In partnership with Fehr+Peers, we worked in the United Arab Emirates to develop pedestrian safety changes to help a rapidly growing country deal with a constant issue of pedestrian injuries and fatalities

1. Pedestrian Safety in the United Arab Emirates
Charlie Alexander, PE Paul Supawanich, LEEP AP
Fehr & Peers NelsonNygaard
Roseville, CA San Francisco, CA

2. Presentation Summary
• Background
• Pedestrian safety process
• Nuances of working abroad
• Questions

3. Quick Poll
• Who has worked internationally?
• Who has worked in the UAE?

4. Background
Where is Al Ain?
121.5° W 56° E
177.5°
Half way around the world (almost)

5. Background
Where is Al Ain?

6. Background
Where is Al Ain?

7. Pedestrian Safety Process
Flowchart
Define problem
Identify priority locations
Develop targeted improvements

8. Pedestrian Safety Process
Flowchart
Define problem
Identify priority locations
Develop targeted improvements

9. Background
History
Abu Dhabi, 1962 Dubai, 2010
Boston, MA San Francisco, CA
1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000
Settlement
Timeline
St. Augustine, FL Sacramento, CA
New York, NY

10. Background
Common Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Low density land use pattern
• Large roadways
• Lack of safe crossings
• High vehicle speeds
• Dangerous driver behavior
• Ineffective pedestrian safety treatments

11. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Low density land use pattern
 National housing policy
 Low gas prices
School
$1.46
Mosque per gallon
School
1.2
units/acre
Source: www.maps.google.com

12. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Large, high-speed roadways
Multiple-threat collision
Source: http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org

13. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Large roadways with long blocks
1 mile
Source: www.maps.google.com

14. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Large roadways
60 km/hr = 50 mi/hr

15. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Large roadways

16. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Lack of safe crossings

17. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• High vehicle speeds
Free right-turn at signalized intersection

18. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• High vehicle speeds
Source: Dangerous by Design 2011 60 km/hr = 37 mi/hr
Transportation for America

19. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Dangerous driver behavior
 Politics of driving
What speed bump?

20. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
• Ineffective pedestrian safety treatments
 Full-time flashing beacon (Belisha Beacon)
Observed yield compliance: 0%

21. Background
Pedestrian Safety: USA vs. UAE
• Dangerous by Design 2011
• Ranks metro areas by
Pedestrian Danger Index
 Pedestrian deaths per
100,000 people
 Walk mode share
Source: Dangerous by Design 2011
Transportation for America

22. Background
Pedestrian Safety: USA vs. UAE
Source: Dangerous by Design 2011
Transportation for America

23. Background
Pedestrian Safety: USA vs. UAE
• Al Ain
 2009 Population = 374,000
 2008 Pedestrian fatalities = 28
 Avg. annual pedestrian deaths per 100,000 = 7.5
Source: Dangerous by Design 2011
Transportation for America

24. Background
Ingredients of a Dangerous Pedestrian Environment
Low density land use Large roadways
Lack of safe crossings Dangerous driver behavior

25. Background
Improvement of Pedestrian Safety and Movement in Al Ain and Suburbs
• Summer 2010 – Al Ain Municipality hires project team
 Background: where is walking occurring, where have
collisions occurred
• November/December 2010 –team visits Al Ain for two weeks
 Stakeholder meetings
 Site visits
• January 2011 – July 2011 –team develops recommendations
• August 2011 – team submits draft report

26. Pedestrian Safety Process
Flowchart
Define problem
Identify priority locations
Develop targeted improvements

27. Site Selection
Where to Focus Planning Efforts
Approx 200 sq. miles

28. Site Selection: US Example
WalkFirst Project | San Francisco

29. Site Selection: US Example
Pedestrian Activity
The WalkFirst Program takes into account seven different factors to
serve as indicators for pedestrian activity
 Access / need to walk (transit and walking mode share)
 Transit ridership (daily transit boardings)
 Population density (residential and job density)
 Pedestrian generators (schools, medical facilities, retail,
senior centers, etc)
 Vulnerable populations
 Income
 Street slope

