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ICTD 2025

Transportation Safety

POSTER RECEPTION (View list of posters here)

Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Operations Around Near-Side Versus Far-Side Transit Stops

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM MT
Abstract: Pedestrian injuries and fatalities have increased significantly across the U.S., with higher crash rates observed at intersections with more nearby transit stops. This finding was also consistent in Utah, especially for far-side stops. This surprising finding challenges the common transit agency expectation that near-side stops are less safe due to potential vehicle conflicts and obstructed pedestrian visibility, highlighting the need for further analysis to better understand the impact of stop location on pedestrian safety and traffic operations. Therefore, this research investigates the impacts of near-side versus far-side transit stop locations on pedestrian safety and traffic operations at signalized intersections. Utilizing several thousand video-based behavioral observations in Utah, the study examines transit vehicle stop events, pedestrian crossing behaviors, and conflicts with vehicles. Findings indicate that far-side transit stops are generally better for traffic operations, as they minimize delays for other vehicles. However, transit departure delays are more likely and impactful at far-side stops. In terms of pedestrian safety, far-side stops pose greater risks, with more severe pedestrian-vehicle conflicts and lower driver compliance in yielding to pedestrians. These results suggest a need for a balanced approach that prioritizes safety improvements at far-side stops while accepting some operational inefficiencies at near-side stops. Strategies such as curb extensions, tighter corner radii, and traffic calming measures may help mitigate pedestrian risks at far-side stops, while near-side stops may be recommended in situations where pedestrian safety is a priority. This study underscores the importance of strategic transit stop placement, advocating for tailored urban design solutions to enhance safety and efficiency at signalized intersections.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • list the key factors that affect pedestrian safety, such as stop location (near-side vs. far-side), pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and driver yielding behaviors.
  • describe how near-side and far-side transit stop locations impact both traffic operations and pedestrian safety, including delays for transit vehicles and vehicle-pedestrian conflict severity.
  • demonstrate the application of urban design solutions like curb extensions, tighter corner radii, and traffic calming measures to reduce pedestrian risks at far-side stops.