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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Research Report: Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety Research Report

researchrpt.pdf (3.44 MB)

October 22, 2013

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

1. Report No.  2. Government Accession 
No.		 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle 
Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety Research Report		 5. Report Date 
October 2013
6. Performing Organization Code
7.Author(s) 
Tom Huber, Kevin Luecke, Michael Hintze, Virginia Coffman, Jennifer Toole, Matt VanOosten		 8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address 
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) 
8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 700
Vienna, VA 22182-2626		 10. Work Unit No.
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-10-D-00022
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 
Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590		 13. Type of Report and Period 
Guidance
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
FHWA-HSA1
15. Supplementary Notes

The contract manager for this report was Tamara Redmon (FHWA Office of Safety). The project team gratefully acknowledges the input provided by the report and guide’s panel of experts. These panel members are:

  • Paula Reeves, Washington Department of Transportation, Olympia, WA
  • Sean Harbaugh, Columbia Association, Columbia, MD
  • Donna Gardino, Fairbanks MPO, Fairbanks, AK
  • Mike O’Meara, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
  • Tom Fischer, City of Tuscon, Arizona
  • Arthur Ross, City of Madison, WI
  • Mary Anne Koos, Florida DOT-Roadway Design Office, Tallahassee, FL
  • Marni Ratzel, City of Boulder, CO.
  • Kevin Farrington, City of Plattsburgh, New York
  • Dan Bauer, City of Minneapolis, MN
  • Yon Lambert, City of Alexandria, VA

Melissa Anderson of the U.S. Access Board, Washington D.C. is acknowledged for both her participation on the panel and for her tireless assistance and guidance on accessibility issues. FHWA staff members who provided initial and on-going direction include Gabe Rousseau, Candace Groudine, Jody McCullough, Brooke Struve, Michelle Noch, Kristie Johnson, Hillary Isebrands, and Peter Eun.

Images were provided by Toole Design Group, City of Charlotte, City of Ithaca, and panel members Paula Reeves, Tom Fisher, Melissa Anderson, and Sean Harbaugh.

16. Abstract 
A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety provides guidance for maintaining pedestrian facilities with the primary goal of increasing safety and mobility. The Guide addresses the needs for pedestrian facility maintenance; common maintenance issues; inspection, accessibility, and compliance; maintenance measurers; funding; and construction techniques to reduce future maintenance.
17. Key Words: 
pedestrian, facility, maintenance, sidewalk, path, crosswalk, signal, funding, repair, concrete, asphalt, safety, accessibility, access, patching, curb ramps, ADA, hazard, crack, inspection		 18. Distribution Statement 
19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified 20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified 21. No. of Pages
127		 22. Price

Forward

The objective of this report is to document common and effective approaches and practices for pedestrian facility maintenance, as well as identify and support those topic areas where additional guidance would be valuable for agencies engaged in pedestrian facility maintenance. The information in this report will be used to inform the development of a comprehensive pedestrian facility maintenance guide that addresses a wide range of topic areas regarding maintenance policies, programs, and practices.

This report consists of two chapters. Chapter 1 presents a summary of relevant literature, e.g. design and maintenance manuals, documented policies and practices, and related reports and research, which were reviewed to identify existing guidance available at the federal, state, and local levels. Chapter 1 also includes a summary of discussions that were conducted with over 40 agencies as a means to understand and document common and successful practices and challenges to pedestrian facility maintenance.

Chapter 2 provides an expanded discussion of routine and successful practices and provides detailed examples of the latter. Topics covered include state laws and local ordinances, enforcement or compliance efforts, inventory and inspection of facilities, funding, repair techniques, seasonal maintenance, maintenance of crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals, low maintenance design and maintenance equipment.

Findings presented in this research report will be used to inform the development of the Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety, the final product of this research effort.