30. Site Selection: US Example
Pedestrian Activity

31. Site Selection: US Example
Pedestrian Safety

32. Replicating this methodology in the UAE
“Same but Different”
While the basic approach is the same, the level of data available and
other cultural norms require a slightly different approach; our
team used five input categories throughout our process.
1. Pedestrian generators
2. Pedestrian crashes and collisions
3. Estimated and observed pedestrian volumes
4. Level of potential improvement
5. Local stakeholder priority

33. Replicating this methodology in the UAE
Desired Deliverables
The desired goal was to have a prioritized list of 46 sites. The
following process was used to come up with this list.
Step #1- Develop Step #2-Prioritize Sites: Step #3-Re-evaluate:
Preliminary Site List: Using all five factors, Using this methodology,
Using maps of pedestrian each with their own the sites list was then
generators, crashes, and individual weightings, reviewed to ensure that
stakeholder nominated score each site to the outputs maintained
sites, identify determine relative priority consistency with project
approximately top 50 goals.
locations appropriate for
pedestrian improvements

34. Step #1

35. Locating Mosques

36. Step #1

37. Step #1

38. Step #2
Factors for Site Prioritization
Factor Description Range Weighted
Factor
Close proximity (300m) to
Nearby pedestrian generators pedestrian generators such as 1-4 20%
schools, mosques, etc.
Number of pedestrian crashes
Nearby pedestrian crashes 1-4 25%
near or within site area
Estimated/Observed Pedestrian Nearby pedestrian generators and
1-5 15%
Volumes observed pedestrian activity
Qualitative score developed from
Level of potential improvement site visits reflecting the potential 1-5 30%
ability to improve a site
Variable to reflect community
Stakeholder Priority stakeholder needs and desires for 1-3 10%
site priority
100%

39. Step #3
Evaluation of Final List of Sites
Site Number Site Name Site Selection Source Category Summary
1 Khaled Bin Sultan Street at Mutawaa/Sanaiya DOT PSAP Midblock Crossing
2 Al Safia Hypermarket Al Ain Police Roundabout
3 Area around new football stadium Al Ain Police Midblock Crossing
4 Diwan Roundabout Al Ain Police Roundabout
6 Al Ain Bus Station Al Ain Police Midblock Crossing
7 Lulu Hypermarket Al Ain Police Midblock Crossing
13a Green Mubazzarah #1 Al Ain Police Other
13b Green Mubazzarah #2 Al Ain Police Other
14 School Area Parking Lot School Safety Study Midblock Crossing / Parking Lot
15 Al Foaa Area Infrastructure Development Al Ain Municipality Midblock Crossing
17 UAE University Phase 3 Al Ain Municipality New Development
18 School Area #3 - Khaled Bin Sultan Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing / Parking Lot
19 Bani Yas and 16th Street Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
20 School Area Parking Lot #2 Site Selection Analysis Parking Lot
22 Balidiya Park North Site Selection Analysis Other
23 Balidiya Park South Site Selection Analysis Other
24 68th Street - Al Salamat Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
25 48th Street - Al Salamat Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
26 116 St - Central District Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
27 4th St and 2nd St - Central District Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
29 Khalifa Bin Zayed at Palace* Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
31 Al Ain St - Mutawaa Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing / Parking Lot
32 Sultan Bin Zayed Al Awwal at Al Jahili Fort Site Selection Analysis Junction
33 2nd Street - Al Sarooj Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
36 Mohammed Bin Khalifa at Al Noor Markets Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
37 Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Awwal - Al Jimi Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
38 Hili Industrial Area Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
39 50th Street - Al Jimi Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
40 Khalifa Bin Zayed near Jebel R/A Site Selection Analysis Other
41 16th Street - Kindergarten Site Selection Analysis Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Neighborhood Traffic Calming / Sidewalks and
42 Street #3 - Al Muwaiji Site Selection Analysis Walkways
43 Hamdan Ibn Zayed Al Awwal Al Towayya Site Selection Analysis Roundabout
44 Zayed Bin Sultan and Road 1 Site Selection Analysis Midblock Crossing
45 Al Ain Street near Palace Site Selection Analysis Parking Lot
46 Al Krhair Site Selection Analysis Sidewalks and Walkways
47a Hamdan Bin Mohammed - Al Khabisi Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
47b Hamdan Bin Mohammed R/A - Al Khabisi Workshop #1 Roundabout
53a Al Ain Mall #1 Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
53b Al Ain Mall #2 Workshop #1 Neighborhood Traffic Calming
53c Al Ain Mall #3 Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
51 Bani Yas - Hili Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
52 Khaled Bin Sultan at Omar Bin Al Khattab Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
54 Sanaiya Junction Al Ain Police Neighborhood Traffic Calming
55 Sanaiya Al Ain Police Neighborhood Traffic Calming
56 Al Dhaher Neighborhood Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing
57 Mezyad Workshop #1 Midblock Crossing

