SAFE TRANSPORTATION Pedestrian Refuge FOR EVERY PEDESTRIAN 

COUNTERMEASURE TECH SHEET 

Island 

A pedestrian refuge island is a median with a refuge 

area that is intended to help protect pedestrians who 

are crossing a multilane road. This countermeasure is 

sometimes referred to as a crossing island, refuge island, 

or pedestrian island. The presence of a pedestrian refuge 

island at a midblock location or intersection allows 

pedestrians to focus on one direction of traffc at a time 

as they cross, and gives them a place to wait for an 

adequate gap in oncoming traffc before fnishing the 

second phase of a crossing. 

Refuge islands are highly desirable for midblock pedestrian 

crossings on roads with four or more travel lanes, especially 

where speed limits are 35 mph or greater and/or where 

annual average daily traffc (AADT) is 9,000 or higher. They 

are also a candidate treatment option for uncontrolled 

pedestrian crossings on 3-lane or 2-lane roads that have 

high vehicle speeds or volumes. When installed at a 

midblock crossing, the island should be supplemented 

with a marked high-visibility crosswalk. 

June 2018, Updated | FHWA-SA-18-062
 

EDC-4 STEP: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/step.cfm 

Pedestrian Refuge Island 

CONSIDERATIONS 

The design must accommodate 

pedestrians with disabilities. Islands should 

be at least 4 feet wide (preferably 8 feet) 

and of adequate length to allow the 

anticipated number of pedestrians to stand 

and wait for gaps in traffc before crossing. 

The cut-through must include detectable 

warnings if island width is at least 6 feet. 

Islands should be illuminated or highlighted 

with street lights, signs, and/or refectors 

to ensure that they are visible to motorists. 

They can be constructed so that crossing 

pedestrians are directed to the right, so 

they can more easily view oncoming traffc 

after they are halfway through the crossing. 

If applicable, evaluate the impact of the 

island on bicycle facility design. 

COST 

The cost of a median island depends on its 

size and construction materials. The costs 

range from $2,140 to $41,170 per island, 

depending on the length of the island, with 

an average cost of $13,520. The average 

cost per square foot is approximately 

$10. Costs will be higher for concrete 

islands versus asphalt islands, though the 

lifespan of concrete is longer compared 

to the lifespan of asphalt. Cost reductions 

may be realized if the refuge island can 

be incorporated into planned roadway 

improvements or utility work. 

References 

Zegeer, C., R. Srinivasan, B. Lan, D. Carter, S. Smith, C. Sundstrom, N.J. Thirsk, J. Zegeer, C. Lyon, E. Ferguson, and R. Van Houten. (2017). NCHRP Report 841: Development of 

Crash Modifcation Factors for Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossing Treatments. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. 

Federal Highway Administration. (2013). “Crossing Islands” in PEDSAFE: Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System. Available: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/ 

PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=6 

Federal Highway Administration. “Medians and Pedestrian Crossing Islands in Urban and Suburban Areas.” Proven Safety Countermeasures. Available: https://safety.fhwa.dot. 

gov/provencountermeasures/fhwa_sa_12_011.cfm 

Bushell, M., Poole, B., Zegeer, C., & Rodriguez, D. (2013). Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure Improvements: A Resource for Researchers, Engineers, Planners, and 

the General Public. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.