Recommendation Report

MEMO OF TRANSMITTALTO Cal Poly Facilities Services

1 Grand AvenueBuilding 70, DownstairsSan Luis Obispo, CA 93407

FROM Brandon FaconDATE May 8, 2015SUBJECT Outline of recommendations for improving the pedestrian

crosswalks on Cal Poly’s Campus

As you know, Cal poly has been experiencing huge growth and expansion in the past several years and has gained much acclaim. With this expansion comes a population increase that can only worsen the already problematic system of commuting on campus. Below is an overview of these issues and a recommendation to improve the safety and efficiency of pedestrian crosswalks on campus.

Recommendations: Three detailed recommendations were selected and reviewed, given the data that I collected from my research. The three recommendations discussed in this report are listed below.

Integrated pedestrian crosswalk signal button Signage dictating “Who has the Right-Of-Way” Lights system incorporated into the pavement, signaling a

crosswalk

MethodsAll of the recommendations stated above were carefully selected, analyzed, and researched by a variety of research methods. The methods discussed in this report include:

Preliminary Research Interviews Data Collection Recommendation Research

Final Recommendation:I recommend that the Facilities Department at Cal Poly implement new signage that educates both the pedestrian and the commuter about who has the right-of-way. I also recommend that they implement the Light Guard System flashing crosswalk lights into designated pedestrian crosswalks. This will improve both the efficiency and safety of the intersections and crosswalk on Cal Poly’s campus.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work on this project on the Cal Poly campus. The consideration of this recommendation would be

greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Safety and Efficiency of Designated Crosswalks on the campus of Cal Poly

State University

Prepared by: Brandon FaconPresented for: Cal Poly Facilities Services

Date Submitted: May 8, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction……………………………………………………………… 1Methods………………………………………………………………… 2-5

1. Preliminary Research…………………………………………….. 2

2. Interview…………………………………………………………… 2

3. Data Collection………………………………………………….. 3-4

4. Recommendation Research…………………………………….. 5

Results…………………………………………………………………. 6-10

1. Preliminary Research…………………………………………….. 6

2. Interview…………………………………………………………… 6

3. Data Collection………………………………………………….. 7-8

4. Recommendation Research………………………………….. 8-10

Conclusion………………………………………………………………. 11Recommendation………………………………………………………. 12Work Cited………………………………………………………………. 13Figures Cited……………………………………………………………. 14

TABLE OF FIGURESFigure 1. Intersection and pedestrian crosswalk in front of

Kennedy Library…….. 3Figure 2. Intersection and crosswalk next to the University

Union……………… 4Figure 3. Pedestrian crosswalk next to the Performing Arts Center,

SLO……….. 4Figure 4. Data for trials performed at 4-way crosswalk next

to the Kennedy Library………………………………………….. 7

Figure 5. Data for trials performed at 2-way crosswalk in front

of the University Union………………………………………….. 8

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Figure 6. Data for trials performed at pedestrian crosswalk across from the Performing Arts Center,

SLO…………………………………….. 8Figure 7. Data for trials performed at pedestrian crosswalk across from the

Performing Arts Center,

SLO…………………………………….. 9Figure 8. Proposed button to be placed at the corner of

intersections…………... 9Figure 9. Light Guard Systems Light Star™ crosswalk light

technology………… 10Figure 10. Light Guard Systems Smart Crosswalk™

System………………….. 10

INTRODUCTIONIn 2014, California Polytechnic University recorded an official university size of 19,703 students (Cal Poly Admissions). This number, having increased nearly 700 students from the previous year, shows incredible growth and expansion of the university. However, with this amount of students, the

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university has to become prepared for increased amounts of traffic in and around campus.

Cal Poly is faced with a quickly impeding dilemma; should they slow the growth of the University’s student body, or prepare and face the rising population with ease and control? Cal Poly has chosen to prepare for the increased attention the University is getting from its “Learn by Doing” motto, and started by proposing a brand new housing complex that is reportedly going to house around 1,400 first year students (Cal Poly News). Their new campaign states that “student success is [their] primary goal,” and although student housing is an integral part of students success, student safety should also be their primary goal.

With even more students living on campus, the number of people commuting to and from the University will be at an all time high. The current commuting experience is far from enjoyable. You can expect to experience a chaotic atmosphere trying to figure out when you have the right-of-way and if the car coming at you, notices you and is going to stop in time. In order for Cal Poly to influence their primary goal of aiding in students success, they must exceed their enthusiasm for increasing population with their focus on student safety. This report explores the effectiveness and safety of Cal Poly’s pedestrian crosswalks for both the pedestrians and the commuters and its clear need for improvement.

