The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) is announcing the addition of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) and signal timing enhancements in the downtown area. These changes aim to optimize signal timings for 108 intersections in Downtown Nashville in accordance with the Vision Zero Implementation Plan and Connect Downtown Action Plan and provide a safer experience for people walking.
A main objective of the signal timing changes is to implement Leading Pedestrian Intervals at all signals identified. The LPIs provide pedestrians a head start to enter the crosswalk prior to vehicles moving. This allows pedestrians to better establish their presence and be more visible in a crosswalk prior to a vehicle making a turn. LPIs have been proven to reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes at intersections by 13 percent by providing the following benefits:
- Reduced conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles.
- Increased compliance by motorists yielding to pedestrians.
- Enhanced protection for pedestrians with slower mobility.
The new signal timing plans will also optimize vehicular efficiency by improving signal coordination. By collecting data movements across various times of the day, NDOT can ensure drivers receive more consecutive green lights along corridors for smoother traffic flow.
“This project is a great example of how we are leveraging data to improve both safety and efficiency hand-in-hand,” said NDOT Assistant Chief Engineer Derek Hagerty. “It’s possible for us to prioritize safety for people walking, while at the same time making our signals operate better for people driving, and we’re excited to continue rolling these improvements out across the entire city.”
District 19 Council Member Jacob Kupin, who represents the downtown core, said the improvements prioritize the safety of Nashvillians and visitors to the city. “Pedestrian safety is a top priority for Downtown. With the hundreds of thousands of people who regularly visit, live, and work in this area, continuing to enhance safety measures is essential. I appreciate NDOT’s efforts to prioritize innovation in pedestrian safety, and their work on optimizing signal timings demonstrates their continued commitment to protecting our downtown community.”
The signal timing updates will be deployed over a two-month period in sections of 20 signals at a time to allow engineering staff to make observations and field changes based on early feedback. These improvements are designed to benefit everyone using our roads, ultimately enhancing downtown travel conditions.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell expressed his support for the changes and said they align with key goals in Nashville’s 'Choose How You Move' plan. "Even as we build new sidewalks in Bellevue or improve intersections in North Nashville, we know that we continue to see incredibly high pedestrian activity in downtown, and Connect Downtown offered us plenty of important strategies to improve safety for people walking or driving in downtown. I'm glad we're taking this small, important step for safety.
To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov