14.2.1.2.3 Step Three: Determine PLTS Adjustments

If the facility is a signalized midblock crossing or segment facility, the overall PLTS classification is the lowest of the individual classifications, or highest traffic stress classification, determined in step two (e.g., a facility with a PLTS 4 as the lowest classification in any of the characteristics would have an overall PLTS classification of 4).

If the facility is an unsignalized intersection crossing or unsignalized midblock crossing, the overall PLTS classification is the classification determined in step two, adjusted for any crosswalk enhancements. The crosswalk enhancement adjustments are shown in Table 14-15

.

A pedestrian walking route comprised of several individual pedestrian facilities (e.g., a sidewalk, an unsignalized midblock crossing, and a shared use path) usually has a PLTS classification given to each facility and the worst rating governs the whole route. A pedestrian route with a sidewalk (PLTS 3), midblock crossing (PLTS 2), and shared-use path (PLTS 1) would have an overall PLTS 3 classification.

Table 14-15: PLTS Classification Adjustments for Unsignalized Intersection Crossings and Midblock Crossings
Treatment¹	Adjustment
High-visibility crosswalk markings, parking restrictions on crosswalk approach, adequate nighttime lighting levels, and crossing warning signs	-0.5
Raised crosswalk	-1.0
Advance Yield Here To (Stop Here For) pedestrian sign and yield (stop) line	-0.5
In-street pedestrian crossing sign	-0.5
Curb extension	-0.5
Pedestrian refuge island	-1.0
RRFB	-1.0
PHB	-1.0

¹The maximum reduction is two classification levels, or PLTS 2, whichever comes first.

A PLTS 2 classification is recommended as a minimum target for most pedestrian facilities. For pedestrian facilities near hospitals, schools, or other locations with vulnerable or young populations, a PLTS 1 classification is recommended.

For examples
of an inventory and PLTS classification for a pedestrian facility on a segment and for a pedestrian facility at a midblock crossing, see Table 14-16

and Table 14-17

, respectively. These two examples occur on independent pedestrian facilities and the assigned PLTS classifications are also independent.

In the first example
shown in Table 14-16

, the pedestrian accommodation was a segment facility (i.e., sidewalk adjacent to an arterial). The first step was to determine which inventory and classification template table to use (see Appendix O, Section 1 – Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress Inventory and Classification
). The upper table in the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template was used based on the footnote at the bottom of the table that states, “Applicable to signalized midblock crossings and segment facilities.” Next, an inventory was conducted for the facility in question, the collected data was based on the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template
chosen, and for this example
, included the following data:

Sidewalk condition and width;

Determined to be six-foot wide and in fair condition for this example

Buffer type and width;

Determined there was “No Buffer” type as defined in Table 14-8

, but an overall buffer width of one foot

Adjacent roadway speed and number of lanes; and

Determined the speed of the adjacent road to be 40mph and the number of adjacent lanes to be six

Adjacent land use type

Determined to be suburban residential

This collected data was written in the appropriate cells on the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template. Next, the collected data was used to determine the PLTS classification of the facility based on individual characteristics of the facility (i.e., PLTS classification based on sidewalk conditions, buffer type, buffer width, adjacent roadway characteristics, and adjacent land use type). The PLTS classification for the sidewalk characteristic was determined using Table 14-7

. A sidewalk with a six-foot width in fair condition is given a PLTS 1 classification. This classification is written in the appropriate box on the template and the next characteristic is classified, until all the characteristics have been classified.

The last step is to determine the overall facility PLTS classification. This is done by selecting the worst rating given for any of the individual PLTS classifications. In this example, the buffer type and buffer width both have PLTS classifications of 4, which means the overall PLTS classification of this facility is PLTS 4.

Table 14-16: Example 1 – Segment Facility Inventory and PLTS Classification
Facility1: Segment along a principal arterial
Characteristics		Value	PLTS Reference Table	PLTS Classification
Sidewalk	Condition	Fair	Table 14-7	PLTS 1
Sidewalk	Width (ft)	6	Table 14-7	PLTS 1
Buffer	Type	No Buffer	Table 14-8	PLTS 4
	Off-Street Width (ft)	0	Table 14-9	PLTS 4
	On-Street Width	1
	Total Width	1
Adjacent Roadway	Speed (mph)	40	Used in various tables	PLTS 3
Adjacent Roadway	Number of Lanes	6	Table 14-10	PLTS 3
Adjacent Land Use	Type	Suburban Residential	Table 14-11	PLTS 1
Overall PLTS Classification				PLTS 4

¹Applicable to signalized intersection crossings and segment facilities

In the second example
shown in Table 14-17

, the pedestrian accommodation was an unsignalized midblock crossing. The first step was to determine which inventory and classification template to use (see Appendix O, Section 1 – Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress Inventory and Classification
). The bottom table in the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template was used based on the footnote at the bottom of the table that states, “Applicable to unsignalized intersection crossings or midblock crossings (includes midblock crossings with PHB or RRFB)”. Next, an inventory was conducted for the facility in question, the collected data was based on the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template
chosen, and for this example included the following data:

Adjacent roadway

Speed;

Determined to be 35 mph

Number of lanes;

Determined to be 35 mph

ADT (vpd); and;

Determined to be 14,972

Crossing treatments

Determined that there is an RRFB and crosswalk markings

This collected data was written in the appropriate cells on the PLTS Inventory and Classification Template. Next, the collected data was used to determine the PLTS classification of the facility based on a single reference table. Although there are three reference tables on the PLTS Inventory and Classification template, only one is used, based on number of lanes, and presence of a center raised median. For this example
, Table 14-12

was used because there is no raised median. Based on Table 14-12

, an unsignalized midblock crossing with four lanes, a speed of 35mph, and an ADT of 14,972, is given a PLTS 4 classification. The last step in this example was to consider the positive effects that crossing treatments can have on this crossing. It was determined that this unsignalized crossing has an RRFB and crosswalk markings. Using Table 14-15

, a 1.5 reduction in PLTS classification is used due to the RRFB and crossing sign present at this crossing. Rounding up to the nearest whole number results in a PLTS 3 classification for this facility

Table 14-17: Example 2 – Unsignalized Midblock Crossing Inventory and PLTS Classification
Facility2: School crossing near high school
Characteristic		Value	PLTS Reference Table	PLTS Classification
Adjacent Roadway	Speed (mph)	35	Table 14-12 , Table 14-13 , or Table 14-14	PLTS 4
	Number of Lanes	4
	ADT (vpd)	14,972
	Raised Median	No
Crossing Treatments(s)		RRFB, crossing sign	Table 14-15	-1.5
Overall PLTS Classification				PLTS 3

²Applicable to unsignalized intersection crossings or unsignalized midblock crossings (includes midblock crossings with PHB or RRFB)

14.2.1.2 Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (PLTS)