The Department of Public Works is expanding leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) at intersections around the city. There are currently 28 intersections in Richmond with LPIs — the city wants to increase that to 107.
LPIs at crosswalks provide a buffer for pedestrians, giving them a few seconds to legally walk before traffic lights change for vehicles. The head start provided to pedestrians makes them more visible to turning vehicles. DPW says that this extra visibility can reduce crashes involving pedestrians and cars by up to 60%.
The city calls this a low-cost and effective way to improve pedestrian safety. The majority of these new LPIs are planned for the areas around VCU and the Capitol.
