responsible for traffic signals.
The project will involve review of, and research about, existing warrants as well as other related municipal initiatives and by-laws in Canada. Warrants used in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand should also be reviewed as part of this project. A review of traffic engineering theory about conflict management at intersections will be needed to support the development of parameters to be factored into the warrant.
Since the pedestrian walking speed is linked to signal timing, the review and evaluation of walking speeds will be completed as part of this project and results will be incorporated into the traffic and pedestrians signal warrants. The guidance for application of walking speeds for signalized intersections will be provided.
The major project deliverable will be a national technical warrant for adding pedestrian signals to existing traffic signals. The warrant will be described and presented in a practical format appropriate for use by practitioners. It is expected that the updates to the Manual of Uniform of Traffic Control Devices for Canada with respect to pedestrian walking speeds as well as traffic and pedestrian signal warrants will also be prepared as part of this project.