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RAMSEY COUNTY Additional Considerations Equity: Identified as a priority in Ramsey County's 2019 Strategic Plan, "inclusive, effective and meaningful community engagement" ensures that the voices of under -represented communities are valued and heard. This county -wide priority, aligns with Goal Two of Active Living Ramsey Communities14 which aims to "cultivate economic prosperity and invest in neighborhoods with concentrated financial poverty through proactive leadership and inclusive initiatives that engage all communities in decisions about our future." All crosswalk requests shall be viewed through this lens of equity. Pedestrian Crossing Solutions and Countermeasures: Identified below are some of the pedestrian crossing solutions (along with their application) that are currently considered when implementing a Ramsey County transportation project: • RRFBs — locations with high pedestrian and vehicle volumes o typically installed with additional enhancements like Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) and updates to curb cuts for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). • Median refuge island — locations with high vehicle volumes with a center median or TWLTL o provides two -stage crossing for pedestrian, enhancing safety. • Pinch -points (midblock) and Curb Extensions (intersections)15—areas of attraction with high pedestrian volumes and low vehicle speed (<35 mph) o used to reduce pedestrian crossing distance and as traffic calming devices o can be supplemented with vertical features like foliage or bicycle racks o more common on local roads • Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) — intersections controlled by traffic signal with high pedestrian volumes o provides pedestrians with a "head start" during an all -red signal phase Grade separated pedestrian crossings like bridges and tunnels reduce conflict points between vehicles in pedestrians, but due to their high cost and right-of-way challenges are to be considered individually funded projects as opposed to supplemental pedestrian crossing enhancements or treatments. Once a crosswalk request location has successfully advanced through the flowchart depicted in Figure 3, application of any supplemental countermeasures (if necessary) mentioned can be addressed. Procedure Ramsey County often receives requests for implementation of crosswalks. When community members make these requests, or when striping on a road is being evaluated as part of a maintenance project, Ramsey County will assess the crossing request by use of this guideline. As an initial step following a request or inquiry, Ramsey County staff may visit the location or set up a video monitoring system to assess pedestrian demand and other location features. The level of treatment selected should be based on present and future location safety demands. As part of the review, Ramsey County staff will assess the request location's safety and operational history and its geographical relationship to current and upcoming transportation projects. It should be noted that investigating improvements to pedestrian facilities is an initial step and ongoing focus topic during the implementation of a Ramsey County transportation project. In the event that this guideline does not provide sufficient direction to its user(s), coordination with the appropriate Ramsey County Public Works Staff is encouraged to discuss potential treatment options and their viability. 14https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Proiects%20and%201nitiatives/RamseyCounty2O4O Active%20Living%20Ramsev.Pdf 15https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/street-design-elements/ RAMSEY COUNTY 7