Four Approaches to Starting a Successful Bike / Ped Counting Program 9/6/2018 Jean-Francois Rheault, Eco-Counter for 2018 Joint Policy Conference: Connecting the DOTs
What is the Eco-Counter perspective? Specializing in pedestrian and bicycle counting for 15+ years Over 800 organizations Clientele network across cities, counties, MPOs and state DOTs View of various program structures
PYRO-Box Urban POST CITIX ZELT TUBE MULTI Mobile MULTI Eco-DISPLAY Classic
Managing and Maintaining Planning Better understanding usage patterns, trends, and volumes Supplementing other data sources Surveys, Crash Data, GPS Traces, Manual Counts, etc. Establishing performance measures and tracking progress Infrastructure evaluation, maintenance, and prioritization Measuring the benefits or demand for facilities Identifying key zones and need for traffic control adjustments Communicating Promote cycling using data and infographics Counts to support funding requests and grants Data to increase awareness, show success, promote active transportation and active living
2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 980 Pre-treatment 2,200 Post-treatment 9/6/2018 6
Photo credit SFMTA
Cycletrack installed Increase of 35%
Source: WSDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Program database
How Have States DOTs started Bike / Ped Counting Programs?
17 organizations reviewed 8 cities, 5 MPOs, 4 State DOTs Other research, consulting, NGOs Experience range: 4 to 8 years Fleet range: 10 to 30+ counters
Strategy: Pilot Project Trial period to test technology, sites or management and reporting process Pro: flexible learning period, limited risk Con: next steps can be undefined
Strategy: Integrate with network Link count data collection with development of active transportation network: as sidewalks, bikeways and trails are built and rebuilt Pro: parallel processes for deployment Con: long-term can be unaccounted for
Strategy: Partnership or governance Distribute roles and responsibilities for count data collection among several stakeholders Pro: shared engagement and expertise Con: responsibilities and ownership can be unclear
Strategy: Comprehensive Plan Prior to deployment, outline major elements of count program (e.g. objectives, methodology, sites, technology, scope, implementation timeline, processes to manage data quality, reporting) Pro: program benefits from stakeholder consultation Con: development time and delayed deployment
STATE-LEVEL EXAMPLES
Pilot Network Partner State A Partner with local municipalities to monitor walking and cycling primarily on trail network 4 years, about 20 sites First project: 10 sites for permanent pedestrian and cyclists counters in first year, and 9 more in second Next wave: Year 3-4: additional 9 sites added and begin trial of portable counters Notes: Data shared through public web portal Strong technical knowledge of equipment and technology
Pilot Partner Plan State B Partnership with research institute, and locals, with comprehensive plan piloted in two phases 4 years, about 40 sites installed, 70 total First project: 30 site in on region: sidewalk and on-road Pedestrians and cyclists Equipment purchased by state, managed by agent and transfer ownership after 2 years Next wave: 2 nd phase: neighboring region finding stakeholders Notes: Period for evaluation and growth plan
Pilot Plan State C Pilot tests of equipment over multiple sites, feeding to a comprehensive strategy 9 years, about 25 sites First project: Mix of 18 counters (PYRO-Box, ZELT and MULTI) and site locations spread across urban, suburban and rural Collected requests for short-duration counts Next wave: Year 3-4: rapid expansion and doubling of fleet (including portable), install standards created Year 5-7: maintenance and piece-meal growth Notes: Review and recognition as part of a larger NMT monitoring strategy
Pilot Network State D Focus to develop short-duration count practices in pilot 7 years, 6 permanent sites and 30 short-duration First project: Single ped/bike counter in a trail and 3 more in Year 2 Next wave: Pilot to develop process with portable counters (bike and pedestrian) Measured at 30 locations grouped in typologies Notes: Developed an internal guide All procurement via contractors and traffic count service providers 9/6/2018 21
Documenting Best Practices
Conclusion Collecting counts helps to: - Understand - Decide - Justify Multiple good ways to get started: - Define your objectives - Reflect on what approach would be the more successful for your organization - Consider all options to get started
Thank you! «Whatever happens 2, 5, or 10 years down the road, the time to start long-form counting is now, so we have the earliest possible baseline to refer to.» David Patton, Arlington County Jean-Francois Rheault Director, North America Eco-Counter Phone: 514-849-9779 Toll-free: 1-866-518-4404 Email: jfr@eco-counter.com