Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures - sacog

Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures
SACOG
4. Methodology for Pedestrian Level of
Service Analysis
Analysis Approach
After identifying the two models for use in the analysis and selecting the case study areas,
SACOG staff collected the data inputs necessary to evaluate the study areas. Data were
collected both in the field at the case study locations and through existing sources, such as
GIS files, Google Maps, aerial photos, and local jurisdiction data files.
After collecting the data, SACOG used the two models to analyze the data. In the Woodland
case study, the PPM model was used to analyze all segments. Then, a weighted PPM score
was calculated for the entire study area. For the MMLOS model, only segments with a
signalized intersection were evaluated. Therefore, a study area score was not computed,
only individual segment scores for the eight signalized segments. For the Roseville case
study, the PPM model was used to analyze all segments, and a weighted score was
computed for the entire study area. The MMLOS model was not used. Once the study areas
had been analyzed, SACOG staff compiled the results in tables (shown in Section 6. Results
of Pedestrian Level of Service Analysis) and began to draw conclusions about the results
(discussed in Section 7. Conclusions).
Multi‐Modal Level of Service (MMLOS) Model Methodology
The MMLOS model used for these case studies was developed in National Cooperative
Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 3‐70 and is used in the 2010 Highway Capacity
Manual (HCM). In this paper, it will be referred to as the MMLOS model.
The MMLOS model measures the degree to which the urban street design and operations
meet the needs of each major mode’s users (automobile, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit). A
combined LOS is not calculated; rather, each mode is considered separately and given an
individual score and corresponding LOS. Although the MMLOS model produces scores for
four modes, only the pedestrian score is reported in this analysis.
The pedestrian facility score comprises a segment score, an intersection score, and a
roadway crossing difficulty factor (RCDF), as indicated below.
Pedestrian Facility LOS = (0.318*Segment Score + 0.220*Intersection Score + 1.606) * (RCDF)
The pedestrian Segment Score is determined by the perceived separation between
pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Higher traffic speeds and higher traffic volumes reduce the
perceived separation. Physical barriers and parked cars between the traffic and the
pedestrians increase the perceived separation. The segment score considers the following
factors (relationship in parenthesis):
Issue Date: June 2011
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