Operational Strategies
MTC has developed several signal-timing strategies to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street.
Visit the Technical Assistance portal for additional resources.
Helping pedestrians cross safely is one of the major goals of MTC’s Regional Safety (Vision Zero) Policy to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.
To help cities and counties reach this goal, MTC has developed new strategies for signal timing that makes it safer to cross the street.
MTC’s signal-timing strategies for cities and counties include:
Improved Pedestrian Mobility
Give pedestrians more opportunities to cross the street with shorter wait times that do not require pushing buttons:
- Shorter Cycle Lengths: Create more frequent crossing opportunities
- Signal Phasing 24/7: Don’t use flash settings or require pedestrian actuation at night
- Automatic Walk Phase: Don’t require actuation by a waiting pedestrian
- No-Contact Buttons: Pedestrians actuate signals without physically touching a button
Safer Crossings
Set signal phasing lengths and timing to increase safety for people walking and biking across the street.
- Leading Pedestrian Interval: Pedestrians begin crossing while cars are still stopped at the red light
- Enhance Signal Safety Margins: Longer yellow, all-red and walk-signal phases
- Minimum Green Phases: Minimum green times set for bicyclists to clear the intersection
Slower Vehicle Speeds
Use signal coordination and community campaigns to slow drivers.
- Advisory Speed Limits: Create community campaigns to slow driving speeds
- Slow-Speed Signal Coordination: Coordinate signal timing for bike and transit speeds
- Remove Signal Coordination: Remove coordination so cars must stop more frequently
Staff Contacts
Nicola Szibbo, MTC Principal Engineer
Phone: 415-778-6720
Email: nszibbo@bayareametro.gov
Toshi Shepard-Ohta, MTC Assistant Director
Phone: 415-778-5280
Email: tshepard-ohta@bayareametro.gov
MTC is working to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic collisions by supporting Bay Area Vision Zero initiatives.