Abstract Manager

Between 2012 and 2018, pedestrian-related incidents accounted for an average of 33% of road fatalities and 10% of major injuries in Winnipeg, with the majority occurring at intersections in the downtown area. In response, the City made the decision to prioritize pedestrian safety by rapidly implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs), a proven, low-cost countermeasure, at over 80% of downtown intersections.

This presentation will outline the City's data-driven approach to the widespread implementation of LPIs downtown, including the development of a decision support tool that incorporates key data such as pedestrian crash risk, pedestrian exposure, and intersection level of service. The session will also discuss the challenges of balancing pedestrian safety with potential vehicle delays in a densely coordinated traffic environment.

By aligning LPI programming with an extensive signal timing optimization initiative, the City successfully minimized traffic disruption and rapidly improved safety by implementing LPIs at over 90 intersections in just a few days. Given the quick deployment of these timing changes across a large area, the presentation will emphasize the importance of stakeholder engagement, public communication strategies, and effective monitoring efforts. A robust post-installation evaluation, utilizing conflict analysis at several locations, was crucial in assessing the safety benefits of this treatment and helped to inform the development of an expanded LPI policy.

The presentation will share lessons learned and will highlight how data-driven decision-making and thoughtful infrastructure planning can create safer, more efficient urban environments for both pedestrians and drivers.