Safety is a key factor in planning and design of roadway facilities for pedestrians as they are particularly vulnerable street users. specifies that:

“Safety will be considered throughout the project development process. Each type of project will be evaluated, appropriate engineering studies will be completed, and appropriate design guidelines will be utilized with sound engineering judgment to accomplish the purpose of that particular transportation project. Safety is integral to properly engineering each project to address the anticipated needs and conditions.”

The provisions of this chapter direct designers to consider geometric and operational features that will benefit pedestrians by reducing the likelihood of crashes and reducing the severity of crashes when they occur.

As motor vehicle speeds increase, the risk of serious injury or fatality for pedestrians in the event of a crash also increases (see ). Note that is for information purposes only based on the sources referenced. Actual stopping distances are based on many conditions such as roadway terrain, weather conditions, vehicle braking, tire design, and the human factor. Designers should take into account the number and severity of pedestrian conflict points at a given intersection. When pedestrians are expected, especially on high-speed roadways, the separation of pedestrians from motor vehicle traffic, and the design of intersections that reduce motor vehicle speeds at conflict points and provide greater visibility of pedestrians must be considered. For the purpose of applying pedestrian guidance in this manual, the designated vehicular speeds will be the higher of the design speed or posted speed.

Designers should be aware of and incorporate findings from Road Safety Assessments being conducted by District staff and local jurisdictions for TxDOT facilities. These reports may contain infrastructure recommendations to improve roadway safety related to pedestrian travel that could drive the selection of specific aspects of project design.