Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures - sacog

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Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures SACOG 8. Next Steps This research project provided a good start to several efforts at SACOG: SACOG hopes to incorporate some of the major determinants of pedestrian LOS into its modeling software. SACOG anticipates conducting an analysis of pedestrian LOS throughout the region. For this effort, staff may develop a targeted pedestrian LOS model that uses the key factors identified in this research. Based on the amount of staff effort involved in this analysis, staff will be able to estimate the resources needed to conduct a pedestrian LOS analysis at a regional scale. This information will be valuable in applying for grant funds, and when seeking local agency involvement. The SACOG Transportation Committee recently directed staff to develop a way to identify regional priority bicycle and pedestrian projects. Assessing pedestrian LOS is one potential method to identify areas with the greatest infrastructure needs, particularly in areas with high pedestrian activity. Issue Date: June 2011 32
Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures SACOG 9. Potential Variables for Regional Collection In order to incorporate measures of pedestrian LOS into future SACOG modeling efforts, it will be necessary to collect, at the regional level, data inputs that affect pedestrian LOS. Because of the magnitude of such an undertaking, not all variables that affect pedestrian LOS can be collected. To remedy this, one of the main goals of this study was to identify the most important variables that can be collected regionally. These variables are listed and described below. While SACOG endeavors to collect and monitor as many of these variables as possible, the ability to do so largely depends on securing grant funding and leveraging local partnerships. Hence, these measures represent potential variables for regional collection. Although some measures, such as number of conflicts with other modes, were found to be significant determinants of pedestrian LOS, not all measures are appropriate for regional collection. For example, the cost of identifying all of the points of conflict between pedestrians and automobiles makes that variable all but impossible to collect at the regional level. Therefore, the measures we have identified below are not only significant variables, but also ones that SACOG feels would be feasible to collect regionally. 1. Presence and condition of sidewalks The presence and condition of sidewalks was heavily weighted in both the PPM and MMLOS models. Key considerations with this variable include: is there a sidewalk? Is the sidewalk continuous? How wide is the sidewalk? Are there obstructions on the sidewalk like utility poles or traffic light poles? Does the sidewalk have noticeable cracking or an uneven surface? Does the sidewalk include curb cuts? 2. Traffic volumes Pedestrians are more comfortable walking on streets with low traffic volumes. The greater the number of vehicles a pedestrian encounters when crossing the street, the greater the potential for conflict between pedestrians and vehicles. SACOG already maintains traffic volume data for some of the region’s roadways, and many local jurisdictions maintain this data for their own communities. Of all the significant variables identified, traffic volume is the only one that changes throughout the day. Although Average Daily Traffic (ADT) was used in the PPM and MMLOS models, collecting peak hour and ADT volumes would allow for measurement of pedestrian LOS during the highest volume times of the day (morning and evening rush hour) and during midday. 3. Buffers between vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic Although the PPM model and the MMLOS model defined buffers differently, it is clear that having separation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic improved the pedestrian LOS. Identifying where on‐street parking exists appears to be a promising way to measure this variable, as both models considered occupied on‐street parking a Issue Date: June 2011 33
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Application of New Pedestrian Level of Service Measures - sacog

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