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The Impact of a Signalized Crosswalk on Traffic Speed and Street-Crossing Behaviors of Residents in an Underserved Neighborhood

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Abstract

Infrastructure improvements such as pedestrian crosswalks that calm traffic and increase access to physical activity opportunities could alleviate important barriers to active living in underserved communities with outdated built environments. The purpose of this study was to explore how the built environment influences street-crossing behaviors and traffic speeds in a low-income neighborhood with barriers to active living in Columbia, Missouri. In 2013, a signalized pedestrian crosswalk and 400-ft-long median was constructed along a busy 5-lane, high-speed arterial highway linking low-income housing with a park and downtown areas. Data collection occurred prior to June 2012, and after June 2013, completion of the project at the intervention site and control site. Direct observation of street-crossing behaviors was performed at designated intersections/crosswalks or non-designated crossing points. Traffic volume and speed were captured using embedded magnetic traffic detectors. At the intervention site, designated crossings increased at the new crosswalk (p < 0.001), but not at non-designated crossings (p = 0.52) or designated crossings at intersections (p = 0.41). At the control site, there was no change in designated crossings (p = 0.94) or non-designated crossings (p = 0.79). Motor vehicles traveling above the speed limit of 35 mph decreased from 62,056 (46 %) to 46,256 (35 %) (p < 0.001) at the intervention site and increased from 57,891 (49 %) to 65,725 (59 %) (p < 0.001) at the control site. The installation of a signalized crosswalk facilitated an increase in safe street crossings and calmed traffic volume and speed in an underserved neighborhood. We believe these findings have significant public health implications that could be critical to advocacy efforts to improve infrastructure projects in similar communities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the University of Missouri Research Board for providing funding for this project.

Research Support

This work was funded through the University of Missouri Research Board (to Wilhelm Stanis and Sayers, co-PI). The study sponsor had no role in the study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, writing the report, or the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Courtney L. Schultz & Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Stephen P. Sayers

  3. Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Lori A. Thombs

  4. PedNet Coalition, Columbia, MO, USA

    Ian M. Thomas

  5. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Shannon M. Canfield

Authors
  1. Courtney L. Schultz
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  2. Stephen P. Sayers
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  3. Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis
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  4. Lori A. Thombs
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  5. Ian M. Thomas
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  6. Shannon M. Canfield
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen P. Sayers.

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Schultz, C.L., Sayers, S.P., Wilhelm Stanis, S.A. et al. The Impact of a Signalized Crosswalk on Traffic Speed and Street-Crossing Behaviors of Residents in an Underserved Neighborhood. J Urban Health 92, 910–922 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-015-9979-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-015-9979-7

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