40. Pedestrian Safety Process
Flowchart
Define problem
Identify priority locations
Develop targeted improvements

41. Improvements
Common Themes
• Midblock crossings
• Neighborhood traffic calming
• Junctions
• Roundabouts

42. Improvements
Site Visits Mean Everything
• See through the “eyes of a
pedestrian”
• Document everything
• Use aerial maps
• Take photos of everything

43. Crosswalks: US Example
Crosswalk Research
• Herms, Bruce. (1972) Pedestrian crosswalk study: accidents in
painted and unpainted crosswalks. Transportation Research
Record, 406.
 “The San Diego study”
 Marked crosswalks vs. unmarked crossways
 Increased incidence of pedestrian collisions in marked
crosswalks
 Did not differentiate between:
o Number of lanes
o Traffic volume
o Speed limit

44. Crosswalks: US Example
Crosswalk Research
• 2002
 “The Zegeer study”
 Marked vs. unmarked
 Two-lane roads
o No difference in
pedestrian crash rate
 Multilane roads
o Marked crosswalk
alone associated with
higher crash rate

45. Crosswalks: US Example
Crosswalk Research
• “The Zegeer study”
Key:
C = Candidate sites for marked crosswalks;
P = Possible increase in pedestrian crashes may occur if
crosswalks are marked without other pedestrian
enhancements;
N = Marked crosswalks alone are insufficient.

46. Crosswalks: US Example
Crosswalk Research
• “The Zegeer study”
• LOS A-C
• LOS D-E
• LOS F

47. Crosswalks: US Example
Crosswalk Research
• 2006
 “NCHRP 562”
 Researches effectiveness of
different crosswalk treatments
o Red beacon displays
o Flashing beacons
o In-roadway lights
o Warning signs / markings
o Crosswalk markings
 Measured yield compliance

48. Crosswalks: Replicating this research in the UAE
Applying USA Research to the UAE
• What treatments will generate
yield compliance?
 Roadway characteristics
 Driver characteristics
• Environmental factors
• Crossings not crosswalks

49. Crosswalks
Recommendations
• 2-lane roadway: marked crosswalk
• 4-lane roadway:
 Raised crosswalk
 Rapid Rectangular Flashing
Beacon (RRFB)
• 6-lane roadway:
 Pedestrian signal
 HAWK beacon
(High-intensity Activated
crossWalK beacon)

50. Crosswalks
Recommendations
• 4-lane roadway:
 Raised crosswalk
 Rapid Rectangular Flashing
Beacon (RRFB)
RRFB
Source: www.spotdevices.com
Raised crosswalk: before and after

51. Crosswalks
Recommendations
• 4-lane roadway

52. Crosswalks
Recommendations
• 6-lane roadway:
 Pedestrian signal
 HAWK beacon
(High-intensity Activated
crossWalK beacon)
HAWK Beacon
Source: www.roswellgov.com

53. Crosswalks
Recommendations
• 6-lane roadway

54. Improvements
• Neighborhood traffic calming
• Junctions
• Roundabouts
• Principles:
 Speed kills
o Narrow lanes
o Reduce turn radii
o Traffic calming
 Limit exposure:
o Reduce crossing distances
o Safe crossings at a reasonable distance
o Channelize if necessary

55. Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Recommendations

56. Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Recommendations

57. Junctions (Intersections)
Recommendations

58. Roundabouts
Recommendations

59. Presentation Summary
• Background
• Pedestrian safety process
• Nuances of working abroad

60. A Global Project Team

61. Cultural norms working with stakeholders

62. Understanding everyday life

63. Expectations of the automobile

64. Questions
Charlie Alexander, PE Paul Supawanich, LEEP AP
Fehr & Peers NelsonNygaard
Roseville, CA San Francisco, CA
C.Alexander@fehrandpeers.com PSupawanich@nelsonnygaard.com