Pedestrian Count Study - Downtown Raleigh Alliance

3. Methodology
3.1 Summary of Methodology
The methodology for the Raleigh Pedestrian Count was derived from
the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation project (NBPD)
standardized procedures. Count forms and incremental recordings mirror
NBPD models for tracking pedestrian activity.
The NBPD is a joint national effort by the Institute of Transportation
Engineers (ITE) Pedestrian & Bicycle Council, and Alta Planning + Design.
The NBPD identifi es a consistent count and survey methodology and
count dates, collects count and survey data nationwide, and analyzes
the data to identify walking and bicycling trends and patterns.
Data regarding where bicyclists and pedestrians live, trip purpose, trip
length, travel frequency, alternate modes, factors for route choice,
seasonal behavior, desires for improvements, and demographic data,
can help identify correlations and causations within travel behavior,
leading to more informed modeling, along with facilities and programs
that properly respond to community needs and conditions.
This study does not follow standardized procedures for selecting count
locations, as the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) selected this study’s
locations for specifi c reasons related to economic development.
However, the information collected will be added to the NBPD’s
database, contributing to the national data collection effort and serving
as a reference for other count studies. In the future, additional studies
conducted in Raleigh including surveying methods established by the
NBPD, will enable an in-depth analysis of travel patterns in the downtown
area.
3.2 Count Locations
Count locations were established by the DRA. The method for selecting
each location was determined by interest in pedestrian volume during
specifi c times of day. For the purpose of this study, pedestrian activity
(further defi ned as “bodies on the sidewalk”) was counted in the Core
Business District (Fayetteville Street District), as well as two late night/
entertainment districts: the Warehouse District and Glenwood South.
Pedestrian Study | Methodology-3.3