BE SAFE BE SEEN Campaign Aims to Improve Pedestrian, Bicyclist Safety near I-35 Waco Construction Areas

You might have noticed more people out walking or riding bicycles these days. So, while construction continues along I-35 in Waco, keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe is more important than ever. The TxDOT Waco District’s BE SAFE BE SEEN Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative seeks to increase awareness and share resources about how to prevent and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. The initiative has six primary goals in support of its mission:

• increase awareness and outreach about the shared responsibility of drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to keep themselves and others safe on Waco-area roads;
• implement proactive communication and outreach with entities, organizations and businesses most directly impacted by TxDOT’s Waco 4B I-35 Reconstruction Project;
• develop a consistent and continuous model for information sharing;
• partner with local agencies, entities, organizations and businesses to conduct outreach;
• design and develop communication tools and products that are useful and meaningful to a diverse set of stakeholders; and evaluate program effectiveness.

The initiative recently implemented several tactics to support these goals, including:

• enhancement to the I-35 Waco Project 4B real-time map to include information specifically for pedestrians,
• pavement decals to assist with safe wayfinding for walkers and cyclists,
• “no pedestrian crossing” stencils on the concrete barriers in the construction areas,
• additional signage for open and closed paths in the construction zones, and
• barriers and fencing to guide foot and bike traffic along the designated paths.

BE SAFE BE SEEN is an international campaign for promoting safety education messages and awareness to communities around the world. Each community can tailor the campaign’s goals and tactics to fit local safety needs. In the Waco District, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) manages TxDOT’s initiative to keep local travelers safe. TTI has worked with CD&P, a public engagement firm in Austin, Texas, to implement some of the measures designed to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe in and near the construction project.

Installation of a pavement decal on a sidewalk in Waco.

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“The initiative serves to educate pedestrians and bicyclists about how to safely navigate construction zones,” notes Senior Research Scientist Tina Geiselbrecht, who leads the initiative for TTI. “The program also emphasizes the shared responsibility for all users — whether you’re a pedestrian, bicyclist or driver — to help keep each other safe.”

I-35 Waco Project 4B Real-Time Map Enhancement

The team created a real-time listing of I-35 pedestrian crossings in the construction zone to denote which crossings are open and which are closed. The list (and a corresponding graphical representation) are available on the I-35 Waco Project 4B real-time map. To access the crossing information from a computer, click on the three lines in the top right corner of the map and select “Waco I-35 Pedestrian Crossings” under “Menu” in the dropdown list. You’ll see the Waco I-35 Pedestrian Crossings sidebar, with green for active crossing, red for inactive crossing, and orange for shifting crossing/occasional closures.

The Waco I-35 Pedestrian Crossings accessible within the I-35 Waco Project 4B real-time map.

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Pavement Decals on Sidewalks in Waco

In addition to the 4B real-time map enhancement, the communication team discussed the idea for pavement decals, imprinted with a QR code linked to the 4B real-time map’s pedestrian information, to increase awareness of safety messages and the pedestrian crossing status. The pavement decals meet pedestrians and bicyclists where they’re most likely to see the safety messages — on the sidewalks they travel regularly.

Pavement decal displaying a safety message and a QR code to the I-35 Waco Project 4B real-time map.

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The team created the decals using BE SAFE BE SEEN artwork. The decals feature safety messages, such as “Stay Alive / Don’t Cross I-35 / When Walking & Biking in Waco.” Pavement decal installation occurred in 21 locations in and around the Waco 4B construction area, from 12th Street to North Loop 340. Additionally, some decals were installed on sidewalks maintained by the City of Waco and with their cooperation. The decals facilitate safe wayfinding for pedestrians and bicyclists who might be unaware that crossings have been altered recently or closed entirely.

“It’s been exciting working with TxDOT’s Waco District on their biggest pedestrian safety campaign to date,” says Jacqie Wilson, CD&P community engagement manager. “These resources help pedestrians and bicyclists immensely by providing them with information ahead of time. Instead of reaching a closed crossing and having to backtrack, pedestrians can use the correct route the first time.”

Stencils, Open/Closed Path Signage, and Barriers and Fencing

To drive home the changed environment, “no pedestrian crossing” stencils were installed on the concrete barriers along the frontage roads and mainlanes in the construction areas. The team added additional signage to show pedestrians where to cross in the construction zones and which paths are closed. Newly installed barriers and fencing also help guide pedestrians and bicyclists along safer paths.

No Pedestrian Crossings” stencils on concrete barriers in the Waco 4B construction zone.

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Targeting all modes of travel with multiple message platforms is helping the department improve traffic safety in the district during and after the construction effort.

“A top priority for TxDOT — Waco District is the safety of travelers, including bicyclists and pedestrians, as they navigate around the construction along I-35 in the Waco corridor,” says Jake Smith, public information officer for TxDOT’s Waco District. “TxDOT and its partners are committed to helping the community get to their destinations as safely as possible.”

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