Category: traffic signals

SacCity LPI location update

Dan AllisonLeave a comment

In 2018, I posted a list of leading pedestrian interval (LPI) locations (Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) signals), which were provided by the city. Today I field-checked those locations.

Two locations have apparently been removed, 29th & K, and 8th & Q. Six of the locations where I only indicated ‘and’ have LPIs on only one of the cross streets, and I have changed those to ‘at’, 9th at I, I at 10th, J at 10th, I at 13th, 15th at K, and Q at 9th. Three locations have LPIs for both cross streets, 10th & K, 9th & P, and 8th & P.

  • 9th Street at I Street: across 9th only
  • I Street at 10th Street: across I only
  • J Street at 10th Street: across J only
  • I Street at 13th Street: across I only
  • 15th Street at K Street: across 15th only
  • 29th Street and K Street: removed
  • 30th Street and K Street: both directions
  • 9th Street and P Street: both directions
  • Q Street at 9th Street: across Q only
  • 8th Street and P Street: both directions
  • 8th Street and Q Street: removed

The intersection of J Street at 13th has LPI across J. However, this intersection is unsafe for walkers since the signals allow southbound drivers on 13th Street to turn left across the sidewalk while the walk sign is on. This is the most common vehicle movement, and this is one of the most heavily used crosswalks in the central city since the convention center is on the southeast corner. This must be fixed. I have written before about this intersection (13th & J intersection), but nothing has been improved.

Other intersections of note are

  • 29th Street and K Street which has ‘wave or press’ pedestrian signing, but pedestrian signal is on auto-recall, which it should be.
  • L Street and 29th Street has no LPIs, but it does have an exclusive pedestrian phase on north leg only.

The Pocket Greenhaven Transportation Plan (2023-11) recommends three LPIs

  • Florin Rd & Rush River Dr
  • Greenhaven Dr & Rush River Dr
  • Pocket Rd & Little River Way

I don’t know the status of this project. It is odd that only three locations were recommended, out of dozens of location with new or modified traffic signals.

If readers know of other locations with leading pedestrian interval (LPI) signals, please comment on this post or email allisondan52@icloud.com.

SacCity LPI background

Dan AllisonLeave a comment

Previous posts on Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), in the City of Sacramento and more generally, at available at tag: LPI.

The Strong SacTown Street Design Standards Working Group has a team working on Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) at traffic signals. If LPI grabs your interest, I encourage you to join the working group. Meetings are posted on Luma, a calendaring application. Go to Luma (app or website: https://luma.com/strongsactown). The next working group group meeting is not listed there yet, but it is normally on the third Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM. Meetings are open to the public; one need not be a member of Strong SacTown or Strong Towns to join in (though you should be!).

The City of Sacramento has a Traffic Signal Operations and Standards page. The prose is garbled, to say the least. The linked documents have nothing to do with operations. It does not include a Traffic Signal Operations Manual (TSOM). Though the plan is supposed to be updated, it is not clear if it even exists.

Streets for People Active Transportation Plan (2025-08, page 105): “An evaluation of best practice to establish guidelines for leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) at signalized intersections is currently (2025) underway and will be included in the updated City of Sacramento Traffic Signal Operations Manual (TSOM). The TSOM and the guidelines for LPIs will be presented to the Active Transportation and Disability Advisory Commissions to allow for public discussion of the proposed standard practices.”

Vision Zero Action Plan Update Safety Improvement Strategies presentation includes the following graphic:

graphic for Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)
SacCity Vision Zero Action Plan Update, Safety Improvement Strategies, presentation, page 48

The Vision Zero Action Plan Update Top Collision Profiles and Countermeasures memo includes the following graphic, which has more detail. It is identified as Tier 3, Engineering Countermeasures, Managing conflicts in time.

SacCity Vision Zero Action Plan Update, Top Collision Profiles and Countermeasures, memo, Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), page 44

The Vision Zero Action Plan Update draft recommendations includes #9: “Update City Traffic Signal Operations Manual (TSOM) to reflect complete streets and designs reflective of reducing exposure, likelihood, and severity. Include application of Leading Pedestrian Intervals, No Right Turn on Red, Protected Left-Turn Phasing, Rest on Red, and other similar strategies.” Items 19 and 26 might also include LPIs, though they are not called out there.