Raised Pedestrian Crossings:

A raised pedestrian crossing is also essentially a speed table, with a flat portion the width of a crosswalk, usually 3.0 to 4.6 m (10 to 15 ft). Raised intersections and crosswalks encourage motorists to yield. On one street in Cambridge, MA, motorists yielding to pedestrians crossing at the raised devices went from approximately 10 percent before installation of the project to 55 percent after installation.4



  Purpose
• Reduce vehicle speeds.
• Enhance the pedestrian environment at the crossings.
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  Considerations
• Don’t use if on a sharp curve or if the street is on a steep grade.
• May not be appropriate if the street is a bus route or emergency route. One device may be necessary and serve the primary need. Several raised devices may be disruptive, so other measures should be considered.
• Speed tables and raised crosswalks and intersections can be an urban design element through the use of special paving materials.
• Detectable warning strips at edges enable pedestrians with vision impairments to detect the crossing.
• Care must be taken to manage drainage.
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  Estimated Cost
Raised crosswalks are approximately $2,000 to $15,000, depending on drainage conditions and material used. The cost of a raised intersection is highly dependent on the size of the roads. They can cost from $25,000 to $75,000.
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  Case Studies
Cambridge, MAÂ
Boulder, COÂ
Grand Junction, COÂ
Tempe, AZÂ
Cambridge, MAÂ
Bellevue, WAÂ
Bellevue, WAÂ
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MarylandÂ
Tucson, AZÂ
Naples, FLÂ
Sarasota, FLÂ
New York City, NYÂ
New York City, NYÂ
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Photo by Dan Burden
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ITE Pedestrian Bicycle Council
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Photo by Dan Burden
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U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration