14.2.1.2.2 Step Two: Determine Preliminary PLTS Classification

Use the data gathered from the facility inventory and the relevant PLTS classification tables shown on the
PLTS Inventory and Classification Template
 (see
Appendix O, Section 1 – Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress Inventory and Classification
) to determine a PLTS classification. Determining the overall PLTS classification of the facility occurs in
Section 14.2.1.2.3
, this step is a preliminary determination of PLTS classification. The PLTS classification tables used are also shown in .
A pedestrian walking route can be comprised of several individual pedestrian facilities (e.g., a sidewalk, an unsignalized midblock crossing, and a shared use path). If this is the case, data is collected for each facility and a PLTS classification assigned to each facility separately in preparation for the overall facility PLTS classification.
Table 14-6: PLTS Analysis Tables by Facility Type
Facility Type
Tables Used to Determine PLTS
Segment facility or signalized midblock crossing
  • The overall facility PLTS is determined using five individual facility characteristics and their respective PLTS classifications
Unsignalized intersection crossing or unsignalized midblock crossing
  • The overall facility PLTS is determined by using a single table shown in the adjacent cell.
  • Unsignalized intersection crossing or unsignalized midblock crossing (no median refuge),
  • Unsignalized intersection crossing or unsignalized midblock crossing of one to two lanes (median refuge),
  • Unsignalized intersection crossing or unsignalized midblock crossing of three or more lanes (median refuge),
Table 14-7: PLTS Classification of Sidewalk
Sidewalk Width (ft)
Sidewalk Condition
Good
1
Fair
2
Low
3
No Sidewalk
4
≥6
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 4
≥5 to <6
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
≥4 to <5
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
<4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
1
No cracking, patching, raveling, or faulting
2
Minor cracking, patching, raveling, faulting is not greater than ½”
3
Major cracking, patching, raveling, faulting is greater than ½”
4
Travel lane, paved soil, and loose aggregate are not considered sidewalks
Table 14-8: PLTS Classification of Buffer Type
Type
Posted Speed (mph)
≤25
30
35-40
≥45
Wall
1
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
Landscaped – Thick
2
Landscaped – Medium
3
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
Landscaped – Thin
4
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
Solid Surface – With Buffering Elements
5
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
No Buffer
6
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
1
A vertical buffer separating the pedestrian facility from the roadway (i.e., retaining wall, concrete barrier).
2
Area between the edge of sidewalk closest to the road and back of curb is landscaped with items that will prevent vehicles from crossing buffer (e.g., large mature trees, large rocks, large ditch).
3
Area between edge of sidewalk and back of curb is landscaped with items that will prevent most vehicles from crossing buffer (e.g., small/young trees, medium-sized bushes, medium-sized rocks, medium-sized ditch).
4
Area between edge of sidewalk and back of curb is landscaped with items that will prevent some vehicles from crossing buffer (e.g., small bushes, small rocks, small ditch).
5
Area between edge of sidewalk and back of curb is a solid surface that has buffer elements along the facility (e.g., illumination poles, electric poles, benches, bicycle racks).
6
Sidewalk is less than 8 feet wide and edge of sidewalk and back of curb are touching. On-street parking and bicycle lanes are not considered buffer types but do contribute to the buffer width.
Table 14-9: PLTS Classification of Buffer Width
Buffer Width
1
Posted Speed (mph)
≤25
30
35-40
≥45
≥25
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
≥15 to <25
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
≥10 to <15
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
≥5 to <10
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
<5
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
1
Buffer width is the summation of on-street width (i.e., on-street parking width, bicycle facility width, and roadway shoulder width), and off-street buffer width (i.e., distance between the edge of sidewalk closest to the road and back of curb).
Table 14-10: PLTS Classification of Number of Lanes
Adjacent Roadway Lanes
1
Posted Speed (mph)
≤25
30
35-40
≥45
2
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
3
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
4
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
5
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
6
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
1
For signalized intersection crossings or midblock crossings, this is the total number of lanes on the segment (e.g., a roadway with two lanes in each direction and a two-way left turn lane would have an adjacent roadway lanes value of 5).
Table 14-11: PLTS Classification of Land Use
Adjacent Land Use
PLTS Classification
Suburban residential, greenbelts, parks/plazas, low-density commercial
PLTS 1
Urban residential, medium density commercial, mixed land use, schools, hospitals, government buildings
PLTS 2
Light industrial, auto-driven commercial, central business district (CBD)
PLTS 3
Heavy industrial, adjacent to freeway interchanges or freeway facilities
PLTS 4
Table 14-12: PLTS Classification of Unsignalized Intersection Crossing or Unsignalized Midblock Crossings (no raised median)
Posted Speed
Adjacent Roadway Lanes
1
2 Lanes
3+ Lanes
<5,000 vpd
5,000 – 9,000 vpd
>9,000 vpd
<8,000 vpd
8,000 – 12,000 vpd2
>12,000 vpd
≤25
PLTS 1
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
30
PLTS 1
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
35-40
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
≥45
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
1
For unsignalized intersection crossings or midblock crossings without a median refuge, this is the total number of lanes on the segment (e.g., a roadway with two lanes in each direction and a two-way left turn lane would have an adjacent roadway lane value of 5).
2
Use this column when ADT is unavailable
Table 14-13: PLTS Classification of Unsignalized Intersection Crossing or Unsignalized Midblock Crossings (1 to 2 lanes – raised median)
Posted Speed
Adjacent Roadway Lanes
1
1 Lane
2 Lane
Any
<5,000 vpd
5,000 – 9,000 vpd
2
>9,000 vpd
≤25
PLTS 1
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
30
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
35-40
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
≥45
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
1
For unsignalized intersection crossings or midblock crossings with a median refuge, this is the maximum number of lanes crossed in one direction (e.g., a roadway with two lanes in both directions would have an adjacent roadway lane value of 2).
2
Use this column when ADT is unavailable
Table 14-14: PLTS Classification of Unsignalized Intersection Crossing or Unsignalized Midblock Crossings (3 or more lanes – raised median)
Posted Speed
Adjacent Roadway Lanes
1
3 Lanes
4+ Lanes
<8,000 vpd
8,000 – 12,000 vpd
2
>12,000 vpd
Any
≤25
PLTS 1
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
30
PLTS 2
PLTS 2
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
35-40
PLTS 3
PLTS 3
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
≥45
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
PLTS 4
1
For unsignalized intersection crossings or midblock crossings with a median refuge, this is the maximum number of lanes crossed in one direction (e.g., a roadway with two lanes one direction and three lanes in the other direction would have an adjacent roadway lane value of 3).
2
Use this column when ADT is unavailable.