A pedestrian corridor signal warrant study is used to determine if traffic control devices are needed at a specific intersection. A device is considered warranted if it passes this test. However, the traffic control device may not be approved for construction on the warrant list for different reasons, such as budget constraints or community association concerns.
After a citizen has made a service request for a new pedestrian corridor, it is received by a Traffic Signals Engineer who then investigates the last time, if ever, a warrant study has been completed at the location of concern. If a warrant study had been conducted within two years of the request date it will NOT be conducted again under normal circumstances.
Request a new Pedestrian Corridor warrant study - eService
If a new warrant study has been deemed necessary, it will be sent to Transportation Data to have a traffic count completed. Generally traffic counts are completed during peak hours of the day to capture the highest volumes of traffic and pedestrians present at the intersection. It can take 4 – 9 months for a traffic count to be returned to the Traffic Signals group because the counts are often conducted in the spring and the fall by seasonal staff.
With the returned traffic count data, the Signals Engineer can now conduct the warrant study that takes in account:
- Traffic volume.
- Pedestrian volume.
- Proximity of adjacent signalized intersections.
- Number of lanes a pedestrian needs to cross.
- Posted traffic speed.
- Collision history at the intersection.
- Visibility distances.
All of these factors are calculated and a score is produced that will determine if a pedestrian corridor is warranted at the specific location.
If the score is 80 or higher the pedestrian corridor is warranted. It will be sent to Signals Design to determine if it fits into the available budget and it may be built the following year in a priority sequence.
If the score is between 64 and 79 the traffic signal is not warranted. However, it is sent to Transportation Data for a new traffic count, to have another warrant study completed every year until the score rises or falls enough to no longer remain in this range.
If the score is 63 or lower the pedestrian corridor is not warranted. A new warrant study will not be conducted again for two years under normal situations.
Innovative alternative - Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB)
The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) is a solar powered pedestrian-activated traffic control device which alerts motorists to the presence of pedestrians using the crosswalk by displaying rapidly flashing amber beacons mounted above the pedestrian crossing signs at the side of the road.
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are cheaper to install than a pedestrian corridor, and provide an innovative alternative by using solar power. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons have proven to be a device that creates excellent motorist yielding behaviour. Their adoption in July 2015 as a pedestrian crossing tool will increase safety for Calgary road users of all types.
The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) is in the process of developing a guideline for agencies to consider for the installation of RRFBs, in order to provide for consistent application across the country. This project may take several years to complete. In the meantime, The City of Calgary will consider installing RRFBs when the following conditions exist:
- a crosswalk has relatively high pedestrian and vehicle volumes, as indicated by a pedestrian corridor warrant score of at least 70 points;
- suitable roadway conditions exist that make an RRFB an appropriate traffic control device; and
- there are no other overhead traffic control devices along the roadway which may detract from motorists’ visibility of the RRFBs.
Intersections which have had a warrant study completed
An outline of the completed pedestrian corridor warrant studies can be viewed in the pedestrian corridor warrant list.