Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures - sacog

Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures
SACOG
Woodland Case Study MMLOS Results
Eight segments in the study area included a signalized intersection and could be evaluated
by the MMLOS model. One segment scored LOS B, five scored LOS C, and two scored LOS D.
See Exhibits K and M for a complete list and maps of study area segments and their
corresponding LOS scores. An overall case study area score was not computed because not
all intersections/segments were included in the MMLOS model analysis. Appendix D shows
detailed scoring tables for each segment analyzed by the MMLOS model.
Cleveland St. from Main St. to Lincoln Ave. is the only segment to score LOS B. This score
was achieved through a combination of low traffic volume (4,500 ADT), narrow road width,
few left and right turning vehicles, a 25 mph speed limit, and on‐street parking.
The segments that scored LOS C are all two‐lane roads with a short pedestrian crossing
delay and few left‐ and right‐turning vehicles. All LOS C segments have on‐street parking and
a buffer between the curb and the sidewalk, which increase the perceived safety of
pedestrians. Finally, all LOS C segments are low‐speed streets, with posted speeds between
25 mph and 35 mph. For the California St. segments, high‐volume cross streets with speed
limits of 30 mph to 35 mph prevented a higher LOS. For the Court St. segments, high
average daily traffic (ADT) and longer block lengths prevented a higher LOS.
The segments that scored LOS D (Main Street segments) are four lanes with higher volumes
of left‐ and right‐ turning vehicles. These segments do not have on‐street parking to act as a
buffer for pedestrians. Even though the sidewalks are wider on Main Street than on the
higher scoring segments, the MMLOS model does not give preference to sidewalks wider
than five feet. Finally, these two segments experience higher traffic volumes (13,000 and
14,000 ADT), and one segment has a 35 mph posted speed limit.
It is interesting to note that the Cleveland St. segment is the only segment that scored the
same LOS in both the MMLOS model and the PPM model. This is discussed below in the
“Variation in LOS Score between MMLOS and PPM” section.
Variation in LOS Score between MMLOS and PPM
The MMLOS model and the PPM model consider different factors and weight factors
differently, causing variation in LOS scores for the same street segments. The most obvious
example of this is the Main Street segments, which scored LOS A in the PPM model and LOS
D in the MMLOS model. There are several reasons for this:
1) Traffic Volumes: the MMLOS model has an inverse relationship with traffic volume.
As traffic volume increases, LOS decreases. The Main Street segments carry the most
traffic in the study area, thus resulting in lower LOS. The PPM considers traffic
volume indirectly by assigning points in a step fashion, based on the automobile LOS
(i.e. LOS A, B, and C = 2 points, LOS D = 1 point, and LOS E, F = 0 points). Main Street
has an automobile LOS C thus scoring the highest amount of points for that category.
Issue Date: June 2011
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