CSTI 2018: Evaluating Bicycle, Pedestrian, Transit and Economic Data Collection Needs

Evaluating Bicycle, Pedestrian, Transit and Economic Data Collection Needs and Measures of Effectiveness in Pennsylvania

2018 Transportation Forum

civil and environmental engineering

Prepared By UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Mark J. Magalotti Ph.D., P.E. Principal Investigator Sabina Deitrick Ph.D. Co-Principal Investigator Michael Blackhurst Ph.D. P.E. Co-Principal Investigator

civil and environmental engineering

Purpose of the Project Evaluate Current Data Collection Procedures for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Utilized by PennDOT, MPOs and RPOs Assess whether Additional Data Collection could Support Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) for Planning and Design Activities.

civil and environmental engineering

Contents of the Presentation • Purpose of the Project • Literature Review • Current Pennsylvania Data collection Methods and Utilization • Development of Management Goals and Measures of Effectiveness for Pennsylvania-Survey Results • Case Studies of Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects • Recommendations

civil and environmental engineering

Purpose of the Project How Additional Data can Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning and Projects?

civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review – Academic Research Purpose – To Provide a Baseline of Information on Current Academic Research and General Practices

Areas of Literature Research • Academic Research • USDOT Polices and Guidance • State DOT, MPO and Local Government Practices

civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - Academic Research Travel Demand Model Methods

Challenges to use for bicycle and pedestrian projects: • Mode choices for biking and walking are often unclear and more complex • Difficult to predict a priority, making route assignment difficult. • Costs and benefits of biking and walking, related to health and environmental, are atypical of motorized travel and may be regionally and even project specific. civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - Academic Research Factors Impacting Mode Choice for Walking and Biking – Source 16 relatively well cited studies published since 2000 Choice

Mode (car, walk, bike, transit, carpool)

Route for biking

Estimated predictors of mode biking and/or walking

Demographic Built environment

Transportation design

Student (+) Male (+)

Cost (+)

Sidewalk availability (+)

Sidewalk slope (-) Age < 30 (+) Pop. density (+), Age 25-30 (+) Land use balance at destination for nonwork trips (+) Age 25-30 (+) Land use Diversity at origin for walking (+) Male (+) Retail floor area at origin for walking (+) Slope (-)

Walk or bike time (-) Walk or bike time (-) Connectivity (+) Cost (+)

Bike travel time (-), Walk time (-) Intersection density at origin for walking (+) Intersection density for bike (+) Traffic signals (-), Distance (-) Bike lane (+), Motorized Traffic volume (-), Bike facility (+), Right-of-way width (+), Stop sign (-) civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - Academic Research Bicycle and Pedestrian Levels of Service â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Highway Capacity Manual Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) and Pedestrian Level of Service (PLOS)

Issues Identified in BLOS and PLOS Usage

Appears to be a straight forward methods for prioritizing projects The scoring methods are difficult to understand and not ideal for users with a wide range of abilities and age Source: Asadi-Shekari et al.2013

civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - Academic Research Innovative Data Collection Techniques • Sensors attached with city bikes count trips 24/7 in Portland, • Recording gender, age, location and time of check out and drop off Chicago’s bike share program • Air sensors equipped with bicycles measures carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke, and particulates in Dublin.

• Bicycle stress map from road speed, number of car lanes, width and presence of bike lanes, and parking spots by Montgomery County, Maryland

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Literature Review - Academic Research Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) • • • •

Most commonly accepted method: LOS Most commonly used: Direct measurement of usage Ped LOS may be for sidewalk, crosswalk and mid-block Pedestrian activity using the D variables: development density, land use diversity, street network design, destination accessibility, distance to transit, and demographics.

civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - Academic Research Summary • There are new bicycle and pedestrian demand estimation methods within the traditional four step transportation planning model that are in development • Evolving analysis methodologies are being developed for PLOS, BLOS and Multi-modal LOS. • Project prioritization tools for both bicycle and pedestrian project ranking is an important area of research.

