Idea: 30 minute pedestrian timers on freeways?

[hotdogPi]

Whether it's an upgrade (new construction) or a downgrade (e.g. one proposal of MA 18 in New Bedford, which is only a proposal currently): a road is a freeway except at :00 and :30, where pedestrians can cross. For someone who needs to go to a location like a pharmacy or grocery store, but not at any specific time, they can time the crossing with when it's open. There are already drawbridges that open every 30 minutes, and this wouldn't be that different for cars.

Signs for cars:
"Prepare to stop at :00 and :30"
Standard "RED signal ahead" where RED is only lit up if it's going to be red at that time

Signs and other things for pedestrians:
"Cross on walk signal ONLY, which occurs on the hour and half hour. If between 10 PM and 5 AM, press button."
A timer counting down to the next opening, starting from 30 minutes minus walk time, and off if the middle of the night and not pressed.
One-way gates preventing crossing except during those times (if someone doesn't make it within the time allotted, they can still finish crossing).

See also this thread (Removing access to side streets to make something a high-speed road?), which could implement it if that proposal had worked.

[SkyPesos]

Why not build a pedestrian overpass over a freeway if it's a given that a lot of people will cross at that point? It seems like a hassle for both pedestrians and cars to close a part of a freeway for half an hour.

[jeffandnicole]

Unfeasible.   You're wanting people to wait up to 30 minutes to cross?  And what if they only need to pick up one thing in the pharmacy?  What do they do with the rest of their time?  What if there's a long line or delay in that pharmacy or grocery store, and they miss the crossing time by a few moments?  They have to wait another 29 minutes?

An often-cited complaint about mass transit is the wait for the bus or train to get them to a location, often miles away. You're proposing people to wait up to 30 minutes to cross about 75 feet.

[hotdogPi]

(this reply was made before jeffandnicole posted)

Some places try to do things as cheaply as possible; overpasses are expensive.

for half an hour.

For 1 minute every 30, not for 30 minutes.

[Max Rockatansky]

Would 1 minute really be sufficient for some people to get across a freeway?  I've seen plenty of regular folks have a hard time make it across four lane divided roadways in 20-30 seconds.  That's not even getting into how much longer that could take a handicap person or the elderly.

[SkyPesos]

Some places try to do things as cheaply as possible; overpasses are expensive.

In that case, I think the "do nothing" option would be better. I'm not a fan of cutting costs for a half-baked solution that doesn't really help either vehicular or pedestrian traffic, as the pedestrians would have to wait another 29 minutes if they missed a crossing, and 1 minute may be too short for some people to cross an 8 lane freeway. Also, if the freeway is an interstate, I don't think this type of crossing would be allowed anyways.

[SkyPesos]

To add, a lot of development I've seen near a freeway are in a different elevation than the freeway itself. Here's a pedestrian overpass over I-71 in Cincinnati; notice the long ramp to get from the street to the bridge. Imagine how long the ramp, and how many steps are needed to get down to the freeway grade.

[sprjus4]

If a road is carrying a high enough volume in urban areas to begin with, having a "stop" situation will just exacerbate a backup every time it happens.

I speak from experience from when the HRBT or MMMBT in Hampton Roads have to close periodically during peak hours (many times just for a few minutes) due to a disabled vehicle, escort, etc., it often causes miles of lingering backup once the road re-opens.

Bad idea.

[ran4sh]

If pedestrians need to cross, then the road should probably be a non-freeway.

[michravera]

If a road is carrying a high enough volume in urban areas to begin with, having a "stop" situation will just exacerbate a backup every time it happens.

I speak from experience from when the HRBT or MMMBT in Hampton Roads have to close periodically during peak hours (many times just for a few minutes) due to a disabled vehicle, escort, etc., it often causes miles of lingering backup once the road re-opens.

Bad idea.

There is (or at least was) an at grade crossing of the Olympic Expressway in Seoul. If I remember right it was between the KWTC complex and the Buddhist Temple. I forget whether it was normal to cross it all at once or whether the crossing was in halves or quarters (or maybe two or three turn lanes, three through lanes, three more through lanes, three through lanes in the other direction, three more in the other directions and then some more turn lanes). On the way back to the KWTC, I was happy that I had said a prayer or two in the temple!

[Rothman]

If pedestrians need to cross, then the road should probably be a non-freeway.

Wut.

[andrepoiy]

There also was a pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic light on an Interstate in Syracuse for the State Fair. I remember my father braking extremely hard because he didn't expect nor realize a traffic light on a freeway.

So pedestrian crossings do exist, I just don't think 30 minutes is a good idea.

[Rothman]

There also was a pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic light on an Interstate in Albany for the State Fair. I remember my father braking extremely hard because he didn't expect nor realize a traffic light on a freeway.

So pedestrian crossings do exist, I just don't think 30 minutes is a good idea.

