This is a presentation I developed for and presented at the 2011 Lifesavers Conference in Phoenix. At previous conferences I noticed that there was very little local information given so I proposed a session on traffic engineering practices in Arizona. Organizers agreed and Richard Nassi from Tucson and I both gave presentations on what we were doing for our communities. There were between 40-50 people in the audience.

1. Transportation
Safety Initiatives
in Phoenix
Lifesavers Conference Kerry Wilcoxon, PE
March 27, 2011 Street Transportation Department

2. Phoenix Statistics
Population = 1,445,632 (2010)
Physical Size = 520 sq miles
(larger than Los Angeles)
Miles of Roads = 4800+
Traffic Signals = 1090
Street Lights = 95,592
STOP Signs = 16,696

3. Improving Traffic Safety &
Efficiency
Prevent injuries
Save lives
Save fuel/costs
Save time
Reduce liability
Improving the quality of
life for our citizens

4. Safety and Neighborhood
Traffic Section
Traffic
Services
Safety and
Goal
Neighborhood Traffic Turn data into action
Section
Traffic Traffic School Bicycle
Calming Safety Safety Program

5. Transportation Safety
Initiatives in Phoenix
Combating trends
Data Sources – Police Reports &
Records
Annual Traffic Collision Summary
Reverse Lanes
Traffic Calming
Pedestrian Safety Audits

6. Annual Traffic Crash Report
Annual report of citywide crash statistics
Arizona DOT ALISS Data
Source:
•Police reports
•Reviewed for accuracy
•Data typically 12-18
months behind

7. Traffic Crashes
2009 Traffic Crash Totals 22,713
Injuries = 12,318 Fatalities = 136
These numbers are the lowest in over 20 years!

8. Pedestrian Crashes
2009 Pedestrian Crash Totals = 525
Injuries = 492 Fatalities = 36
800
612 624
580 589
600 525
Collisions
400
200
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Year

9. High Crash Locations
Intersections with
the most crashes
Crashes not crash
rate
Data used for:
Grant justification
Road audits
Engineering
changes

10. High Run Red Crash Intersections
Intersections with
the most run red
crashes
Data used for:
Engineering
changes
RLC location
selection

11. Red-Light
Cameras
12 Locations Approved
11 Locations Installed
Historic Crash Reduction:
Total Crashes 9%
Run Red Crashes 8%
Fatal & Injury 19%

12. 7 Avenue and 7 Street
th th
Reverse Lanes

13. 7th Avenue &
7th Street
Central Phoenix
7th Street started in 1982
 Adams to Dunlap Ave
 Now McDowell to Dunlap
(7 miles)
7th Avenue started in 1979
 McDowell to Northern Ave.
(6 miles)

14. 7TH AVE 7TH ST
PE ORIA AVE
Without Reverse Lanes
RD
25 TH AVE
EK
³³
2 Lanes SB each street
RE
C
E
650 Vehicles/Hour/Lane
AV
DUNLAP AVE
23RD AVE
C
BUT LER DR BUTLER DR
BLACK CANYON FWY (I-17)
NORT HE RN AVE
1
SR 5
7TH AVE
G LENDALE AVE
18TH S T
MARY LAND AVE
19T H AV E
BE THANY HOME RD
CENTRAL AVE
12TH S T
15TH AV E
20TH S T
16TH S T
2ND ST 2ND S T
INDIAN S CHOOL RD
OSBORN RD
7TH S T
27TH AVE
T HOM AS RD
OAK S T
3RD ST
MC DOWE LL RD
PAPAGO F WY (I -10)
Without Reverse Lanes
ROOS EV ELT ST
3 Lanes NB each street
3RD AVE
ADAM S S T
VAN BUREN ST 650 Vehicles/Hour/Lane

15. 7TH AVE 7TH ST
PE ORIA AVE
RD
25 TH AVE With Reverse Lanes
EK
³³
3 Lanes SB each street
RE
C
E
750 Vehicles/Hour/Lane
AV
DUNLAP AVE
23RD AVE
C
BUT LER DR BUTLER DR
BLACK CANYON FWY (I-17)
NORT HE RN AVE
1
SR 5
7TH AVE
G LENDALE AVE
18TH S T
MARY LAND AVE
19T H AV E
BE THANY HOME RD
CENTRAL AVE
12TH S T
15TH AV E
20TH S T
16TH S T
2ND ST 2ND S T
INDIAN S CHOOL RD
OSBORN RD
7TH S T
27TH AVE
T HOM AS RD
OAK S T
3RD ST
MC DOWE LL RD
PAPAGO F WY (I -10) With Reverse Lanes
ROOS EV ELT ST
4 Lanes NB each street
3RD AVE
ADAM S S T
VAN BUREN ST 750 Vehicles/Hour/Lane

16. Crash Rates AM Reverse Lane Hours
19th Av
16th St
7th Av
7th St
Northern Av
Glendale Av
Bethany Home Rd HI
Camelback Rd Segment
Intersection
Indian School Rd
Thomas Rd
McDowell Rd