• System data collection tools to monitor usage, system characteristics and safety to measure benefits over time are a subject of current research. civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - USDOT Policies and Guidance Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Methods FHWA Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures 2016

civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - USDOT Policies and Guidance Data Collection Methods and Technologies The National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s (NCHRP) Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection [NCHRP Report 797 2014] • Methods and technologies for counting pedestrians and bicyclists • Guidance on developing a nonmotorized count program • Suggestions on selecting appropriate counting methods and technologies and • Examples of how organizations have used non-motorized count data to better fulfill their missions. civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review - USDOT Policies and Guidance Bike and Pedestrian Project Goals and Performance Measures Recommended by the USDOT FHWA Guidebook Performance Measures

Goals • Connectivity • Economic • Environment • Equity • Health • Livability • Safety

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Access to destinations Access to jobs Adherence to accessibility laws Adherence to traffic laws Average travel time Average trip length Connectivity index Crashes Crossing opportunities Delay Density of destinations Facility maintenance Job creation Land consumption Land value

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • •

Level of service Miles of ped./ bike facilities Mode split Network completeness Pedestrian space Person throughput Physical activity and health Pop. served by nonmotorized Retail impacts Route directness Street trees Serving disadvantaged populations User perceptions VMT impacts Volume civil and environmental engineering

Literature Review State DOT, MPO and Local Government Practices • DOTs generally provide the overall framework for bicycle and pedestrian planning and project support.

• Many MPOs’ practice relates to allocation of funds available for bicycle and pedestrian projects and how to prioritize these.

• Local governments in urban areas represent many of the more specific policies and practices in bicycle and pedestrian planning.

• The measurement of benefits for bicycle and pedestrian modes and projects is an evolving practice

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Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Evaluation of Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization PennDOT Policies and Practices PennDOT Design Manual, Part 2, Highway Design • Introduces pedestrian facilities and the relationship to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Guidance on the planning and development of bikeway construction projects • Discusses the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users that must be considered in designing all roadway projects civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization PennDOT Design Manual, Part 1, Planning Procedures • Goal to integrate the evaluation of the need and planning for bicycle and pedestrian facilities with the planning for other transportation modes • Bicycle-pedestrian group's goals and objectives as a responsibility of the Pre-TIP development procedure • Introduces the Bicycle and Pedestrian Checklist civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization

3. Other Publications Reviewed • Guidelines for the Design of Local Roads and Streets, PennDOT Publication 70M • PennDOT Traffic Signal Design Handbook, Publication 149 • Publication 46, PennDOT Traffic Engineering Manual • PennDOT Highway Safety Guidance Publications

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization

Other Publications Reviewed • Integrating Transportation and Land Use into Comprehensive Plans –A Handbook for Pennsylvania Municipalities • Pennsylvania Traffic Data Collection Annual Report (no bike or ped data) • Traffic Control - Pavement Markings and Signing Standards, PennDOT Publication 111M

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization The Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy Study, Pennsylvania State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Guides and strengthens PennDOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy for bicycles and pedestrians and establish new methods for policy implementation

PennDOT Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update from 2007

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization

Summary of PennDOT publications and policies related to Data and Planning • The Bicycle and Pedestrian Checklist from Design Manual

• Design guidance for intersections and traffic control devices that specify data collection for design purposes • Bicycle crash data for study and project development purposes • The TAC report that recommends that PennDOT establish MOEs and an updated project development process for bicycles and pedestrians is the most comprehensive framework in this area. civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Pennsylvania MPOs and RPOS • The Adams County MPO assesses the current system with respect to accessibility, use, capacity, connectivity, energy efficiency, and safety • The Centre County MPO LRTP has eight goals relating to safety, preservation, operations, connectivity, accessibility, context sensitive design, air quality, and economic vitality.

• Blair County has identified the need to increase active transportation opportunities for its residents to encourage a more active lifestyle.

