Daylighting

Daylighting refers to the marking or otherwise blocking off of space ahead of a crosswalk or intersection to increase visibility between people walking and driving and to shorten crossing distances. Daylighting simply formalizes where parking is already prohibited adjacent to crossing locations and can be installed at both intersection and midblock locations.

Tampa, FL (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.)	Boston, MA (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.)

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

• Increase safety (pedestrian)
• Invite public use

Typical Applications

• Intersections with high pedestrian activity and low visibility and sight distance
• Intersection design should facilitate eye contact between street users 

Material Options

• Striping and Surface Treatments
  • Demonstration
    • Sidewalk chalk
    • Cornstarch paint
    • Traffic tape
    • Tempera paint
    • Spray chalk
    • Spray paint
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Acrylic traffic paint
    • DLPM
    • Epoxy Gravel
    • Thermoplastic
• Vertical Barriers
  • Demonstration
    • Traffic cones
    • Traffic barrels
    • Freestanding delineators
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Concrete jersey barriers
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops

Design Considerations

• Fixed objects, such as trees, signs, and street furniture, deemed to inhibit the visibility of a given intersection and create safety concerns, should not be removed without the prior consideration of alternative safety¬ mitigation measures, including a reduction in traffic speeds, an increase in visibility through curb extensions or geometric design, or the addition of supplementary warning signs.
  • Usually, objects less than 24” tall do not inhibit visibility within 20’ of an intersection
• Daylight intersections by removing parking within 20-25 feet of the intersection, or about one parking spot.
• Bicycle parking, curb extensions, or bioswales can be integrated into daylighting areas.

Other Considerations

• Opportunity to include artistic elements and/or coordinate with a larger intersection mural project
• ADA accessibility of the sidewalks, curb ramps, and extension itself, particularly for pedestrians with visual impairments

Other Resources

• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide: Visibility/Sight Distance