How To Collect Bicycle And Pedestrian Data In Ohio

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1 Research Project Work Plan for Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle-Specific Data Collection Methods in Oregon SPR Submitted by Miguel Figliozzi Christopher M. Monsere Portland State University P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR for Oregon Department of Transportation Research Section 200 Hawthorne SE, Suite B-240 Salem, Oregon July,

2 Research Project Work Plan for Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle-Specific Data Collection Methods in Oregon 1.0 Identification 1.1 Organizations Sponsoring Research Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Planning and Research Unit 200 Hawthorne SE, Suite B-240 Salem, OR Phone: (503) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Washington, D.C Principal Investigator(s) Miguel Figliozzi Civil and Environmental Engineering Portland State University P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR Phone: (503) Christopher M. Monsere Civil and Environmental Engineering Portland State University P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR Phone: (503) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members Lyn Cornell, ODOT Research Coordinator, Chair, Sheila Lyons, ODOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Facility Specialist, Sue Geniesse, ODOT TGM Sr Transportation Planner, Gary Obery, ODOT Alternate Mode Traffic Engineer, Julie Yip, ODOT Safety Div - Safe Routes to School/Bicyclist/Pedestrian Safety, Steve Lindland, ODOT Roadway Engineering Unit Manager, Bruce Moody, FHWA Program and Management Analyst,

3 1.4 Friends of the Committee Margi Bradway, ODOT Sustainability Program Manager, TECHNICAL FRIENDS (topic specific): - Roger Geller Bicycle Coordinator, Portland Bureau of Transportation, topic: running and applying comprehensive manual bicycle counts - Peter Koonce: Portland Bureau of Transportation, topic: automated data capture using signals/detectors - Tom Jensen: Portland Bureau of Transportation, topic: management of data collection efforts 1.5 Project Coordinator Lyn Cornell, Research Coordinator Phone: Project Champion Sheila Lyons, ODOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Facility Specialist 2.0 Problem Statement As a policy objective, increasing pedestrian and bicycle mode shares produces a number of desirable outcomes, ranging from reduced congestion and infrastructure costs to improved air quality and population health. Recent estimates from the American Community Survey indicate that of the 1.7 million workers in Oregon, 2% commute to work by bicycle and 3.9% by walking though the rates are much higher in specific cities for bicycling (e.g. Corvallis 9.5%, Eugene 8.2%, Portland 5.2%, Medford 3.4%) and walking (e.g. Astoria 7.8%, Brookings 11.1%, Ontario 4.0%). To attract additional pedestrians and cyclists, existing literature suggests that infrastructure improvements to improve safety, connectivity, and comfort are needed [1]. Data are instrumental to demonstrate results and support cost/benefit analysis for these investment decisions. 2.1 Background and Significance of Work At ODOT and most local transportation agencies, there is extensive experience, equipment, and procedures to collect and analyze continuous and short duration motorized vehicle count data. These data have many valuable uses for the transportation agencies that collect them to support safety, forecasting, and performance monitoring activities. This is not the case for non-motorized travel. A growing number of city, county, and state staff are expressing interest and requesting pedestrian and bicycle count data to properly design improvements on sidewalks, crosswalk, cycle tracks, bike boxes, and signalized traffic crossings (green time allocation, pedestrian and bicycle-specific signals, and dedicated signal phases). In addition, non-motorized volume data are needed as a basis for planning a community s bicycle and pedestrian system, for the financial evaluation of new investments, as input for new safety analysis tools used in the AASHTO 3

