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Pedestrian Safety: A Cost-Benefit Analysis and Report |
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Crossing Guard
Crossing guards are typically only assigned for elementary schools; however, if enough parental concern is registered, Traffic Enforcement would consider making an exception for this intersection. Hiring an adult crossing guard for the school year only, from 7:30-9 a.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. M-F, would cost an estimated $8500 per year.
Grade-separated Crossing
Pedestrian tunnels and overpasses are extremely expensive and often provoke complaints from neighborhood associations because of the way they visually dominate local surroundings. A typical pedestrian tunnel costs between $1-1.5 million to construct; more if significant drainage issues exist. Pedestrian bridges can be erected more cheaply, but tend to sustain frequent damage from over-height vehicles. Typical cost for such a bridge is around $500,000-1 million.
High-pedestrian Signage
Constantly flashing yellow pedestrian warning signs cost around $1500 each to install; maintenance runs to several hundred dollars a year.
Speed "humps"
These wide, low speed bumps, which are placed in a staggered pattern across the roadway, are less disruptive than speed "bumps." They cost about $7500 to install at a single intersection. They are, however, prone to degrade under high traffic volumes (particularly buses), and require frequent replacement under such conditions.
Raised Crosswalk
A raised crosswalk is essentially a very wide speed bump; it is installed with additional signage (including flashing lights) to warn drivers. These features cost between $10-12,000 to install. They require minimal maintenance.
Increased Enforcement
Traffic enforcement can periodically increase the police presence at this intersection at no cost, by pulling officers from other locations. Increasing enforcement without reducing enforcement in other areas is not feasible without significant increases in funding for the entire department, as the enforcement office is currently understaffed.
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