620.3 Crosswalk Markings (MUTCD Chapter 3C)
620.3.1 General (MUTCD Section 3C.01)
Support. Crosswalk markings provide guidance for pedestrians who are crossing roadways by defining and delineating paths on approaches to and within signalized intersections, and on approaches to other intersections where traffic stops.
In conjunction with signs and other measures, crosswalk markings help to alert road users of a designated pedestrian crossing point across roadways at locations that are not controlled by traffic control signals or STOP or YIELD signs.
At non-intersection locations, crosswalk markings legally establish the crosswalk.
Detectable warning surfaces mark boundaries between pedestrian and vehicular ways where there is no raised curb. Detectable warning surfaces are typically installed where curb ramps are constructed at the junction of sidewalks and the roadway or shoulder, for marked and unmarked crosswalks. Detectable warning surfaces contrast visually with adjacent walking surfaces, either light-on-dark, or dark-on-light. The U.S. Department of Justice 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, September 15, 2010, 28 CFR 35 and 36, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 contains specifications for the design of detectable warning surfaces.
620.3.2 Application of Crosswalk Markings (MUTCD Section 3C.02)
Guidance. At locations controlled by traffic control signals, crosswalk markings should be installed.
Option. Crosswalk markings may be omitted if engineering judgment indicates they are not needed to direct pedestrians to the proper crossing path(s).
Guidance. On approaches controlled by STOP or YIELD signs, crosswalk markings should be installed where engineering judgment indicates they are needed to direct pedestrians to the proper crossing path(s).
At uncontrolled approaches, an engineering study should be performed before a marked crosswalk is installed. The following criteria should be considered:
- A. Total number of approach lanes,
- B. The presence of a median,
- C. The distance from adjacent signalized intersections or other controlled crossings,
- D. Projected pedestrian and bicyclist volumes,
- E. Pedestrian and bicyclist paths of travel,
- F. Pedestrian ages and abilities,
- G. Pedestrian and bicyclist delays,
- H. Location or frequency of public transit stops,
- I. Average daily traffic (ADT),
- J. Speed limit or the 85th-percentile speed,
- K. The horizontal and vertical geometry of the crossing location,
- L. The possible consolidation of multiple crossing points,
- M. The availability of street lighting, and
- N. Other appropriate factors.
Standard. Crosswalk markings shall be provided at legally established crosswalks at non-intersection locations.
Where a shared-use path crossed a roadway, crosswalk markings shall be used.
Guidance. The installation of other traffic control devices and other measures designed to reduce traffic speeds, shorten crossing distances, enhance driver awareness of the crossing, and/or provide active warning of pedestrian presence, should be considered in addition to a new marked crosswalk and signs across an uncontrolled roadway where any of the following conditions exist:
- A. The roadway has four or more lanes of travel without a raised median or pedestrian refuge island and an ADT of 12,000 vehicles per day or greater, or
- B. The roadway has four or more lanes of travel with a raised median or pedestrian refuge island and an ADT of 15,000 vehicles per day or greater, or
- C. The posted speed limit is 40 mph or greater, or
- D. A crash study reveals that multiple-threat crashes are the predominant crash type on a multi-lane approach, or
- E. When adequate visibility cannot be provided by parking prohibitions.
Support. EPG 902.10 contains information on pedestrian hybrid beacons.
EPG 902.12 contains information on rectangular rapid flashing beacons.
EPG 902.18.3 contains information regarding Warning Beacons to provide active warning of a pedestrian’s presence.
EPG 902.20.2 contains information regarding In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks.
EPG 908.3 contains information on school crosswalks.
EPG 908.4 contains information regarding school crossing supervision.
620.3.3 Design of Crosswalk Markings (MUTCD Section 3C.03)
Support. EPG 620.2.19 contains information regarding placement of stop line markings and yield line markings near crosswalk markings.
Crosswalk markings are classified as either transverse line or high-visibility. Transverse crosswalk markings consist of two transverse lines. High-visibility markings consist of longitudinal lines parallel to traffic flow without transverse lines. Figure 620.3.3 presents crosswalk marking designs.
Standard. Crosswalk markings shall be white. When used, transverse lines shall be 6 inches in width.
Except as provided in the following paragraph, the minimum width of a marked crosswalk shall be 6 feet.
At a non-intersection crosswalk where the posted speed limit is 40 mph or greater, the minimum width of the crosswalk shall be 8 feet.
Guidance. High-visibility crosswalk markings (such as shown in Figure 620.3.3) and warning signs (see 903.6.41) should be installed for all crosswalks at non-intersection locations.
Added visibility should be provided by parking prohibitions on the approach to marked crosswalks at non-intersection locations.
Standard. Where curb ramps are provided, crosswalk markings shall be located so that the curb ramps are within the extension of the crosswalk markings.
Guidance. Transverse line crosswalk markings should extend across the full width of pavement or to the edge of the intersecting crosswalk to discourage diagonal walking between crosswalks.
Support. Provisions for aesthetic treatments for the interior portion of a legally-established crosswalk are contained in EPG 620.7.3.
620.3.4 Transverse Line Crosswalks (MUTCD Section 3C.04)
Guidance. Transverse line crosswalk markings should be limited to locations controlled by traffic control signals or on approaches controlled by STOP or YIELD signs.
Support. Transverse line crosswalk marking design consists of two parallel transverse lines (see Figure 620.3.3).