4 Highway Safety Manual, to inform health assessments, and to assess multimodal transportation trends. The most common source of non-motorized data is volunteer counts taken for short duration periods, usually for 1-2 days, as part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project. Unfortunately, volunteer data collection efforts are too sporadic and unsystematic to address ODOT data needs for traffic, safety, or design studies or for system planning. Thus, current data sources are not even able to provide a clear picture regarding pedestrian and bicycle trip trends at the corridor level. Permanent data collection efforts are limited to a few major facilities that are bike-accessible and more often on recreational trails. Methods for strategically locating permanent count locations to identify appropriate groupings and factoring values have not been developed for Oregon. Research and experience suggest these values will have significant time-of-day, seasonal, facility, and geographic variations. For example, data from existing permanent data in urban areas indicate that peak pedestrian volumes take place at midday and do not coincide with peak motorized traffic volumes. There are important data gaps and there is a clear need for this research. A review of the literature indicates that similar research and implementation of pedestrian and bicycle-specific data collection are taking place in other states (e.g. Colorado and California) but not in Oregon[2][3][4]. The ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Assessment (PTA) report, released in July 2011, recognizes the need to enhance and implement bicycle and pedestrian data collection plans in Oregon [6]; in particular, the PTA report recommends that data collection efforts should concentrate on roadways with less emphasis on trails. 3.0 Objectives of the Study This proposal focuses on research and evaluation of pedestrian and bicycle available collection methods, data retrieval and storage, and data analysis. 3.1 Benefits The outcome of this research will be a plan for long-term implementation and data collection guidance. The implementation plan will achieve the following objectives: - Review best practices regarding statewide data collection programs and data collection technologies; - Recommend temporal sampling and factoring methods to adequately capture weather and seasonal effects as well as daily/hourly variations of pedestrian and bicycle volumes; - Recommend spatial sampling and factoring methods to adequately capture land use and street classification effects on pedestrian and bicycle volumes; and - Identify key Oregon data collection gaps and the minimum level of hardware placement to start a systematic bicycle and pedestrian counting program in the state of Oregon; and - Provide guidelines regarding location and data collection procedures. The outcomes of this research responds to recommendations recently made in the ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Assessment Report [6]. The primary emphasis of this research will be 4

5 placed on collecting data on bicycle and pedestrian trips on or near roadways and multi-use paths that serve a transportation purpose. 4.0 Implementation The first phase of the project includes a comprehensive review of best practices in statewide data collection efforts and bicycle and pedestrian data collection technologies. This review will be conducted to understand current best practices regarding data collection efforts, new technologies, and utilization of data collection equipment. The second phase of this proposed research will focus on sampling and factoring techniques. Pedestrian and bicycle counts do vary dramatically over time. In most cases significantly more than motorized vehicle counts. While adjustments and factoring of motor vehicle counts are widely applied by most transportation agencies, there is limited knowledge and understanding of specific pedestrian and bicycle methods (especially as they might apply to Oregon s climate and active population). For example peak pedestrian counts may be observed around lunch time and not during morning or evening rush hours. In terms of total counts, weather and seasons have an impact on pedestrian and bicycle counts (7). The location of the pilot study will be decided during Task 4 (Identify Oregon Data Collection Practices and Data Gaps) and in consultation with the TAC. The third phase of this proposed research will focus on documenting existing data sources in Oregon and identify data needs to develop statistically valid Oregon factors. A small pilot data collection study will be completed to demonstrate sampling and factoring methods. 5.0 TASKS, SCHEDULES, PRODUCT This work would begin by conducting a comprehensive review of pedestrian and bicycle data collection methods. A number of technological advances now allow for highly accurate automated pedestrian and bicycle counts; these new technologies include radar based and thermal based counting devices [5]. Successful completion of the research will include the following tasks: 1. Identification of Best Data Collection Programs Identify programs related to bike and pedestrian data collection and application areas (design, safety, planning, etc.) at other state DOTs and in northern European countries. Programs will be compared in terms of accuracy and cost. Duration: 2 months Deliverable: table(s) listing and comparing data collection programs 2. Review of Data Collection Technologies A comprehensive review of data collection technologies related to (a) pedestrian and (b) bicycle counts; description of existing (e.g. manual) and emerging technologies (e.g. thermal, 5

6 automated video counts, loop detectors, pedestrian push-button counting). Emphasis will be placed on bicycle and pedestrian trips on urban roadways, the evaluation criteria will include: User friendliness, data retrieval, data storage, and weather and vandalism resistance capabilities; Data analysis software and add-ons for trend analysis and pedestrian/bicycle classification tasks; Data accuracy (as evaluated by manufactures or testing equipment against video or manual collection methods); and Overall cost and performance. Duration: 3 months Deliverable: short report summarizing data collection technologies 3. Synthesis of Practice and Issues Regarding Spatial/Temporal Sampling and Factoring The research team will perform a literature review and then build on the information found in it to prepare a Synthesis of Practice regarding spatial and temporal sampling as a function of: (a) road type, (b) surrounding land use, and (c) bike/pedestrian volumes. The synthesis of practice will identify existing approaches to determine when, where, how long, and how often pedestrian and bicycle counts should be performed. The synthesis will also identify existing approaches for factoring, e.g. the adjustments and statistical analysis that must be introduced in order to estimate annual counts from short duration counts. In addition, the synthesis will identify differences among bicycle, pedestrian, and motorized vehicles factoring and sampling approaches. Duration: 3 months Deliverable: Tasks 1, 2, and 3 will be combined and delivered as an interim report 4. Identify Oregon Data Collection Practices, Data Gaps, and Data Needs A summary of existing bicycle and pedestrian data collection practices, data sources and data samples will be assembled and categorized in terms of spatial/temporal coverage. Based on the results of Tasks 1, 2, and 3 we will identify potential data gaps related to system planning, traffic signal operations, safety, and pedestrian and bicycle transportation facility design in Oregon. Interviews of ODOT (and other agencies) traffic monitoring staff regarding existing methods and procedures will be conducted to identify potential opportunities/synergies for coordinated data collection efforts (e.g. simultaneous deployment of vehicle traffic and bicycle tube counters). In addition, we propose to employ data from the latest OHAS (Oregon Household Activity Survey) to guide the location of data collection sites and determine data gaps. Duration: 3 months Deliverable: short report summarizing data gaps and needs 5. Develop Implementation Guidance for Pedestrian and Bicycle Count Data Collection Based on the results of previous tasks the research team will prepare an implementation plan and guidelines for pedestrian and bicycle count data collection that can be used by the Oregon 6

