ADA COUNTY- The Ada County Highway District is continuing its effort to ensure all road users can travel safely.
As part of ACHD's ongoing commitment to pedestrian safety, the agency will work toward incorporating a leading pedestrian interval (LPI) at all of ACHD's signalized intersections throughout the county. This initiative, brought forth by ACHD's Board of Commissioners, combined with the policies ACHD currently implements, will continue to prioritize the safety of all those who travel in Ada County.
A leading pedestrian interval allows extra time for pedestrians to make their way into a crosswalk before vehicle traffic proceeds through the intersection. Drivers and pedestrians will notice that the 'walk' sign starts three to five seconds before the traffic light on the adjacent side of the intersection turns green. The extra time allows the pedestrian to be more visible to vehicles as they cross, particularly for vehicles turning at the intersection.
Over the next year, ACHD will begin and finalize planning and start actions geared toward updating and designing LPIs at each ACHD owned intersection in the county. Some intersections will be simpler to update than others. When completed, the initiative will require a complete signal-timing coordination adjustment for some areas of Ada County. Implementation of the leading pedestrian interval system county-wide may also require reconstruction and/or Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) in some locations to comply with ADA requirements.
"This is a lofty goal for the District, but it is critical that we do everything in our power to protect our most vulnerable commuters," said Commission President Alexis Pickering. "We've seen that implementing leading pedestrian intervals improves safety for all users and if these efforts prevent even one death in our county, they're well worth the investment."
Staff members at ACHD continuously examine the safety of Ada County roadways. Staff members regularly coordinate with partner agencies and examine crash data provided by local police departments to identify areas of concern. ACHD experts use a variety of tools and design changes to improve traffic flow and reduce the number of crashes.
The new LPI initiative adds to current policies that ACHD has implemented in recent years to increase safety. In 2021, ACHD implemented a new policy that requires separated pathways on all future roadway projects.
The leading pedestrian interval effort dovetails with ACHD's 'Red B4 Ped' initiative, which began in 2021. Red B4 Ped ensures that if a pedestrian signal is lit to walk, any left turning traffic lanes that will intersect that crossing remain red. Both signal functions have been shown to reduce crashes involving pedestrians. 220 intersections have been updated to include the Red B4 Ped function, and all new flashing-yellow intersections will be installed with Red B4 Ped.
Additionally, ACHD's livable streets performance measures will continue to be a guide for all ACHD improvements. As part of the complete streets initiative, the guiding principle is that 'streets, bridges and transit stops within Ada County should be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so that pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, motorists, and people of all ages and abilities can travel safely and independently.'
ACHD also continues to look at new research and updated guidance that increases pedestrian safety. "We work to stay on the leading edge of innovative solutions in design," explained Deputy Director Ryan Head. "Not every tool is one size fits all. Each project, city, and neighborhood presents its own unique needs, but our amazing staff is up for the challenge."
Head explained one example of a unique solution is the "barnes dance," where all car traffic halts so pedestrians can cross in all directions. While it is not a wide-spread solution, its benefits can be seen at Boise State University at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and University Drive.
Other design tools used throughout Ada County to enhance safety for pedestrians are bulb-outs, raised intersections and updated ramps that are ADA compliant. ACHD has also installed 100 pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHB), and dozens of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB).
"It is important for us at ACHD to do our due diligence in making sure safe facilities are in place," Pickering noted. "I'm proud of the great progress we've made, and this most recent initiative will build upon that strong foundation."
ACHD staff will spend the coming weeks crafting a detailed implementation plan for the leading pedestrian interval initiative, including a timeline and budget, which will be presented to the Board of Commissioners during the March 1 meeting for their continued consideration and direction.