The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) worked with the City of Raleigh and VHB to develop a Pedestrian Safety Study for the State Government Complex area of downtown Raleigh, serving thousands of State agency employees, businesses, and residents. The purpose of the study was to use data, Road Safety Audits, and public input to identify priorities for improving pedestrian safety.
The project team collected data measuring traffic volume, pedestrian volume, transit activity, traffic speeds and pedestrian routes throughout the study area. Pedestrian-focused Road Safety Audits (RSAs) were conducted across the area, enlisting the support of dozens of state employees to record observations of travel behaviors and physical conditions for walking. Using this information, the team identified and prioritized locations for improvements, considered impacts to traffic and transit accessibility, and developed near-term countermeasure recommendations for each location. Countermeasures included changing signal timings to reduce operating speeds, implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals, and installing lighting and visibility enhancements, such as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons.