7 DOT and other agencies. The guidelines will include best practices and recommendations for data collection techniques, sampling, site selection procedures, and factoring. As part of this task, a small pilot data collection study will be completed to demonstrate sampling, site selection, and factoring methods. The location of the pilot study will be decided in consultation with the TAC. Pilot study description, data analysis, and findings will be included in the Task 5 interim report. Duration: 4 months Deliverable: interim report summarizing implementation guidance 6. Project Report The research team will prepare a draft project report, building on the interim deliverables from tasks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The research team will provide at least two weeks to receive comments from the TAC members. As part of this task, the Project Coordinator may request a TAC conference call to discuss draft project report comments. The research team will prepare a final project report based on comments from the TAC. As part of the final project report, the research team will prepare an executive summary containing key findings and recommendations as well as necessary graphics to communicate key ideas and findings. Duration: 3 months Deliverables: Draft Project Report and Final Project Report. The project cost estimate is $137,000 with an estimated duration of 15 months. 7

8 6.0 Time Schedule This section specifies the time line for the project, listing the task headings and showing monthly and/or quarterly time blocks in which each task will be accomplished. Also shown are interim and final deliverables (*). FY12 FY13 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Project Tasks Oct - Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sept Oct Dec Task 1: Identification of Best Data Collection Programs T Task 2: Review of Data Collection Technologies Task 3: Synthesis of Practice: Factoring Methods T Task 4: Identify Oregon Data and Data Collection Needs Task 5: Develop Implementation Guidance for Pedestrian/Bicycle Data Collect. * T Task 6: Final Report * * Major Deliverables T Proposed TAC meeting 8

9 7.0 Budget Estimate An itemized budget for the project is shown below by sponsor. The total amount is $137,000 Budget Total Personnel Faculty $ 22,294 Research Assistants $ 43,400 Total Salaries $ 65,694 Fringe Benefits Faculty $ 9,320 Students $ 2,826 Total Fringe Benefits $ 12,146 Total Personnel Costs $ 77,840 Travel $ 2,000 Services and Supplies $ 3,000 Student Tuition Waiver $ 16,468 Total Direct Costs $ 90,308 Indirect Costs (45.5%) (does not include tuition) $ 37,692 Total Project Costs $ 137,000 Estimated Cost by Task Breakdown: Task 1: 13% Task 2: 17% Task 3: 20% Task 4: 21% Task 5: 21% Task 6: 8% 9

10 REFERENCES 1. PUCHER, J. AND L. DIJKSTRA, PROMOTING SAFE WALKING AND CYCLING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH: LESSONS FROM THE NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, (9): P JONES, M. AND L. BUCKLAND, ESTIMATING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN DEMAND IN SAN DIEGO BPDP, BIKE AND PED DOCUMENTATION PROJECT, SCHNEIDER, R., ET AL., PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE DATA COLLECTION IN UNITED STATES COMMUNITIES: QUANTIFYING USE, SURVEYING USERS, AND DOCUMENTING FACILITY EXTENT. OFFICE OF NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, FHWA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, 2005., EC, ECO-COUNTER, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL ASSESSMENT REPORT FINAL REPORT, 7. FARHANA, A., ROSE, G., FIGLIOZZI, M., JAKOB, C., COMMUTER CYCLIST S SENSITIVITY TO CHANGES IN WEATHER: INSIGHT FROM TWO CITIES WITH DIFFERENT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, PROCEEDINGS OF THE 91ST TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING, WASHINGTON DC. USA, JANUARY