Analysis of Walking Facility Performance Guidelines for Individuals with Disabilities

Walking facilities are important infrastructure in a community’s transportation systems. It is imperative to design and evaluate the effectiveness of these facilities to meet the walking needs of diverse pedestrian groups, including individuals with disabilities who represent a significant population in the United States. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) defines walking facility performance using a qualitative measure describing operational conditions, or level of service (LOS). However, pedestrian LOS thresholds do not account for bi-directional flows, pedestrian/environment spacing, or heterogeneous pedestrian characteristics. Such is the case as there is little research on diverse pedestrians’ behavior. In particular, there is very little empirical study of individuals with disabilities’ walking behavior and perceptions. As a result, how closely pedestrian LOS thresholds correspond to actual conditions have been shown to be inaccurate. The purpose of this study is to empirically compare individuals with disabilities’ perceptions of quality of service and observed walking behavior (including bi-directional pedestrian flow and pedestrian/environment spacing) with existing walking facility guidelines. Specifically, the objectives of this research are (1) identifying and quantify the effect of different pedestrian characteristics and walking behavior variables on the walkway level of service evaluations, and (2) examine and compare individuals with disabilities’ perceptions of walking facility performance with existing LOS design guidelines. This study will improve the operational guidelines used to assess walking facility performance, ultimately improving the design of walking facilities for heterogeneous populations including individuals with disabilities.

• Record URL:
  http://www.wmich.edu/transportationcenter/new-project-trclc-15-12
• Record URL:
  http://www.wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u883/2016/TRCLC_15_12_Report.pdf
• 

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $90001
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC60

  TRC-15-12

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities

  Western Michigan University
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49009-5316

  Western Michigan University

  1903 W. Michigan Avenue
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49008-5241
• Project Managers:

  Dunn, Denise

• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities

  Western Michigan University
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49009-5316

  Utah State University

  Logan, Utah  United States  84322
• Principal Investigators:

  Christensen, Keith

  Chen, Anthony

• Start Date: 20150701
• Expected Completion Date: 20160630
• Actual Completion Date: 20160630
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Subprogram: Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Design of specific facilities; Guidelines; Level of service; Pedestrian areas; Perception; Performance measurement; Persons with disabilities; Spacing; Traffic flow; Walkways
• Subject Areas: Design; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01590165
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC60, TRC-15-12
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 12 2016 7:33AM