Title
Policy for Non-Standard Crosswalk Treatments (Ordinance S-45794)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to establish a Non-Standard Crosswalk Treatment program effective July 1, 2019. There is no cost to the City of Phoenix. All costs associated with the program will be recovered through the proposed application fee and billing for direct costs for material, installation and maintenance of the crosswalk treatment.
Report
Summary
Several cities have created policies allowing businesses, organizations and communities the ability to request non-standard crosswalks. Non-standard crosswalks incorporate designs or multi-color treatments within the interior portion between the existing white lines. Such elements do not provide additional safety to pedestrians above and beyond the standard reflective crosswalks. The purpose of a policy would be to allow the consideration of non-standard crosswalk installations, if requested, while providing requirements for its design, installation and ongoing maintenance as to not compromise the safety of pedestrian crossings or to place additional financial burden on the City.
Non-standard crosswalk treatments do not conform with the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 2011 Official Ruling on the approved uses of colored treatments in crosswalks. According to a FHWA memorandum, crosswalk treatments should be subdued-colored treatments between the legally marked transverse crosswalk lines that are devoid of retroreflective properties and do not diminish the effectiveness of the required white transverse markings used to establish the crosswalk. Non-conforming types of decorative crosswalks may pose safety and liability issues since the design does not meet FHWA standards for crosswalk markings. As a result, caution must be exercised in considering the potential installation of non-standard crosswalks.
The City Council approved the installation of non-standard rainbow crosswalks at two designated locations at the April 24, 2018, City Council Policy Session (Attachment A). These crosswalks at Central Avenue and Portland Street and at 7th Avenue and Glenrosa Avenue, were installed in July 2018 under a pilot program with the intent to have a potential future policy that would consider requests for non-standard crosswalk treatments at other locations. For these two initial locations, the material and installation costs were funded by the requesting organizations, including future cleaning and maintenance costs. Since the installation, no pedestrian safety incidents have been reported at these crosswalks.
The following elements are recommended to be part of the adopted policy:
- Design requirements reviewed and approved by the Street Transportation Director
- Installation only at high-visibility/ladder-style crosswalks that are signalized or stop sign controlled
- No commercial use, advertising, images or wording
- Application fee: $500
- All costs funded by requesting entity
- Agreement for future maintenance, cleaning and removal costs
- Required to be simple designs that do not detract from safety
- Cannot relate to any illegal activity; depict violence or anti-social behavior; depict anything obscene, pornographic, vulgar, profane, or scatological; depict a nude or semi-nude person (as defined in section 11-811, Arizona Revised Statutes); or depict the use of tobacco, smoking products, alcohol, or illicit drugs
- Installation of any new non-standard crosswalk requires City Council approval
All installations shall be performed by City crews using thermoplastic paint material that is skid resistant and non-reflective. Thermoplastic paint is currently used by City crews to install standard crosswalk markings. The life expectancy of thermoplastic for crosswalks is estimated to be two to five years, depending on traffic volumes.
Non-standard crosswalk treatments may only be placed at existing high-visibility/ladder style, marked crosswalks where a vehicle is already required to stop; either due to a traffic signal, HAWK signal, or stop sign.
All costs associated with the installation of the non-standard crosswalk will be the responsibility of the requesting entity; including design review, material, installation and traffic control. Requesting entities are also responsible for all future costs associated with the maintenance and requested cleaning of the design, and for the cost of its removal.
Financial Impact
There is no cost to the City of Phoenix. All costs associated with the program are intended to be recovered through the proposed application fee and billing for direct costs for material, installation and maintenance of the crosswalk treatment.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
At the April 24, 2018, City Council Policy Session, Council directed staff to install rainbow crosswalks at two designated locations as part of a pilot program and to return with a proposed Non-Standard Crosswalk Treatment policy.
This item was recommended for approval at the Aviation and Transportation Subcommittee meeting on April 23, 2019, by a vote of 2-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.