METHODSIn order to develop a clear and precise strategy for examining the effectiveness and safety of the pedestrian crosswalks, I started by creating a plan

INTRODUCTION I 1

of action that consisted of 3 main methods of collecting data and inquiring about this topic.

My 4 research methods are as follows:o Preliminary Researcho Interviewo Data Collectiono Recommendation Research

This report will guide you through the steps I took in gathering the information I used to develop my reasoning and final recommendation.

Preliminary ResearchI wanted to get an even better understanding for the issue of heavily populated pedestrian crosswalks on campus.

I started by asking the students on campus where they found the real problem of the crosswalks to be. I did this by talking to fellow peers around me. I acted as a pedestrian and followed along with other pedestrians and asked them as we crossed the road. By doing this I was able to focus my questions on the need for improvement and the things that don’t work well with the crosswalk system how it is now.

InterviewI conducted an interview so that I could get another viewpoint of this issue from someone who has information and influence in the way Cal Poly’s campus functions during times of extreme crowding and events.

I interviewed Gwen Nielsen, Cal Poly’s University Police Parking and Events Traffic Manager, in order to get more information about the traffic on campus and how a large influx of people can disrupt the commuting and pedestrians on campus. Her expertise with parking and university events is a good resource to my research because she coordinates the traffic on campus during special events. I sent Nielsen questions for the interview but wanted it to become a conversation over email so I could get her understanding of the current and future traffic conditions. Her free responses were helpful in producing answers to questions I didn’t come up with and found valuable.

Data CollectionMETHODS I 2

METHODS I 3

I collected data in order to get a numerical expression for this issue. I was able to devise a set of test that could be easily tested and analyzed at 3 designated crosswalks on Cal Poly’s Campus.

I focused my tests on efficiency and seeing where and how the crosswalks could be made more efficient. In order to do that, I performed 5 trials at the top of each hour at each crosswalk listed below, for a total of 15 trials at each location. Each trial, I measured the time it took for a commuting car to make it through the entire intersection, or how long it took them to get passed the crosswalk after stopping. I always measured the number of students that crossed during each trial associate with the time it took to cross.

The crosswalks I looked at were:

1. 4-way Crosswalk next to Kennedy Library

I chose this crosswalk because it is a heavy pedestrian traffic area and the 4-way stop also creates a heavy amount of commuter traffic.

Figure 1: Intersection and crosswalk in front of Kennedy

Library

2. 2-way Crosswalk next to the University Union

This crosswalk was important to look at because it is at the center of campus with high traffic and also features a 2-way stop instead of a 4-way stop.

3. Pedestrian crosswalk next to the Performing Arts Center

This crosswalk is important on campus because it is strictly for the pedestrians. I chose to look at this pedestrian crosswalk because it gives the pedestrian the right of way all the time and commuting cars are required to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

METHODS I 4

Figure 2: Intersection and crosswalk next to the University Union

Figure 3: Pedestrian crosswalk next to the Performing Arts Center, SLO

Recommendation ResearchOnce I compiled the majority of my research, I analyzed what I had collected and started my research for technology and ideas that could alleviate the issue of inefficient pedestrian crosswalks. The research dedicated to the solution for this issue was organized into specific issues that could be improved. The issues are below, followed by the reason for testing.

1. Wait Time For Commuting CarsReducing the time it takes for cars to get through the intersection after they come to a complete stop is a key priority in making the crosswalks more efficient. To do this, I focused this research on fixing that issue. I looked at a system that would implement a button like any other intersection with a light by Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety. I am also researching the possibility of adding a sign that could make the pedestrian aware of who has the right-of-way.

2. Pedestrians Visibility At CrosswalksMaking pedestrians more visible to commuting cars is an immensely important issue. In order to do that I looked at a technology by Light Guard Systems that implements lights into the edges of the crosswalk.

RESULTSIn this section of the report, I will explain the results found in each method explained in order that I performed them. This section will go into detail about the two recommendations chosen and explain the reasons for the final recommendation.

Preliminary ResearchWith my preliminary research I was able to get a very good understanding of where the problems lied with the crosswalk systems. They are listed below:

1. By talking with the pedestrians I was able to get first hand knowledge of where they thought the crosswalk system could be improved. In my questions, I found that the biggest issue with the crosswalks is that there is no sense of who has the right-of-way. It seems that pedestrians seem to always have the right-of-way and enter into the intersection most times without even looking at the car waiting at the stop sign. As the rule goes, “pedestrians always have the right-of-way” but that doesn’t always work when a car has been waiting at the stop sign for a long line of pedestrians to inconveniently enter into the intersection (Safe Motorist).

InterviewI conducted an interview to further analyze the current traffic situation and get an experts viewpoint on the matter. The results of the interview I conducted are explained below.

1. In my interview with Gwen Nielsen, we were able to communicate openly about the current traffic conditions and how an increase in our population as a student body would affect our traffic conditions. She explained to me that when Cal Poly has special events such as performances at the Performing Arts Center, or sporting events, we are able to handle the traffic capacity due to the immediate nature of it. Because the people travelling on campus are visiting for the most part, Cal Poly is able to handle the influx of commuters. She also explained to me that if the increase of people on campus would be permanent such as more on campus student housing and a larger student body would certainly create capacity issues with traffic. She recommends an alterative to the systems, or lack there of, that are currently in place. The idea of improving signs and making

METHODS I 5

people aware of the crosswalks and the right-of-way would be a great way to increase traffic flow and overall create a safer and more efficient environment for a student to be getting to class or person trying to commute onto campus.

Data CollectionThe data that I collected was crucial in developing a concrete idea of the numbers behind the issue at hand. I was able to get a quantifiable idea of the impact that the continued increase in the size of the student body has on the traffic and commuting on campus. The data that I collected is broken down into the three intersections and crosswalks that I analyzed.

1. 4-way Crosswalk next to Kennedy Library

The trials at this intersection and crosswalk were chaotic. The commuting car would make its stop at the stop sign. There, it would wait for an opening in the continuous group of pedestrians that were crossing the street. There were an average of over 9 pedestrians that entered the crosswalk even after the car reached stopped sign. This caused the car to be waiting for an average time of almost 21 seconds.

2. 2-way Crosswalk in front of the University Union

This intersection experienced slightly less foot traffic but experienced an even heavier amount of commuter car traffic than the 4-way stop

Figure 4: Data for trials performed at 4-way crosswalk next to the Kennedy

Library

Figure 5: Data for trials performed at 2-way crosswalk in front of the University

Union

RESULTS I 6

above. This led to a shorter wait time of only 11 and a half seconds and a fewer amount of pedestrians at an average of almost 6. This crosswalk had a steady stream of cars that experienced no issue in getting through the crosswalk. I find this to be a result of this actually being such a big center of campus. Because of this it has many paths to take to get where you’re going. It seemed that a large number of pedestrians were choosing to walk around to avoid the constant flow of traffic and buses commuting through this intersection. This relieved a lot of the wait time.

3. Pedestrian crosswalk across from the Performing Arts Center,

SLO

This crosswalk was different than the other two in the sense that it does not include the use of a stop sign and is strictly and crosswalk for pedestrians. Commuting cars were experiencing a wait time of around 6 seconds and had an average of 4 pedestrians crossing while the commuters stopped at the crosswalk. The results from these trials only show the issue numerically. The issue with this crosswalk is the speed the cars have traveling down the road and are caught of guard when matched with a pedestrian attempting to cross the street. More than often, the cars are slow to come to a stop or to even notice the pedestrian entering the crosswalk.

Recommendation ResearchOnce I had all the results presented above, I started my research for finding a solution to the inherent issue at the pedestrian crosswalk on Cal Poly’s campus. I focused my research into the separate issue that I found from my previous data above. The issues I focused on are presented below.

1. Wait Time For Commuting CarsWhen presented with this issue, I found the main thing that affect the amount of time the cars spent waiting was the amount of students that crossed the street in a continuous pattern. The

Figure 6: Data for trials performed at pedestrian crosswalk across from the

Performing Arts Center, SLO

wave of students would continue until either the car crossed into the intersection and stopped pedestrians from crossing or it wasn’t until nearly a minute had passed and the line of students had passed. To fix this, I first looked into a simple crosswalk sign that made the pedestrians and the vehicles aware of each other and makes them ask themselves the question, “Who has the right of way?” The proposed sign to be placed at the corners of the intersections and pedestrians crosswalks is shown below.

My next research came in form of a button that would create and order and “queue” of pedestrians and commuters. A company called Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety makes this button. They produce a standalone button that is placed at the corner of the crosswalk and a signal on one of the corners to handle traffic. It replays audio for the pedestrian to signal when to walk and cross the street. The button is shown below.

Figure 7: Proposed sign to be placed at every intersection and pedestrian

crosswalk

Figure 8: Proposed button to be placed at the corner of

intersections

RESULTS I 8

2. Pedestrians Visibility At CrosswalksThe second issue at hand is that commuting cars are often unaware of the pedestrians and that there is a designated crosswalk. In order to make the crosswalks and pedestrians more visible, I research a system by Light Guard Systems called the Smart Crosswalk™ System. It is a system that places lights in front of the crosswalk that alerts the commuting cars when and if there are pedestrians crossing the street by emitting bright flashes and signals. The light technology that is place across the street in front of the

crosswalk is shown below.

