Farrington Highway in Waianae is a pedestrian danger zone, according a just-released state draft master plan.

The heavily traveled thoroughfare — a straight stretch where drivers sometimes speed and don’t expect people crossing the street — was highlighted as a big safety problem area, the draft pedestrian master plan said. The highway had 22 pedestrian accidents between 2004 and 2008, 15 of which occurred in the northern half mile approaching Ala Walua Street.

"As far as the state roads, these areas are going to be prioritized," said state Department of Transportation spokesman Dan Meisenzahl, noting transportation officials will focus on the area for funding improvements for pedestrian safety.

Farrington was among the 13 "areas of concern" for pedestrians on Oahu while the neighbor islands had 18 such areas, according to the pedestrian master plan. This year, 15 pedestrians have died on Hawaii roads, 12 of them on Oahu. Two were on Maui, and one was on Hawaii island.

On Farrington Highway, the state has already tried to tackle pedestrian safety issues, Meisenzahl said, installing traffic light countdown timers for pedestrians.

"Research has shown that when pedestrians see only four seconds, they’re less likely to cross the street," said Meisenzahl, adding that the state also added signs for drivers, alerting them to a crosswalk.

The plan recommends restriping faded crosswalks, painting pavement markings such as stop lines and installing more pedestrian signs along the dangerous stretch. The plan also recommended that Walk Wise Hawaii, the state’s pedestrian and driver awareness program, be implemented along the Leeward Coast.

"Pedestrians, they’re almost, for lack of a better word, afterthoughts," Meisenzahl said. "Part of this effort is to make sure that when we’re planning our infrastructure, that pedestrians are an equal part of that plan. Perhaps instead of putting a road through a block, why don’t we just put a pedestrian walkway through instead?"

The plan has been in the works since February 2010, and is now available for public comment. The 93-page draft can be downloaded at www.hawaiipedplan.com. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 30.

Four factors were used in identifying pedestrian problem areas:

» Connectivity — areas with sidewalk system gaps;

» Accessibility — areas with heavy pedestrian traffic;

» Pedestrian-oriented populations — identifying groups likely to walk, including the elderly and low-income households;

» Safety — areas with high accident rates.

The plan was created in consultation with about a dozen members of a citizens advisory committee, made up of people and groups involved in pedestrian and driver safety, such as Linh DePledge, vice president of sales and marketing at Dtric Insurance and a committee member.

The citizens group and technical advisers gave "a lot of feedback to the DOT" on the study’s focus and methodology, she said.

The state held two separate series of public meetings on all islands to gain input and review existing conditions, Meisenzahl said.

Although the state will integrate the plan into its own projects, the counties do not have to follow suit.

"We’re really not going to dictate anything to the counties," Meisenzahl said. "But I’m sure that with some of the problem areas we’ve identified, the counties are already aware of. This is nothing binding, we’re trying to do the right thing and we know the counties are trying to do the right thing, too."

John Whalen, an urban planner in Honolulu for more than 40 years, was also part of the citizens’ advisory committee.

"I do think there is kind of a shift taking place," said Whalen, about pedestrian-oriented development. "I don’t think it’s over yet, but there is a realization in transportation departments in this state, particularly some of the people coming up through the ranks."

Whalen said there has been a lot of deferred maintenance on state highways. He said it’s a shame that Hawaii has such a high rate of pedestrian fatalities, while European countries stay generally low.

"They have very tough driver education programs; the emphasis is different in Europe," he said. "It’s tragic, too, when we have such a wonderful climate to support walking as a primary mode of transportation all year round."