Final report for the second train warning sign demonstration project on the Los Angeles Metro Blue Line

Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office2002PDFTech ReportPB Farradyne Inc.Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityUnited States. Federal Transit Administration. Office of Research, Demonstration, and InnovationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit AdministrationLos Angeles (California)Warning signsPedestrian safetyRailroad grade crossingsDemonstration projectsBefore and after studiesFTA-CA-26-7017-01NTIS-PB2003100300Final reportThis demonstration project was carried out to investigate the use of a train activated warning sign as a means of reducing the added hazard for pedestrians of two trains in a highway railroad intersection (HRI) at the same time. The demonstration project was conducted at one of the Metro Blue Line's most hazardous HRIs, on the south sidewalk at the Vernon Avenue intersection with the Metro Blue Line and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks. The sidewalk crosses two light rail transit (LRT) tracks and two UPRR freight tracks. From the analysis of before and after video data, the demonstration project found that the warning sign was effective in reducing risky behavior by pedestrians. Overall, the number of pedestrians crossing the LRT tracks at less than 15 seconds in front of an approaching LRT train was reduced by 14% after the warning sign was installed. The number of pedestrians crossing the tracks at six seconds or less before an LRT train entered the crossing was reduced by about 32%. The number of pedestrians crossing the tracks at four seconds or less in front of an approaching LRT train was reduced by 73%, an impressive decline in this type of especially risky behavior.119