Figure 9: Light Guard Systems Light Star™ crosswalk light

technology

RESULTS I 9

CONCLUSIONAll of the recommendations highlighted and examined above are possible solutions in creating safer and more efficient pedestrian crosswalks on Cal Poly’s Campus. The recommendations would all effectively reduce the amount of chaos and confusion of crossing the street and make it easier for both the pedestrian and the commuter to get to their destination.

My initial research provided me with important information that gave me good direction to start pursuing an issue directly and focus my research on specific aspects of the crosswalks. The students and pedestrians that I talked to were crucial in developing an impactful issue that developed into the recommendation I am presenting today.

Getting a numerical representation for this issue was an important thing to acquire because it showed me the true inefficiency of the crosswalk system. It also gave me a better idea of exactly how the crosswalks could be improved and was able to get a visual representation of this improvement. For example, my data showed that by reducing the amount of students that crossed in large groups reduced the time it took for the car to get through the intersection. This was integral in making my recommendation because it showed the true flaw of the crosswalks and that the recommendation would help numerically.

Figure 10: Light Guard Systems Smart Crosswalk™ System

RESULTS I 10

RECOMMENDATIONIn order to most effectively make the pedestrian crosswalks on Cal Poly’s campus more efficient and safe, I suggest that the Facilities Department implement a sign at each crosswalk to make both the pedestrian and the commuter aware of who has the right-of-way. By doing this, it would cut down on the amount of time that commuting cars have to wait at the stop sign for long lines of pedestrians to cross the street. It would make pedestrians aware that cars are present and give them the safety knowing cars notice them as well. I also recommend to the Facilities Department that they implement the Light Guard Systems Smart Crosswalk™ Systems. This will make the pedestrians more visible to the commuting cars and make the cars aware that there is a pedestrian cross that may require them to slow down and even stop. This would be the most efficient and effective way to enhance the safety of the pedestrians and reduce the amount of alarm and chaos at intersections and crosswalks.

CONCLUSION I 11

WORKS CITEDCal Poly Admissions. "Student Profiles." Student

Profile. Cal Poly Admissions, 2015. Web. 02 May 2015. <http://admissions.calpoly.edu/prospective/profile.html>.

Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety. "4 EVR Pedestrian Push Button." Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety. N.p., 24 May 2014. Web. 06 May 2015. <http://www.pedsafety.com/4-evr-pedestrian-button/>.

Light Guard Systems. "Campus & Facility Applications." LightGuard Systems Campus Facility Applications Comments. N.p., Dec. 2014. Web. 08 May 2015. <http://www.lightguardsystems.com/campus-facility-applications/>.

Lazier, Matt. "Cal Poly Announces Plan for New Student Housing Complex." Cal Poly Announces Plan for New Student Housing Complex. Cal Poly News, 15 May 2014. Web. 03 May 2015. <http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2013/May/dorm.html>.

Safe Motorist. "Who Has the Right of Way?" Right of Way. N.p., Apr. 2015. Web. 08 May 2015. <http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/right_of_way.aspx>.

RECOMMENDATION I 12

FIGURES CITEDFigure 1. Facon, Brandon. “Intersection and crosswalk

in front of Kennedy Library.” Picture. 6 May 2015.

Figure 2. Facon, Brandon. “Intersection and crosswalk next to the University Union.” Picture. 6 May 2015.

Figure 3. Facon, Brandon. “Pedestrian crosswalk next to the Performing Arts Center, SLO.” Picture. 6 May 2015.

Figure 4. Facon, Brandon. “Data for trials performed at 4-way crosswalk next to the Kennedy Library.” Microsoft Excel. 7 May 2015.

Figure 5. Facon, Brandon. “Data for trials performed at 2-way crosswalk in front of the University Union.” Microsoft Excel. 7 May 2015.

Figure 6. Facon, Brandon. “Data for trials performed at pedestrian crosswalk across from the Performing Arts Center, SLO.” Microsoft Excel. 7 May 2015.

Figure 7. DA Traffic Safety. Yield to Pedestrians. Digital image. SFWeekly, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/12/10/da-hopes-new-campaign-will-make-drivers-and-pedestrians-not-hate-each-other>.

WORKS CITED I 13

Figure 8. Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety. 4EVR Pedestrian Button. Digital image. PedSafety. Campbell Company Pedestrian Safety, 2013. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://www.pedsafety.com/4-evr-pedestrian-button/#!prettyPhoto>.

Figure 9. Light Guard Systems. LightStar™ LED Signal. Digital image. Light Guard Systems, 2014. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.lightguardsystems.com/led-signal-head-module/>.

Figure 10. Light Guard Systems. Light Guard Systems. Digital image. Light Guard Systems, 2014. Web. 8 May 2015. <http://www.lightguardsystems.com/led-signal-head-module/>.

FIGURES CITED I 14