Low-Cost Improvements Increase 

Yielding at Crosswalks in Michigan 

Michigan Department of Transportation

KEY ELEMENTS:

Quick implementation

Speed reduction

As part of its ongoing Toward Zero Deaths statewide 

safety campaign, the State of Michigan is focusing 

on reducing the number of pedestrian crashes 

and enhancing pedestrian safety. The Michigan 

Department of Transportation (MDOT) sought a lowcost, effective option for improving crossings for 

pedestrians and increasing driver yielding. MDOT 

installed the gateway treatment and engaged Western 

Michigan University (WMU) in a multi-year study of the 

new treatment’s impact.

IMPLEMENTATION 

The gateway treatment consists of multiple 

R1-6 signs installed at roadway edges 

and between travel lanes. R1-6 signs have 

yellow-green reflective material and read 

"Yield To (or Stop For) Pedestrians Within 

Crosswalk." Signs can be installed either 

on the curb, refuge island, or gutter pan, 

and on the roadway center line or lane 

markings (see Figure 1 for one possible 

configuration involving two same-direction 

motor vehicle lanes). On multilane roads, 

flexible delineators with reflective markings 

may be installed on the lane markings. 

The effect is to make R1-6 yield signs more 

visible to motorists and to visually narrow 

the lane with the signage. 

MDOT installed the gateway treatment 

at fifteen sites in south Michigan in 2013, 

including midblock crosswalks, trail 

crossings, unsignalized intersections, traffic 

circles, and ramp entrances. All of the 

sites had speed limits at or below 35 mph. 

Researchers studied multiple configurations 

of the gateway treatment on roads that 

varied by the number of lanes, lane width, 

presence of a median island, road speed, 

and location at midblock or intersection. 

WMU has performed multiple studies 

to evaluate the treatment’s overall 

effectiveness, including effectiveness of 

specific configurations and locations, 

long-term effects of the treatment, and the 

durability of the signs.

Figure 1. Gateway configuration of the R1-6 In-Street Pedestrian 

Crossing sign with two lanes in the same direction.1

For more information, please contact:

City of Ann Arbor, Systems Planning Department, 734.794.6430, 

https://www.a2gov.org/

 SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERY PEDESTRIAN CASE STUDY
EDC-4 STEP: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/step.cfm

Case Study: Low-Cost Improvements Increase Yielding at Crosswalks in Michigan 

References

1. Van Houten, R., Hochmuth, J., Dixon, D., McQuiston, C. “An Examination of the Effects of the Gateway R1-6 Treatment Effects on: Driver’s Yielding Right-of-Way to Pedestrians, 

Speed at Crosswalk, and Sign Durability Over Time.” Submitted for Publication in the ITE Journal June 19, 2017; Revised January 31, 2018.

2. CTC & Associates LLC, “Research Spotlight: Gateway treatment makes crosswalks safer for pedestrians.” May-2017. 

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/Spotlight_SPR_1638_1643_560921_7.pdf

3. Western Michigan University and T.Y. Lin International, “User Guide for R1-6 Gateway Treatment for Pedestrian Crossings.” Michigan Department of Transportation, Dec. 2016. 

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/SPR-1638_552736_7.pdf

RESULTS

The gateway treatment proved to be 

extremely effective at increasing yielding 

at multilane uncontrolled crosswalks—

comparable to the effect of a Rectangular 

Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) or a 

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB). Motorist 

yielding rates increased from the pretreatment average of 15 percent to an 

average of 75 percent, and the yielding 

effect persisted as temporary sites 

were made permanent. Other benefits 

included speed reduction. Vehicle speeds 

dropped between 4 and 10 mph, even 

without pedestrians present, and drivers 

made fewer sudden stops. The gateway 

treatment was found to be effective at 

intersections and midblock crossings 

for roadways with speeds of 30 mph or 

less and 35 mph roadways with Annual 

Average Daily Traffic below 12,000. 

Figure 2. Gateway configuration of the R1-6 in-street sign with a 

reflective delineator on the lane markings. Location: Nixon Road 

at Bluett Road, Ann Arbor, MI.1

The gateway study also found that the 

treatment’s benefits came from the 

combination of the "Yield to Pedestrians" 

message, perceived narrowing of the 

roadways and lanes, and improved 

visibility of the pedestrian crossing. Lower 

vehicle speeds had the effect of traffic 

calming and would likely reduce crash 

numbers and severity. Future research on 

the gateway treatment may focus on its 

crash reduction effectiveness. The gateway 

treatment costs an estimated $900 to 

$1,800 per site and takes between 15 and 

40 minutes to install. This treatment may 

take more or less time to install, depending 

on availability of a refuge island, whether 

the R1-6 signs will be mounted with a curb 

base, and if delineators will be used. The 

treatment can be easily removed in winter 

to allow for plowing and re-installed in 

spring. 

“The Gateway treatments have proven to be an 

inexpensive and effective tool to increase safety 

for pedestrians. They have slowed drivers at 

crosswalks, enabling them to be more aware of 

pedestrians and made it easier to stop allowing 

pedestrians safe passage.” 

–Eli Cooper, Transportation Program Manager, 

City of Ann Arbor, MI