Transverse line crosswalk markings can provide benefits to crosswalk operations including:
- A. Define where the channelization of pedestrians or other non-motorized users is necessary to facilitate crossing the roadway.
- B. Alert motorists to the location of where pedestrians and other non-motorized users might be expected when crossing the roadway.
- C. Emphasize a crosswalk at a controlled intersection.
- D. Fulfill a legal need to mark the crosswalk.
620.3.5 High-Visibility Crosswalks (Section 3C.05)
Option. High-visibility crosswalk markings may be used where additional conspicuity is desired for a crosswalk over transverse line crosswalk markings.
Support. High-visibility crosswalk markings include the longitudinal bar design (see Figure 620.3.3).
High-visibility crosswalk markings can provide benefits to crosswalk operations including:
- A. Providing greater detection distances for the approaching motorist.
- B. Emphasizing a crosswalk where substantial numbers of pedestrians cross without any other traffic control device.
- C. Emphasizing a crosswalk at an uncontrolled approach.
- D. Emphasizing the location where a high number of conflicts between turning motorists and users of the crosswalk are expected.
- E. Improving visibility of the crosswalk location for otherwise difficult to detect pedestrians or other non-motorized users of the crosswalk.
- F. Emphasizing a school crossing.
Standard. The minimum number of individual longitudinal elements to establish a high-visibility crosswalk shall be three.
Guidance. The dimensions of the individual longitudinal element and the lateral spacing between subsequent individual longitudinal elements for a high-visibility crosswalk should be uniform when establishing the crosswalk.
The dimensions of the individual longitudinal element and the lateral spacing between subsequent individual longitudinal elements for a high-visibility crosswalk should be uniform when establishing separate crosswalks on multiple approaches to the same intersection and on both sides of a median refuge if one is present.
The individual longitudinal elements of a high-visibility crosswalk should be angled such that they are parallel to the travel path of approaching traffic.
Option. The lateral spacing between longitudinal elements may be staggered to avoid wheel paths, center lines, and lane lines.
620.3.6 Longitudinal Bar Crosswalks (Section 3C.06)
Support. The longitudinal bar crosswalk marking design (see Figure 620.3.3) provides for improved detection and recognition over the transverse line crosswalk for people with low vision and cognitive impairments.
Standard. The width of an individual longitudinal bar shall be 24 inches.
The lateral spacing between subsequent longitudinal bars shall not be less than 12 inches or greater than 48 inches.
620.3.7 Crosswalk Markings at Circular Intersections (MUTCD Section 3C.09)
Standard. Crosswalk markings shall not be provided to or from the central island of a roundabout.
Guidance. If pedestrian facilities are provided, crosswalks should be marked across roundabout entrances and exits to indicate where pedestrians are intended to cross.
On an approach to a circular intersection controlled by a YIELD sign and at uncontrolled exits, crosswalks should be a minimum of 20 feet from the edge of the circulatory roadway.
Support. EPG 620.4 Circular Intersection Markings provides figures that illustrate examples of crosswalk markings for roundabouts.
620.3.8 Crosswalks for Exclusive Pedestrian Phases that Permit Diagonal Crossings (MUTCD Section 3C.10)
Note:
High-visibility crosswalks can be used for the crosswalks around the perimeter of the intersection.
Option. When an exclusive pedestrian phase that permits diagonal crossing of an intersection is provided at a traffic control signal, a marking as shown in Figure 620.3.8 may be used for the crosswalk.
Guidance. The segments of the crosswalk marking that facilitate the diagonal crossing should not use high-visibility crosswalk markings.
620.3.9 Crosswalks at Diverging Diamond Interchanges with a Transposed Alignment Crossroad (Section 3C.11)
Support. Diverging diamond interchanges, also known as double-crossover diamond interchanges, include directional crossovers on either side of the interchange that transpose the crossroad which results in vehicles traveling on the left-hand side of the street or highway between the crossover intersections. The potential for altered travel paths for pedestrians and the associated, unique, operational aspects such as traffic approaching from unexpected directions and unfamiliar signal phasing schemes are important considerations.
Guidance. If pedestrian facilities are provided, pedestrian crossing movements of the crossroads at a diverging diamond interchange should be marked at the crossover intersections where motor vehicle traffic becomes transposed.
If pedestrian facilities are provided, crosswalks should be marked across ramp terminals at diverging diamond interchanges to indicate where pedestrians are intended to cross.
Crosswalks across diverging diamond interchange ramps with yield controlled vehicle movements should be located a minimum of 20 feet from the edge of an intersecting ramp. This is similar to crosswalks on the approaches to circular intersections (see EPG 620.3.7).
Support. EPG 620.2.30 contains information on markings, such as edge lines, lane lines, and lane-use arrows, for diverging diamond interchanges.
Figure 620.2.30 shows an example of pedestrian crossing locations at a diverging diamond interchange.
620.3.10 Pedestrian Islands and Medians (Section 3C.12)
Support. Raised islands or raised medians of sufficient width that are placed in the center area of a street or highway can serve as a place of refuge for pedestrians who are attempting to cross at a midblock or intersection location. Center islands or medians allow pedestrians to find an adequate gap in one direction of traffic at a time, as the pedestrians are able to stop, if necessary, in the center island or median area and wait for an adequate gap in the other direction of traffic before crossing the second half of the street or highway. The U.S. Department of Justice 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, September 15, 2010, 28 CFR 35 and 36, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 contains specifications for the design of detectable warning surfaces and provides technical requirements that can be used to determine the minimum width for accessible refuge islands.