Chicago walking the walk on pedestrian safety

You might miss them, but they are there.

The City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation has been improving pedestrian safety one intersection at a time through some subtle but important improvements.

The two big ones you already can see are leading pedestrian interval and pedestrian countdown signals

A lead pedestrian indicator (or LPI) gives pedestrians an early start to cross the street while all other traffic has a red light.

Here is how it works: You are waiting to cross a street. You get a walk sign, and the traffic alongside you still has a red light.

The idea is to provide pedestrians a few seconds (three to be exact) to get out into the intersection – and therefore more visible – before car traffic gets a green light. Watch how they work here.

So go ahead – if you have a walk signal, walk!

Forty Chicago intersections have received LPIs since the city started installing them in 2004. Five of those were part of CDOT’s nighttime pedestrian crash reduction efforts.

Expect 15 more this summer and even more throughout the rest of the year.

If you want to see this kind of improvement in your neighborhood, let your alderman know. City traffic engineers, alderman and residents can request LPIs. The City installs LPIs (and therefore retiming the intersection) based on factors including pedestrian volume, traffic conditions and nearby land use.

The other big agenda are pedestrian countdown signals.

You’ve seen ‘em and you love ‘em. That flashing hand with the number of seconds left to cross the street. Chicago has installed them at about 250 intersections since 2004.

Each time the city installs a new traffic signal or upgrades one to LED light, it includes a PCS.

These are no cheap feat: CDOT tells ModeShift that cost of installing PCS is $12,000 per intersection.

On the horizon: Chicago’s Pedestrian Plan.

The City will soon put out notices for public meetings in the fall that will be your chance to voice your ideas to improve walking in Chicago. CDOT will host several meetings around the city and at least one online to discuss its Pedestrian Plan. The plan, like the Bike 2015 Plan, will set the agenda for Chicago’s future as a walkable community.

Be ready to bring your ideas about improving the walking experience and environment on your block, near your kids’ school, around church and on your way to the store.

What would make it easier and safer for you to walk? Maybe it’s lighting, a wider sidewalk, or slower traffic through your neighborhood. Share your ideas and start seeing change in your community.