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Measures of Effectiveness (MOE)

Harrisburg Area Transportation Study MOE civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Data Collection Plans and Methods • City of Pittsburgh conducts annual bike counts, which are done by the public and follow the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Process (NBPD) • Centre County MPO has a plan to conduct an inventory of missing links in the bicycle and pedestrian systems • HATS implemented the Bicycle Suitability Index (BSI) method to analyze supply and demand (high activity areas).

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Data Collection Plans and Methods • DVRPC performs short-duration bicycle and pedestrian counts as well as year-round counts with pneumatic tubes.

• Lancaster MPO calculates a BLOS score • The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is developing a regional bicycle and pedestrian plan

civil and environmental engineering

Current Pennsylvania Data Collection Methods and Utilization Summary • PennDOT does not have a uniform approach for collecting data or analyzing information except for the bicycle and pedestrian checklist.

• MPOs have established goals and MOEs for their regions and are supporting these by data collection efforts that include both direct collection by the agencies and volunteer efforts.

• MPOs also provide design guidance to local governments for the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs

The Development of Management Goals and Measures of Effectiveness for Pennsylvania • Survey of PennDOT, MPOs and RPOs • Evaluation of common management goals • Development of MOEs to support recommended goals

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Survey Purpose– Provide a Pennsylvania perspective on data collection and analysis methods • Identify the organization type responding to the survey (PennDOT, MPO, RPO) • Report the organization’s responsibilities in the project development process • Determine the action that initiates the consideration of bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the organization

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs

Survey Purpose– Provide a Pennsylvania perspective on data collection and analysis methods • Request information on the use of data and methods for planning and design • Obtain information on each organization’s goals and MOE’s • Request for information on specific projects for which bicycle and/or pedestrian data was collected and analyzed for case studies.

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs

Results - Reasons for Selecting Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Public input was the most cited reason for both types of organizations to consider the implementation of bicycle and pedestrian projects (all respondents) Public input

21

Safety concerns

16

Internal goals or interests

15

A need to allocated dedicated funding

10

Goals expected

8

Mode choice or volume forecast

4

Exepplary projects planned or completed

4

Others

4

Traveler survey

1 0

5

10

15

20

25

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs Familiar transportation planning methods and their usage level #

Question

1 Using transportation planning models to project trips and routes 2 The PennDOT design manual project development process 3 Ranking methods for funding of projects 4 Benefit cost analysis 5 Transportation System Analysis 6 Other

I am familiar with the method 35%

We use the method in roadway projects 6 53%

We use the Total method in bike and pedestrian projects 9 12% 2 17

42%

8

42%

8

16%

3

19

17%

3

44%

8

39%

7

18

45% 42%

9 8

40% 42%

8 8

15% 16%

3 3

20 19

0%

0

0%

0

0%

0

0

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs Priority sources of information used when planning bike and pedestrian features Other

1

Traveler surveys

1

Mode and/or travel demand forecasts

2

Equity

3

Design constraints imposed by roadways

5

Adherence to (ADA) accessibility laws

8

The potential benefits of biking or walking

11

The costs of bike and pedestrian features

13

Public input

14

Crash data

14

Features of the built environment

15 0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs Selection of resources or methods for transportation design

I am familiar with the method

We use the method in roadway projects

We use the method in bike and pedestrian projects

#

Question

Total

1

PennDOT design manual

40%

8

30%

6

30%

6

20

2

PennDOT bicycle and pedestrian checklist

37%

7

37%

7

26%

5

19

3

AASHTO design guides

47%

9

32%

6

21%

4

19

4

Highway Capacity Manual for vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, or multi-modal level of service

50%

8

44%

7

6%

1

16

5

NACTO design guides

71%

10

14%

2

14%

2

14

6

Other

100%

1

0%

0

0%

0

1

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs Considered Important Goals for Planning

#

Answer

1 2

Safety Connectivity Community development Public health Environmental performance Equity Other (list) Total

