Research Aims to Improve Safety and Efficiency at Transit Stops
Posted: Jan 28, 2025
With pedestrian injuries and fatalities increasing, researchers at Utah State University studied pedestrian and traffic behavior near transit stops to develop recommendations for locating, designing, and operating transit stops to improve both pedestrian safety and traffic operations at signalized intersections. The researchers used three video-based behavioral observation data collections from signals in Utah to study interactions between transit vehicles and other vehicles, pedestrian conflicts with vehicles near transit stops, and pedestrian crossing behavior. By carefully considering the safety and operational trade-offs in each situation – and deciding the relative priority of safety and operational outcomes – agencies can hopefully improve pedestrian safety while ensuring efficient transit and traffic operations. Findings and recommendations of this research were communicated to transportation stakeholders in Utah, including the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of Transportation.
With pedestrian injuries and fatalities increasing, researchers at Utah State University studied pedestrian and traffic behavior near transit stops to develop recommendations for locating, designing, and operating transit stops to improve both pedestrian safety and traffic operations at signalized intersections. The researchers used three video-based behavioral observation data collections from signals in Utah to study interactions between transit vehicles and other vehicles, pedestrian conflicts with vehicles near transit stops, and pedestrian crossing behavior. By carefully considering the safety and operational trade-offs in each situation – and deciding the relative priority of safety and operational outcomes – agencies can hopefully improve pedestrian safety while ensuring efficient transit and traffic operations. Findings and recommendations of this research were communicated to transportation stakeholders in Utah, including the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of Transportation.