#30 Median Refuge Islands
- Duc Phan
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Median island treatments provide several functions with road safety benefits, including separation of two-way traffic, narrowing of lanes to encourage speed reduction, and refuges for pedestrians and potentially also cyclists. While such treatments may be flush and defined simply by pavement markings, a raised median or island is often more effective. Focusing on median islands as refuges at pedestrian crossing points enables pedestrians to cross the road in two stages, where they only need to monitor oncoming traffic in one direction per stage, and the crossing distance is shortened. Depending on the objectives, median pedestrian refuges are appropriate for a range of scenarios, including[1]:
Mid-block crossings and areas where pedestrian activity may not be concentrated at particular points
Sites where speed reduction is encouraged (traffic calming)
Wide and multi-lane crossings
Marked and unmarked crossing points
Signalised and unsignalised crossings, including intersections
Effectiveness
Safety benefits will vary according to many site-specific factors and the treatment design and specifications. However, research reported by the US Federal Highway Administration showed medians with a marked crosswalk produced a 46% reduction in reported pedestrian crashes, while pedestrian refuge islands were associated with a crash reduction of 56%. As well as enhancing pedestrian and potentially cyclist safety, median islands can also help to reduce the risk of head-on vehicle crashes.
Consideration
Capacity of a refuge island must be considered in the context of pedestrian traffic volumes. The refuge should be large enough to comfortably hold the expected maximum number of pedestrians at a given time.
Sight distance should be sufficient for drivers to detect the island and for pedestrians to see oncoming traffic with enough time to respond appropriately.
If implementation involves road or lane width narrowing, continuity of cycle lanes and space for cyclists should be considered.
Flush treatments are less restrictive of vehicle movements but also less protective of pedestrians. Raised medians often provide an opportunity to include barriers or fencing.
