CINCINNATI – Construction resumes Tuesday, June 8, on more than 200 pedestrian safety projects across the city. The $1.75 million in improvements are part of the Department of Transportation & Engineering’s (DOTE) commitment to Vision Zero, which aims to reduce and eventually eliminate pedestrian fatalities due to traffic accidents. 

Most of the improvements are designed to draw driver attention to crosswalks and areas with reduced speeds.  The contractor began installations last fall and will finish this year. Some projects are enhancements to existing infrastructure and others are pilot initiatives. 

“We are making 20 different types of improvements with projects that range in size from smaller upgrades like repainting crosswalks to higher visibility pedestrian signage and curb extensions at intersections to large, first-time initiatives such as light path systems and raised crosswalks,” said John S. Brazina, Cincinnati’s transportation director. “The improvements are based on input from residents and business owners.”

The projects are funded by a grant of $1 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation and $750,000 from the city. The improvements are concentrated in three geographic areas: Schools and recreation centers, neighborhood business districts (NBDs) and high-crash corridors. 

Schools and Recreation Centers 
DOTE installed the city’s first raised crosswalk by Evanston Academy in December. In addition to more raised crosswalks to be installed this year, DOTE will add two more new types of infrastructure near schools and recreation areas:  

• Reflective blades on crosswalk signposts to draw more attention to crosswalks;  
• Light path systems, which project light across a crosswalk when triggered by a pedestrian, making pedestrians highly visible to motorists during early morning and late evening hours.  

Other improvements include redesigning intersections and the installation of bump-outs to shorten crossing distances and the addition of pedestrian triggered flashing lights (also known as rapid flashing beacons) and blinking stop signs. 

Neighborhood Business Districts (NBDs) 
In pedestrian-heavy NBDs, DOTE will:  

• Repaint faded crosswalks;  
• Convert traditional crosswalks to high visibility “zebra” crosswalks;  
• Add pedestrian triggered flashing lights (rapid flashing beacons) at crosswalks; 
• Add yield paddles in crosswalks; 

DOTE also has installed or will install the following pilot projects:   

• Speed-limit pavement markings on streets at the entrance to NBDs to call attention to reduced speed limits;  
• Right-turn-on-red blank-out signage that are triggered by pedestrians in a crosswalk. When activated, the signage alerts motorists they are not allowed to turn right during the pedestrian crossing phase. When not activated, the signs remain blank, allowing motorists to still turn right on red in these areas. 
• Leading pedestrian intervals, or LPIs, will be added to traffic signals to give pedestrians a three-second head start to cross an intersection before turning vehicles receive their green light. This results in the pedestrian being in a much more visible location in the intersection as motorists are turning across the crosswalk.  

High-Crash Corridors 
In high-crash corridors, DOTE has or will:  

• Repaint and restripe all faded crosswalks;  
• Install pedestrian countdown signals where not already installed;  
• Retime pedestrian signals to give pedestrians more time to cross the street; 
• Install yield markings and signage at crosswalks without traffic signals;  

Visit the city’s Vision Zero website for a list of all 209 projects and their locations.

Please note: DOTE is working on another round of projects to be installed in 2022. Installation of those projects, which are based on input from community councils last fall, is delayed due to Covid-19.