This PowerPoint presentation is designed to provide you with all you need to make a compelling argument for bringing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon technology to crosswalks in your community. Use the full presentation, or just the parts you need.

1. Improving Community
Connections with
Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon Technology

2. Walkable Streets Are The Way of The Future
According to the EPA*, walkability is
correlated with:
– Attracting young talent, start-up economies, &
the baby boomer generation
– Increased commercial property occupancy
– Increased economic activity
– Higher real estate premiums
– Increased property and sales tax revenues
* Environmental Protection Agency: Office of Sustainable Communities Smart Growth Program. Smart Growth and Economic Success: Benefits for Real
Estate Developers, Investors, Businesses, and Local Governments. 2012. http://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/economic_success.pdf

3. Walkable Streets Are The Way of The Future
Walkability also creates:
– Strong community connections
– Increased social capital as people connect
and share knowledge/information
– Reduced healthcare costs
– Reduced childhood obesity rates
Herbert Y., Dale A. Community Vitality and the Built Environment. 2012. http://mc3.royalroads.ca/sites/default/files/webfiles/files/OtherCRC/Vitality%20-
%20Built%20Environment.pdf
Active Living Research. Designing for Active Recreation. 2005. http://www.activelivingresearch.org/files/recreationrevised021105_0.pdf
Toronto Public Health. Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto. 2012. http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/roadtohealth.pdf
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. Active Transportation in Urban Areas: Exploring Health Benefits and Risks. 2010.
http://www.ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Active_Transportation_in_Urban_Areas_June_2010.pdf
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Obsity Facts. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

4. Existing Routes Present Opportunity
Every city has walkable routes that
already exist.
Areas where vehicle traffic severs these
routes represent an opportunity to improve
walkability without major investment.
For our city, one such potentially walkable
route is ___________.

5. Existing Routes Present Opportunity
Currently, this route is severed by vehicle
traffic, preventing more people from
using it.
<insert picture of the crosswalk location(s)
on your walkable route here>

6. Existing Routes Present Opportunity
Our crossing qualifies as a marked,
uncontrolled crossing.

7. Safety of Marked Crosswalks
FHWA Research shows that:
• Installing a marked crosswalk without
additional crossing facilities does not result
in vehicles stopping for pedestrians
• The presence of marked, uncontrolled
crosswalks on high-volume, multi-lane
roadways results in higher pedestrian
crash rates than unmarked locations
FHWA HRT-04-100. Safety Effects of Marked Versus Unmarked Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Locations. 2005.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/04100/04100.pdf

8. Possibilities for Enhancing Marked Crosswalks
There are several possibilities for
enhancing marked crossings:
- Raised medians
- Curb extensions
- Overhead beacons
- Traffic calming (raised crosswalks, narrow streets)
- Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

9. Possibilities for Enhancing Marked Crosswalks
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
represent an attractive choice because:
- They are cost effective to purchase and
install
- Installation does not require lengthy traffic
disruptions
- They are proven and recommended by the
FHWA for marked, uncontrolled crosswalk
locations

10. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are
pedestrian-activated, high-intensity warning lights that
notify drivers when a pedestrian is entering the crosswalk.

11. Applications Standard Two-Way Roadway

12. Applications Advance Two-Way Roadway

13. Applications Standard One-Way Roadway

14. Applications Median Two-Way Roadway

15. Applications Two Pole Two-Way Roadway

16. Applications Overhead Two-Way Roadway

17. Applications Roundabout

18. RRFB Applications
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are
ideal for:
– Urban mid-block crosswalks
– Multi-lane crosswalk locations
– University campus crosswalks
– School zone crosswalks
– Greenways
– Bicycle boulevards
– Trail crossings

19. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) Crosswalk Treatment Decision
Matrix provides guidance on when to
install Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacons.

20. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) Crosswalk Decision Tree Matrix:

21. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
RRFBs are a recommended crosswalk
improvement in multiple federal and state
research reports including reports by:
• The U.S. Department of Transport Federal
Highways Administration (FHWA)
• Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
• National Cooperative Highway Research
Program (NCHRP)
• Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)

22. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
The FHWA has issued
interim approval of RRFBs
for use at marked,
uncontrolled crosswalks to
states across the U.S.

23. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
RRFBs have also been included in:
• Pedestrian master plans and design
guidelines in major urban centers including
• Portland, OR
• Philadelphia, PA
• Chicago, IL
• Boston, MA
• Washington, DC
• Pedestrian projects in suburban
municipalities throughout the country

24. Research on Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
FHWA research showed that with the installation of
RRFBs at marked, uncontrolled crossings:
• Driver yield rates jumped from 0% to 96% in some
locations
• Driver yield rates increased up to 73% over traditional
beacon systems such as side-mounted and overhead
beacons
• The percentage of drivers yielding at a distance of over
100ft. more than doubled over baseline treatments
• The effects on driver yield behavior persisted for the
length of the two-year study
• Passing and attempted passing on multi-lane roads was
reduced
U.S. Department of Transport Federal Highways Administration. Effects of Yellow Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons on Yielding at Multi-Lane
Uncontrolled Crosswalks. Publication No. FHWA-HRT-10-043. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/pedbike/10046/index.cfm

25. Cost Benefits of RRFBs

26. RRFBs for Our Community
We propose the reconnection of the
potentially walkable route at <insert name
of walkable location mentioned in SLIDE 4
here> with the installation of Rectangular
Rapid Flashing Beacons at <insert your
crosswalk location here>.

27. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs at school zone crosswalk in Des
Plaines, IL
• Parents and children requesting facilities to
walk/bike to school
• Officials identified marked, uncontrolled crossing
that serviced four different schools
• Installed RRFBs to improve accessibility
• Quick installation done by city crews
• City leadership demonstrated commitment to
improving health and safety of citizens
Video case study:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J1Q9oLqXrs

28. School zone crosswalk in Des Plaines, IL

29. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs in city plans for Columbus, OH
• City of Columbus receives 60+ requests for crosswalk
improvements each year
• City focused on forward-thinking agenda of improving
walkability
• New process to determine where and what kind of
crosswalk improvements can help city achieve goals
• RRFBs play significant role in recommended
improvements
Full PDF of case study:
http://carmanah.com/files/ColumbusOH_CaseStudy_FIN
AL_0.pdf

30. Crosswalk Improvements to
Achieve Walkability Goals

31. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs in Rails-to-Trails project
• Four-mile long Topsfield Trail in Topsfield, MA was
crossed by busy roadway
• Need to protect crossing for those using trail
• RRFBs chosen as solution for cost-effectiveness,
proven performance, & aesthetics
• Installed entirely by volunteer workforce
Full PDF of case study:
http://carmanah.com/files/Topsfield%20Linear%20Co
mmon%20Trail_Topsfield%20MA%20Case%20Stud
y.pdf

32. Installed by Volunteers in
Topsfield, MA

33. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs at mid-block, multi-lane location in
Key Largo, FL
• New “stop for pedestrians” law inspired enhanced
crossing facilities
• Mid-block crossings represented problematic
locations – few drivers stopping for pedestrians
• RRFBs installed to encourage proper driver
behavior in accordance with new laws
Local news coverage:
http://largo.patch.com/articles/new-crosswalks-
aimed-to-enhance-pedestrian-safety#youtube_video-
11744942

34. Mid-block, multi-lane crosswalks
in Key Largo, FL

35. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs at high-traffic, multi-lane location
in Bend, OR
• Busy highway crossings required safety
improvements
• City saw increase from 23% driver yield rate
to 83% compliance with installation of RRFBs
• Cost effective installation and operation of
technology influenced decision to purchase
Local news coverage:
http://www.ktvz.com/news/ODOT-Touts-
Beacons-Safety-Improvements/-
/413192/15311508/-/35ixb3/-/index.html

36. High traffic, multi-lane locations

37. RRFB Case Study
RRFBs at university campus location in
Appleton, WI
• Busy multi-lane crossing near university
campus required improvements
• RRFBs installed to improve visibility and
safety of staff, students, and faculty
• Improved pedestrian comfort at crossing and
better driver yield rates
Local news coverage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvcYN5BqH
kY

38. University Campus Safety Improvements

39. Additional resources on Rectangular
Rapid-Flashing Beacons can be
found at
www.carmanah.com/traffic/crosswalks