3 4 5 6 7

PennDOT % Count 90% 8 90% 8

MPO/RPO % Count 100% 12 100% 12

Total Count 20 20

44%

4

100%

12

16

22%

2

75%

9

11

33%

3

50%

6

9

11% 11% 100%

1 1 9

50% 8% 100%

6 1 12

7 2 21

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs

civil and environmental engineering

The Development of Management Goals and MOEs Survey Results Summary • Public input was the most cited reason to consider these types of projects • Features of the built environment were the most common consideration for planning bike and pedestrian features • Safety, connectivity, and community development were the top three goals cited by all the respondents

• PennDOT and the MPOs/RPOs were familiar available methods but few of them use any methods in bike and pedestrian project planning except ranking tools

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Project Case Studies Case Studies of Current Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects to Determine how Data is Currently Being Used

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Project Case Studies Evaluation criteria to identify projects:

• Projects completed for at least three years, in the 2010 – 2014 period with some data collection • Projects with >$500,000 in construction cost • Projects throughout the state • Different types of projects

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Project Case Studies

Project types Desired • • • • •

Sidewalk Transit Enhancement Bike lanes Trails Complete Streets/Streetscape

Through database provided by PennDOT and survey request, 20 potential projects were identified

civil and environmental engineering

Project Case Studies Final 5 Projects Selected Project Title

District

Planning Partner (MPO/RPO)

County

Municipality

Type of Project

Monument Square Streetscape Project Phase IV

2

SEDA-COG

Mifflin

Lewistown

Streetscape

Bedford Heritage Trail

9

Southern Alleghenies

Bedford

Bedford

Hike/Bike Trail

Lebanon Valley Rail Trail Phase 5

8

Lebanon LEBCO MPO

Lebanon

Lebanon

Bike Trail

Oswayo Valley SD Safe Routes to School

2

North Central

Potter

Schuylkill River Trail Manayunk Bridge Project

6

DVRPC

Philadelphia

Shinglehouse Lower Merion Township

Streetscape /SRTS Bicycle/ Pedestrian Trail

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Project Case Studies Project case study locations

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Project Case Studies Data Collected • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Project details, timeline Project cost and matching, over timeline Goals in project application Measures to assess goals Data collected Minimum counts needed Automated counting device and outcomes Survey results if conducted Analysis Methods of Data Economic impact analysis Safety measures Specific goals/outcomes Equity measures civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Funding sources for 5 projects Project Title Monument Square Streetscape Project Phase IV Bedford Heritage Trail Lebanon Valley Rail Trail Phase 5 Oswayo Valley SD Safe Routes to School Schuylkill River Trail Manayunk Bridge Project

Funding Sources PennDOT PA Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI), Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Local contributions, Liquid fuels Transportation Enhancement (TE), Federal Earmark funds, DCED Greenways, Trails and Recreation Funds Transportation Enhancements, DCNR Federal TE funds, Local funds

Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI), State Transportation Program (STP), Local funds, Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Natural Resources (DCNR), CMAQ, PennDOT civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Project title Monument Square Streetscape Project Phase IV

Major project and design features

Data collection

•

•

•

1,000 feet in length, with 49 precast concrete planters, 42 trees and 21 decorative light standards, Reclaim some parking and better facilitate handicapped parking

No additional pedestrian data collected for measures of success or MOEs, either before or after the project was completed.

civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Project title Bedford Heritage Trail

Major project and design features

Data collection

• • •

•

A shared use bike and walking trail, Parking and access locations, Destinations along the trail

•

Did not generate new data or additional data collection methods, Conducted an user survey

civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Project title

Major project and design features

Lebanon Valley • Rail Trail • Phase 5 • •

One-mile shared bicycle and pedestrian path through the city Six intersection crossings on the path Trail connection between 9th Street and Cumberland Avenue on the street Trail surface improvement of the old railroad right-of-way

Data collection • • • •

Conducted an user survey Estimated yearly trail user volumes through infrared counters Rails to Trails group maintains informal feedback and info via its website Collected safety data for the roadways crossings.