17. Crash Rates PM Reverse Lane Hours
16th St
19th Av
7th Av
7th St
Northern Av
Glendale Av
Bethany Home Rd HI
Camelback Rd Segment
Intersection
Indian School Rd
Thomas Rd
McDowell Rd

18. Common Type of Crashes
2001-2005
Most Common:
All Four Streets Rear End
Most Severe:
19th Av Angle
7th Av Angle
7th St Angle/Left Turn
16th St Left Turn

19. Engineering Findings
Traffic safety on 7th Ave and 7th St similar
to other arterial streets
Reverse lanes carry a substantial amount of
rush hour traffic
Removal would result in loss of capacity with
same demand
Neighborhood cut-thru routes may shift

20. Quality of Life Findings
Central Neighborhoods:
Generally in favor of removing reverse lanes
Many felt:
Reverse lanes inhibit access
Lanes are unsafe and signs are confusing
Northern Neighborhoods:
Generally in favor of keeping reverse lanes
Many felt:
Lanes are safe and reduce travel time
Reverse lane signs are understandable

21. City Council Action
Form citizen Ad hoc Task Force to work
with City staff to review all available
studies conducted on the reverse lane
issue, consider new alternatives and,
through consensus, bring forth written
recommendations to the City Council

22. Task Force Recommendations
If reverse lanes remain, the task force
recommends that the City should:
 Improve reverse lane signing
Including time-of-operation lights/beacons
 Increase enforcement
 Implement new education campaign
 Explore school crossing opportunities and new bus
bays
 Explore additional left turn opportunities at some
signalized intersections
Estimated cost of changes $4-6,000,000

23. Final City Council Decision
City council approved task
force recommendations.
Staff is developing
implementation plan
Implementation Schedule:
2012-13

24. Traffic Calming
Speed Humps
Traffic Circles and Islands

25. Philosophy
Traffic Safety versus Quality-of-Life
Traffic safety –
Crash history
Design flaw
Traffic calming –
Speed, volume, noise
Intruder traffic
QUALITY OF LIFE
Traffic Calming Requires Resident
Approval

26. Traffic Mitigation Program
PROCEDURES
Program designed around three distinct phases
all of which require some level of neighborhood
involvement
PHASE I Initial Study
PHASE II Temporary Installation
PHASE III Permanent Installation

27. Phase I: INITIAL STUDY
 Neighborhood Contact
 Initial Traffic Volume and Speed Study
conducted
 If location qualifies a Temporary Installation
Petition is developed

28. Phase II: TEMPORARY
INSTLATION
 Staff develops temporary traffic mitigation plan
 If plan is approved, City installs temporary plan
 Traffic patterns are studied
Hearn Road East of 12th Street
36th Street at Rosemonte Drive

29. Phase III: PERMANENT
INSTALLATION
 Staff reviews results of temporary plan with
residents
 Residents are petitioned for permanent installation
 City installs permanent structure
48th Street – McDowell to
Indian School 56th Street at Exeter Blvd

30. Permanent Traffic Circles
Location – Maryland Avenue at 3rd Street
Bicycle Bi-pass Ramp
Modern Style Traffic Circle with
Raised Truck Apron and Landscaping

31. Permanent Traffic Islands
Example – 48th Street south of Indian School Road
Traffic Deflection
Mid-block Island with
Landscaping

32. ROAD DIETS
15th Avenue Thomas Rd to Bethany Home Rd
15th Avenue:
Volume reduced volume
Average Speed reduced
No neighborhood cut-through
Reduced crash rate
Reduced road noise levels
Conclusions
Sustained speed reductions
Sustained volume reduction
Low cost
High neighborhood and biking
community acceptance

33. Pedestrian Safety Audits
Marked Crosswalks

34. Pedestrian Safety
Audits
Crash Diagrams
5
5
8/29/05 4:00 pm
PED - Fem ale, 10
5
Fault Unknown
Hit & Run 5
5

35. Pedestrian
Safety Audits
Checklist

36. Pedestrian Audit Outcome
Two-stage Crosswalk
HAWK Pedestrian Signal

37. Two-stage crosswalks
Off-set ladder
crosswalk
Raised center island
Buckeye Rd
13th St
N
Two-stage crosswalk
at Carl Hayden
Community Center

38. HAWK signal
HAWK (High Intensity
Activated Crosswalk)

39. HAWKS and
Crosswalks In Phoenix
Two-Stage Crosswalks
1 3300 W Van Buren St
Carl Hayden Community Center
2 2000 W Thomas Rd 5
Metro Tech H.S.
4
3 2000 W Indian School Rd
Westwood Neighborhood 3
6
HAWK Crossings 2
4 200 W Dunlap Rd 1
Sunnyslope H.S.
5 14100 N 19th Av
Thunderbird H.S.
6 4400 W Thomas Rd
Phoenix Urban League

40. Questions?
Kerry Wilcoxon
Street Transportation – Safety and
Neighborhood Traffic Section
602-262-4613
kerry.wilcoxon@phoenix.gov