Raised medians manages access and improves safety. Also,provides pedestrian refuge.

Criteria

• Arterials with traffic volume of > 18,000 and future volume projected at > 24,000 vehicles per day
• High turning volumes
• High crash rates
• Number of driveways
• Pedestrian crossings

Benefits

Raised medians concentrate left turn movements and provide the following benefits.

• Improve traffic flow
• Increase business and employment in some areas when compared to congested roadways
• Beautification

Urban / Suburban Areas

Raised medians provide the following benefits.

• Greater vehicle and pedestrian safety
• Pedestrian refuge
• Improve levels of service
• Reduce turning conflicts

 

Flush medians use “two-way left-turn lane” (TWLTL) in urban /suburban areas.

Criteria

• Design speeds of 45 mph or less
• Current traffic volume of < 18,000 and future traffic volume projected at < 24,000 vehicles per day

Research Data

• Capacity increased by 30%
• Delay decreased by 30%
• Total crashes were reduced 35%

Depressed grass medians allow  higher speeds on state “through” routes

Criteria

• Typically rural setting
• Higher speeds, with greater recovery area
• Most effective for reducing crashes

Benefits

• Provide greater safety at high speeds
• Provide a larger recovery zone
• Reduce crashes and improve survival rates
• Provide landscaping opportunities

Rates for vehicle crashes involving pedestrians on urban arterials are 5 times higher on undivided roads than on roadways with medians. Pedestrian-vehicle crash rates were higher at mid-block on undivided highways than at mid-block in raised median sections.

Raised Medians

• Provide pedestrians refuge from traffic
• Allow safer crossings in areas of pedestrian activity
• Protect pedestrians by minimizing vehicle left turn movements

Medians convert a two-way movement into two one-way movement. Improvement is safer for pedestrians. “Look left and cross, then …look right and cross.”