Prioritizing Pedestrian Projects with EasytoFind Data

1
Prioritizing Pedestrian Projectswith
Easy-to-Find Data

• Jamie ParksKittelson Associates, Inc.

2
Introduction

• Project prioritizing is important, but difficult
• Depends on demand AND facilities
• Demand data are scarce
• Existing data sources provide simple yet
  effective prioritization tools
• Based on Fort Myers, FL Pedestrian Master Plan

3
Prioritization Framework

• Two key factors potential and friendliness
• Potential land use and demographics
• Friendliness safe comfortable and convenient
  facilities
• Focus priorities on high-potential locations that
  lack adequate facilities

4
Pedestrian Priority Measures
5
Population Density
High-density areas
6
Recent Immigrant Populations
Immigrant Population Centers
7
Zero-Car Households
Low Auto Ownership Areas
8
Pedestrian Trip Generators
9
Pedestrian Demand Results

• Its not a modelbut the results are still
  convincing
• Other census data possibilities
• High-employment locations
• Age (identify concentrations of children and/or
  elderly)
• Other land use data can supplement
• Transit routes
• Parks
• Schools
• Etc.

10
Crash Analysis

• Geo-coded 600 crashes into GIS
• Evaluated crash densities and fatality locations
• Incorporate crash characteristics if possible

11
Pedestrian Crash History
12
Pedestrian Friendliness Index
13
Recommendations Pedestrian Improvement Priorities

• Safety improvements at high-crash locations
• Add sidewalks on busy streets and transit routes
• Connectivity and sidewalk improvements to local
  streets

14
Pedestrian Priority Areas
15
Conclusions

• GIS data increasingly available
• Census demographics
• easy to use
• good insights
• Dont settle for the data-free zone!

16
Thank You!

• Jamie Parks
• Kittelson Associates, Inc.
• [phone]
• jparks_at_kittelson.com