A high density of driveway entrances should be avoided to minimize traffic conflicts and construction costs. Areas where effective access management has been implemented have experienced a five to 23% reduction in all crashes along two-lane rural highways. Consolidating multiple, closely-spaced driveways should be considered when possible. A single, well-designed and properly-controlled driveway with good traffic circulation within the site will function more safely and efficiently than several driveways to a parcel, and conflict points are reduced both on and off the public roadway.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (USDOT FHWA)

In California, the minimum width of a sidewalk should be 8 feet between curb and building in urban and rural context. However, the minimum width does not account for sidewalk obstructions such as curbs, transit facilities, utility poles, or other objects that can reduce the usability of a sidewalk. Increasing sidewalk width can provide improvement among accessibility for disadvantaged users, increase pedestrian Level of Service (LOS), and allow additional width for utilities, transit stops, and street furniture. Increased sidewalk width is especially critical to sidewalks adjacent to roadways with higher traffic speeds and volumes.

Source: CA Highway Design Manual, NACTO

Implemented at intersections with signalized pedestrian crossings that have high turning vehicle volumes and have had pedestrian vs. vehicle crashes. This treatment addresses pedestrian and bicycle crashes. This countermeasure only applies to “Ped & Bike” crashes occurring in the intersections with signalized pedestrian crossing with the newly implemented Leading Pedestrian Interval.

Benefit-Cost

• Implementation of this treatment reduces crashes by 60%.
• 10 years of expected life.
• Costs are very low, since only minor signal timing alteration is required. When considered at a single location, the LPI is usually locally funded. This countermeasure can be effectively and efficiently implemented using a systematic approach with numerous locations, resulting in moderate cost projects that are more appropriate to seek state or federal funding.
• Eligible for 100% of federal funding.

Source: CA-Local Roadway Safety Manual

Installing underground utilities or “undergrounding” is the removal of existing utility infrastructure, such as utility poles and overhead power lines, to underground. Undergrounding also includes the construction of new utilities and services underground and connected to existing facilities. The undergrounding of utilities can improve safety for both pedestrians and vehicles through increased pedestrian ROW, allowing for increased sidewalk width, and reducing issues that arise from vehicle and utility facility collisions such as fires or poles being knocked down creating public safety hazards.

Source: California Public Utilities Commission