What walk speed does MUTCD recommend?

MUTCD 2009 (Section 4E.06) specifies a minimum design walking speed of 3.5 ft/s (1.07 m/s). For locations with elderly or disabled pedestrians, 3.0 ft/s (0.91 m/s) is commonly used per ADA guidance.

What is the Pedestrian Change Interval (PCI)?

The PCI is the flashing DON'T WALK (or flashing upraised hand) phase during which a pedestrian who has already started crossing must be able to finish. It equals crossing distance divided by walk speed, minus any assumed head start during WALK.

What is the minimum WALK interval?

MUTCD requires a minimum 7-second WALK (solid) interval so pedestrians have time to leave the curb before the clearance phase begins. This calculator enforces that minimum.

Does this account for vehicle clearance or all-red phases?

No — this tool calculates only the pedestrian timing components (WALK + PCI). Vehicle clearance intervals and all-red phases must be added separately based on intersection geometry and speed.

How is the crossing distance measured?

Use the curb-to-curb distance across the lane(s) the pedestrian crosses — not the full roadway width. For multi-lane roads with a median refuge, calculate each segment separately.

Pedestrian Crossing Time Calculator

Enter crosswalk distance and pedestrian walk speed to get the minimum WALK and clearance times per MUTCD/HCM standards.

Crosswalk Parameters

Unit System

Crossing Distance (ft)

Curb-to-curb distance across the pedestrian crossing.

Walk Speed (ft/s)

Minimum WALK Interval (s)

MUTCD requires at least 7 s. Increase for busier locations.

Signal Timing Results

WALK Interval

—

seconds

Clearance (PCI)

—

seconds

Total Pedestrian Phase — s

WALK + Pedestrian Change Interval (flashing DON'T WALK)

Phase Timeline

WALK

PCI

0 s — —

Parameter	Value
Crossing distance	—
Walk speed	—
Raw crossing time	—
WALK interval	—
PCI (flashing DON'T WALK)	—
Total ped phase	—

Standards reference: MUTCD 2009 §4E.06 specifies a minimum 7-second WALK interval and a walk speed of 3.5 ft/s (1.07 m/s) for the PCI calculation. Accessible pedestrian signal (APS) installations often use 3.0 ft/s per PROWAG guidance. Add vehicle clearance and all-red intervals separately.

Summary

This calculator determines the minimum pedestrian signal timing for a crosswalk based on crossing distance and assumed walk speed. It computes the WALK interval and the Pedestrian Change Interval (flashing DON'T WALK / clearance time) following the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology. Results help traffic engineers verify that signal timing provides adequate time for pedestrians to cross safely.

How it works

Enter the crosswalk distance (curb-to-curb, in feet or meters).
Set the pedestrian walk speed — default 3.5 ft/s (1.07 m/s) per MUTCD, or 3.0 ft/s for accessible design.
The WALK interval shows how long the solid WALK symbol must be displayed.
The Pedestrian Change Interval (PCI) is the flashing DON'T WALK time needed to clear the crosswalk.
Total minimum pedestrian phase = WALK interval + PCI. Add buffer for real-world signal cycles.

Use cases

Verify crosswalk signal timing during traffic signal design.
Check compliance with MUTCD pedestrian clearance requirements.
Evaluate whether existing signal timing is safe for slower pedestrians.
Estimate phase durations when planning accessible pedestrian signals (APS).
Support safety audits at high-pedestrian-volume intersections.
Quickly compare timing needs for multiple crosswalk legs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-18 · Reviewed by Nham Vu