Pedestrian Crossings and Safety on Four Anishinaabe Reservations in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has identified Native American as one of six priority populations in the state that face disproportionate risks as pedestrians. This report summarizes results from observations of pedestrian crossing behaviors on four Anishinaabe reservations in northern Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Traffic Observatory (MTO) video-taped and classified pedestrian crossings at 10 intersections identified by Tribal transportation managers as high priority because of perceived risks. Across the intersections, pedestrian crossing volumes during daylight hours ranged from 3 per day to 136 per day. The percent of pedestrian crossings that involved interactions with vehicles ranged from 9% to 54%. Tribal transportation managers from the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, and Mille Lacs Bands, MnDOT, county engineers, and the investigators collaborated to identify countermeasures to address risks to pedestrians. Proposed countermeasures varied by intersection and included vegetation removal and line-of-sight improvements, new lighting, crosswalk improvements, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons with advanced warning signs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramps, pedestrian education programs, realignment of intersections, and at one intersection a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon. Prospects for implementation of countermeasures vary by intersection and reservation and are contingent on Tribal and transportation agency budgets, state and county plans for roadway improvements, and categorical grant programs such as Minnesota’s Transportation Alternatives Program. Some countermeasures are being implemented, and MnDOT is extending the approach to additional reservations.

• Record URL:
  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/reports/2020/202029.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

  Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Avenue South
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455

  University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

  Minnesota Traffic Observatory, Department of Civil Engineering
  500 Pillsbury Drive, SE
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Office of Research & Innovation
  395 John Ireland Boulevard, MS 330
  St. Paul, MN  United States  55155-1899
• Authors:
  • Lindsey, Greg
  • Hourdos, John
  • Dirks, Peter
  • Duhn, Melissa
  • Qi, Yunlei
  • Singer-Berk, Lila
  • Petesch, Michael
• Publication Date: 2020-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Crosswalks; Indian reservations; Intersections; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety; Risk assessment
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01759922
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN 2020-29, CTS#2017034
• Contract Numbers: (C) 99008 (WO) 250
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 18 2020 11:48AM