The FHWA estimates that 17% of work zone fatalities involve pedestrians. Are you making every accom¬moda¬tion for pedestrians under your Maintenance and Protection of Traffic Plan? Follow these tips when designing your plans:

Avoid the problem. Whenever practical, close off the construction area to pedestrians and provide a well-signed detour. Make sure the detour route is safe to walk on and does not have broken, cracked, or stop and start sidewalks.

Provide temporary crosswalks at areas where you want pedestrians to cross.

Install temporary traffic signals, including ped heads, where needed to stop traffic and provide pedestrians a safe travel path.

Coordinate with impacted transit agencies (bus, rail, taxi companies). Do you understand their customer needs and have you accommodated these in your MPOT plan?

Understand pedestrian travel patterns. Know where schools, YMCAs, senior living centers, bus stops, and other high volume pedestrian generators are and the travel patterns that are being used.

Evaluate how phased construction will impact pedestrian travel patterns. Sequence sidewalk installations accordingly and not necessarily at the end of the project.

Install temporary pedestrian 'Walk/Don't Walk' signals or schedule permanent pedestrian signals for early installation so they can be utilized during construction.

Evaluate nighttime pedestrian needs. Are there movie theaters or nightlife hubs in the area? Will street light removal or installation temporarily effect pedestrian visibility at night? If so, can temporary street lighting be provided?

Will right-on-red provisions impact pedestrians? Funneling an increased number of pedestrians to specific crossing locations may require the installation of temporary ‘No Right on Red’ signs.

Are safe walkways provided to restaurants, offices, and other businesses within construction limits? Provide clear and understandable information to pedestrians so they can safely access these areas.

Educate businesses, residents, and other pedestrian generators about the construction schedule. Provide fliers or mailings at key construction intervals.

Divert pedestrians away from construction yards where construction vehicles frequently enter and exit.

Construction activities can change the landscape daily. We recommend that you assign an MPOT inspector to evaluate pedestrian travel paths daily to answer these questions: Are the sidewalks blocked or too narrow? Is it easy to cross the streets? Is visibility for both pedestrians and drivers adequate at crossings? Do vehicles backing out across sidewalks have sufficient visibility? Is the walk well lit?

No one wants a fatality on a project. Following these guidelines will minimize the potential for unsafe conditions and improve pedestrian safety in construction zones.

For additional information on Maintenance and Protection of Traffic considerations, contact Lorenzo Rotoli, P.E. at (585) 334-1310 or lrotoli@fisherassoc.com.