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Case Study Findings

Project title

Major project and design features

Oswayo Valley • SD Safe Routes • to School • •

New sidewalks Rehabilitated sidewalks Off-road walking paths connecting the schools to the adjacent neighborhood Improved crossings at intersections for pedestrians

Data collection •

• • •

Surveyed residents and parents to determine baseline conditions for school travel patterns, Conducted a walkability Check List, Public involvement was conducted through regular meetings.

A preliminary safety review was conducted by PennDOT

civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Project title Schuylkill River Trail Manayunk Bridge Project

Major project and design features •

• • • •

Data collection

New trail surfaces converting a portion • of a transit rail bridge to a bicycle/pedestrian bridge.

An entrance plaza and conduit for • future lighting Resurfacing of the trail head parking • lot.

Structural modifications to Bridge.

New lighting

Conducted a postcard survey of features desired on bridge Conducted numerous meetings with stakeholders Collected additional bicycle and pedestrian count data

civil and environmental engineering

Case Study Findings Data Collection Methods Summary

• User surveys either before or after the project to determine design characteristics of the project or user profiles after the project • Observation of current walking paths and routes to determine the needs and locations for walking facilities • Public meetings to gather information on user preferences for design features or project locations

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Case Study Findings Data Collection Methods Summary

• Data collection was limited in the planning and programming of all the projects • Projects that were extending previous phases did not collect new data for the planning and programming phase • Generally, for trail projects, the case studies suggest that less formal, less quantitative surveying or questionnaires are the norm • One user survey was conducted post completion of the projects

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Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

Provide Recommendations to improve the Project Development Process, Project Programming and PennDOT and MPO System Performance

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Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

Recommended Statewide Goals for Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel • Improve safety for bicycle and pedestrian modes of transportation.

• Provide a connected system of bicycle and pedestrian networks that promotes activity for all types of trip purposes including recreation.

• Promote community development through the implementation of bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects that benefit economic development, public health, and traveler choices

civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

MOEs to Track the Success of the Goals Recommended

• Measure and report safety data that reflects characteristics of changes in bicycle and pedestrian travel.

• Determine the connectivity of the bicycle and pedestrian networks and track the changes to the network.

• Report the measures of prioritization that projects submitted for funding scores to determine if funded projects meet the stated goals • Track the success rate and project development time from funding to implementation for bicycle and pedestrian projects. civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

Summary of Recommended Actions to Create Data to Support the MOEs • Develop an improved and enhanced database of information for pedestrian and bicycle crashes • Develop bicycle and pedestrian data publication standards (manual) for reporting, sample data conversion and provide a centralized repository for all data • During the project development process, measure existing bicycle and pedestrian usage, determine the number, type and causation factors of bicycle and pedestrian crashes and obtain data on the current roadway and right-of-way features

civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

Summary of Recommended Actions to Create Data to Support the MOEs â&#x20AC;˘ Develop an improved database of information for connectivity of the current built environment and current pedestrian/bicycle travel infrastructure â&#x20AC;˘ Support the planning phase for project development and create an asset management system tool for the current roadway and right-ofway features in the project area.

civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

PennDOT’s Role • Incorporate statewide goals of safety, connectivity and community development into the funding mechanisms

• Provide a central clearing repository of safety, connectivity, and economic development data to measure the MOEs statewide that are recommended • Report on street facilities and off road recreational facilities separately and provide an annual report on these MOEs

civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

MPOs and RPOs Responsibilities • Monitor the enhanced crash data provided by PennDOT for their region • Implement a project selection and prioritization method, to be developed jointly by PennDOT and the MPOs/RPOs in Pennsylvania • Develop and implement a regional data collection plan for bicycle and pedestrian usage • Create an asset management tool that measures the built environment to identify latent demand links and modes for the region. civil and environmental engineering

Recommendations to Improve the Project Development Process

Local Government Coordination â&#x20AC;˘ Provide technical assistance to local governments to develop a community bicycle and pedestrian long range plans â&#x20AC;˘ Consider a requirement that a connectivity evaluation be conducted by a local government or by the MPO/RPO prior to the consideration of a funding request for a specific project

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Thank You Questions?

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