walk friendly communities - marc

Walk Friendly CommunitiesData, Trends and Evaluation

Dan Gelinne

Walk Friendly Communities Workshop

Grandview, MO | June 2015

Module Overview

Topics

Background and purpose

– Why is data collection and measurement so

important?

Strategies

– What should we measure and should we do it?

Resources

– What tools and guides are available to help?

Exercise

2Data, Trends and Evaluation

Background and Purpose


Background and Purpose

Baseline data plays a critical role in:

– Project Funding and Prioritization

• All sites can’t be treated – where do we start?

– Goal Setting and Performance Measurement

• How can we tell if we’re making a difference?

– “Making the Case”

• Numbers and trends can tell a story


Data and Evaluation Strategies

1. Measuring Activity Using Mode Share

and Count Data

2. Measuring Safety Using Crash and

Injury Data

3. Collecting Facility Inventories

4. Evaluating Projects and Documenting

Success Stories


Mode Share and Counts

Why measure pedestrian activity?

Target projects in areas with more walking

– These locations may be at higher risk for

pedestrian crashes

Measure progress toward transportation

goals

– Setting a target mode share only works if you

can measure your progress

National-level data can be limited



How to measure activity?

Census and American

Communities Survey

provide general data

Counts can provide more

detail about trip patterns

and locations


Image from

elsongeles


US Census and American Communities

Survey

American Fact Finder

http://factfinder.census.gov/

Can be used to gauge overall progress but

collected infrequently, not location-specific



Pedestrian Counts

Counts can provide

more detail

Manual or automated

– Pros and cons

Adjust for seasonal

variability and other

factors


Detection

Image developed by Tony Hull

Count Program Example

Bike Walk Twin Cities

Count Report

Ongoing count program measures

citywide activity

40 count locations

Manual two-hour counts by trained

volunteers

Results show 23% increase in

pedestrian traffic from 2007-2012

More Information

www.bikewalktwincities.org

Minneapolis

Minnesota


Count Program Example

Arlington Bicycle and

Pedestrian Count Program

Automated counters

permanently installed at

18 locations, plus 6

mobile counters for short-

term sidewalk counts

Web dashboard allows

users to view counts by

location

More Information

www.bikearlington.com

Arlington

Virginia


Web dashboard for viewing count

results by location

Counting Resources

Guidebook on Pedestrian and

Bicyclist Volume Data

Collection

NCHRP Report 797

Monitoring Pedestrian and

Bicyclist Travel and Behavior

Transportation Research Board

Traffic Monitoring Guide,

Chapter 4

Federal Highway Administration


Crash and Safety Data

Crash data is typically available in most

communities

Most readily available pedestrian-level

data (when compared to exposure data)

Measure all crashes – not just fatal and

serious injuries

Analysis can help identify problem areas

Crashes are random and infrequent – look

at multiple years of data



Many factors to consider when

analyzing crashes

Pedestrian demographics (e.g.

age)

Pedestrian and driver action

Crash location

Injury type

Environmental factors (e.g.

lighting, weather conditions, etc.)14Data, Trends and Evaluation

From MARC

2013 analysis


Spatial analysis reveals high priority

intersections and corridors


From MARC 2013 analysisSan Francisco WalkFirst Priority Corridors

Crash Analysis Example

Pedestrian Crash AnalysisChicago

Illinois


Comprehensive analysis of

crashes 2005-2009

Based on earlier analysis from

2001-2005

Performed as initial step in

pedestrian plan development

More Information

www. chicagopedestrianplan.org

Crash Analysis Resources

Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash

Analysis Tool (PBCAT)


2013 Pedestrian Crash Analysis

Mid-America Regional Council

Fatality Analysis Reporting

System (FARS)

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration


Facility Inventories

Inventories provide another way to

measure the pedestrian environment

Facility inventories can be used to

Prioritize future improvements

Analyze pedestrian crashes

Fulfill Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA) requirements



Inventories should include

Sidewalks

– Presence and condition

Curb ramps

– Presence and condition

Signals

– Type (e.g. ped countdown)

Crosswalks

– Marking type and presence19Data, Trends and Evaluation

Facility map from Lee’s Summit

Facility Inventory Example

Sidewalk Inventory

Complete inventory of sidewalk

coverage and conditions

assessment

Data used to identify gaps and

prioritize new sidewalks

Also assessed compliance with

ADA requirements

More Information

www.cityofls.net

Lee’s Summit

Missouri


Evaluation Tools and Methods

Evaluation is key to measuring progress

Evaluation should be built into every

project

Site reviews and road safety audits can

provide information not captured by other

sources

New approaches using Health Impact

Assessments and Multimodal Level of

Service



Road Safety Audits and Field Reviews


Image from FHWA

Crash data doesn’t

capture everything

Field reviews allow

observations of

pedestrian and

driver behavior


Health Impact Assessments

Used to evaluate the anticipated health

outcomes of transportation projects

Multimodal Level of Service

More balanced approach than traditional

level of service (LOS)

Emphasizes (and prioritizes)

nonmotorized and transit users23Data, Trends and Evaluation


Before and After Studies

Examining the impact of a particular

project on metrics of interest, such as

– Crashes

– Speed

– Volume

– Economic impact

Provide critical information to help

justify/support future projects24Data, Trends and Evaluation

Project Evaluation Example

Pedestrian Environmental

Quality Index (PEQI)

Quantifies road and

environmental

characteristics to prioritize

improvements

Based on 31 indicators

that influence walking

Applications for public

health

More Information

www.sfhealthequity.org/

San Francisco

California


Project Evaluation Example

Pedestrian Environmental

Quality Index (PEQI)

San Francisco

California


Evaluation Tools and Resources


Evaluating Complete Streets

Projects: A Guide for

Practitioners

AARP / Smart Growth America

Pedestrian Road Safety Audit

Guidelines and Prompt Lists


Transportation Health Impact

Assessment Toolkit

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

Data Collection and Evaluation

Strategies

Mode Share and Count Data

Safety Trends and Crash Analysis




Exercise


walk friendly communities - marc

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