The traffic light's need has been removed.

I-690 has a strange history.  I believe originally its interchange with the Thruway also had a traffic light before being reconfigured into its current state.  Got a big map at work with the former configuration on it.

[machias]

There also was a pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic light on an Interstate in Albany for the State Fair. I remember my father braking extremely hard because he didn't expect nor realize a traffic light on a freeway.

So pedestrian crossings do exist, I just don't think 30 minutes is a good idea.

The traffic light's need has been removed.

I-690 has a strange history.  I believe originally its interchange with the Thruway also had a traffic light before being reconfigured into its current state.  Got a big map at work with the former configuration on it.

Yes. When I was learning to drive in 1984 I made a left hand turn from I-690 onto the Thruway ramps at a traffic light. The intersection was just northwest of where State Fair Blvd curves into Walters Rd. The toll booths were there almost immediately, and you can still see remnants of the trumpet on Google Maps satellite view.

I believe accident counts were unusually high for an interstate, hence the reconstruction in 1986.

[renegade]

Who is going o wait 30 minutes to cross?

[Plutonic Panda]

Who is going o wait 30 minutes to cross?

As ridiculous as I think this idea is for many reasons, this is the biggest one. How many people are located in a spot where they want to reach the other side of the freeway that it would take them more than 30 minutes to walk each way to the other side? Assuming in the worst case scenario which would be a suburban setting with no bridges a mile apart you could walk it faster than it would take to wait and it's healthier too.

Is this a troll post? Lol

[JoePCool14]

I'm sorry but this has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever.

[hotdogPi]

Is this a troll post? Lol

Not a troll post. I'm just used to timing walks to catch the bus and sometimes waiting if I miss it, and I overestimated the willingness of others to do something similar.

[vdeane]

There also was a pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic light on an Interstate in Syracuse for the State Fair. I remember my father braking extremely hard because he didn't expect nor realize a traffic light on a freeway.

So pedestrian crossings do exist, I just don't think 30 minutes is a good idea.

Not a pedestrian crossing.  It was to enable cars to turn out of one of the parking lots onto I-690.  It's since been replaced with a pair of ramps.  I wouldn't be surprised if they're now using that parking lot for the Amphitheater as well (the reason they couldn't initially was because FHWA wouldn't sign off on having that light operate year-round).

[Rothman]

There also was a pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic light on an Interstate in Syracuse for the State Fair. I remember my father braking extremely hard because he didn't expect nor realize a traffic light on a freeway.

So pedestrian crossings do exist, I just don't think 30 minutes is a good idea.

Not a pedestrian crossing.  It was to enable cars to turn out of one of the parking lots onto I-690.  It's since been replaced with a pair of ramps.  I wouldn't be surprised if they're now using that parking lot for the Amphitheater as well (the reason they couldn't initially was because FHWA wouldn't sign off on having that light operate year-round).

Heh.  Thanks, vdeane.  I knew it was to provide access to the lot and thought the idea of pedestrians crossing there as well was strange.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this a troll post? Lol

Not a troll post. I'm just used to timing walks to catch the bus and sometimes waiting if I miss it, and I overestimated the willingness of others to do something similar.

I know funding is always an issue but if we can build hundred + million dollar highways all over the place we can build a few pedestrian overpasses with them.

[kalvado]

Is this a troll post? Lol

Not a troll post. I'm just used to timing walks to catch the bus and sometimes waiting if I miss it, and I overestimated the willingness of others to do something similar.

I know funding is always an issue but if we can build hundred + million dollar highways all over the place we can build a few pedestrian overpasses with them.

ADA?

[SkyPesos]

Is this a troll post? Lol

Not a troll post. I'm just used to timing walks to catch the bus and sometimes waiting if I miss it, and I overestimated the willingness of others to do something similar.

I know funding is always an issue but if we can build hundred + million dollar highways all over the place we can build a few pedestrian overpasses with them.

ADA?

To add, a lot of development I've seen near a freeway are in a different elevation than the freeway itself. Here's a pedestrian overpass over I-71 in Cincinnati; notice the long ramp to get from the street to the bridge. Imagine how long the ramp, and how many steps are needed to get down to the freeway grade.

TLDR: The wheelchair ramp to get down to freeway level will most likely be much longer than a wheelchair ramp to an overpass.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this a troll post? Lol

Not a troll post. I'm just used to timing walks to catch the bus and sometimes waiting if I miss it, and I overestimated the willingness of others to do something similar.

I know funding is always an issue but if we can build hundred + million dollar highways all over the place we can build a few pedestrian overpasses with them.

ADA?

I'm honestly surprised that LA hasn't had more ADA violations for the homeless encampments blocking sidewalks.

[kphoger]

If this were a thing, then everyone would just jaywalk across the freeway all day long.