FORMALIZING NON- MOTORIZED DATA COLLECTION IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT- REDUX

FORMALIZING NON- FORMALIZING NON- MOTORIZED DATA MOTORIZED DATA COLLECTION IN A COLLECTION IN A

REGIONAL CONTEXT-REGIONAL CONTEXT-REDUXREDUX

A Bicyclist/Pedestrian A Bicyclist/Pedestrian Performance Monitoring Performance Monitoring System for the New York System for the New York

Metropolitan RegionMetropolitan Region A Presentation to Pro Walk/ Pro BikeA Presentation to Pro Walk/ Pro Bike

-Madison, Wisconsin--Madison, Wisconsin-September 2006September 2006

FORMALIZING DATA FORMALIZING DATA COLLECTIONCOLLECTION

Objectives For This PresentationObjectives For This Presentation Describe the development and refinement Describe the development and refinement

of a comprehensive data collection effort in of a comprehensive data collection effort in a large metropolitan area.a large metropolitan area.

Discuss issues corollary to the data Discuss issues corollary to the data collection effort.collection effort.

Have a give and take with you so I can learn Have a give and take with you so I can learn

what you have done.what you have done.


What is NYMTC?What is NYMTC?We are the We are the metropolitan planning metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for organization (MPO) for the ten county the ten county downstate region of downstate region of New York.New York.What do we do?What do we do?We perform We perform transportation transportation planning, collect and planning, collect and analyze data and analyze data and conduct regional and conduct regional and subregional studies.subregional studies.

FORMALIZING DATA FORMALIZING DATA COLLECTIONCOLLECTIONNYMTC RegionNYMTC Region

Ten CountiesTen Counties 12,068,148 population12,068,148 population 2,346 square miles2,346 square miles 5,144 persons per square mile5,144 persons per square mile


Bicycle and Pedestrian ActivitiesBicycle and Pedestrian Activities

Regional Level-Regional Level-• Regional Transportation PlanRegional Transportation Plan• Transportation Improvement ProgramTransportation Improvement Program• Unified Planning Work ProgramUnified Planning Work Program

Subregional Level-Subregional Level-• Facility planningFacility planning• System monitoringSystem monitoring


Other bike data collection efforts Other bike data collection efforts in the NYMTC regionin the NYMTC region

• Subregional agency and Subregional agency and advocate data collection advocate data collection

Data CharacteristicsData Characteristics

VolumesVolumes

User info.User info.

On and off roadOn and off road


MPO regional level data collectionMPO regional level data collection Idea for regional standardized data collection Idea for regional standardized data collection

began with input of MPO Bike/Pedestrian Working began with input of MPO Bike/Pedestrian Working Group and MPO staff.Group and MPO staff.

MPO staff worked on Regional Transportation Plan MPO staff worked on Regional Transportation Plan and saw need for data.and saw need for data.

Recurring question-How much is bicycling used?Recurring question-How much is bicycling used? Need to heighten awareness of public agencies.Need to heighten awareness of public agencies.


Overall Purpose of the Data Overall Purpose of the Data CollectionCollection

““The formulation of a data collection program The formulation of a data collection program that could be used on an annual, rotating basis that could be used on an annual, rotating basis without major revision based on location to be without major revision based on location to be counted or year of countcounted or year of count”.”.


The program must: be comprehensive

be able to record all necessary data

be useful on an annual, rotating basis

be flexible

be practical

be easy to implement

include contingency planning


What data do we collect?What data do we collect?

Number of users Direction of travel Type of user on multi-use trails

(bicyclists, pedestrians, roller-bladers etc).

Helmet usage Compliance with proper facility use Demographic characteristics of bicyclist,

by observation (male/female, child/adult, wheelchair user, etc.)


Have data from 352 locations Have data from 352 locations Weekdays and weekendsWeekdays and weekends a.m. peak period, p.m. peak a.m. peak period, p.m. peak

period, mid dayperiod, mid day Special surveys-interviewsSpecial surveys-interviews


How are the locations determined?How are the locations determined?Solicitation in winter prior to counting season.Solicitation in winter prior to counting season.

All MPO members and others invited to submit All MPO members and others invited to submit request for counts.request for counts.

Contractor visits sites prior to counting.Contractor visits sites prior to counting.


How is the data handled?How is the data handled?1. Field collection using analog counters or PDA2. Keypunch data into spreadsheet or dump data directly into PC3. Data checked for accuracy4. Create the CD using Microsoft Office FrontPage

FORMALIZING DATA COLLECTIONFORMALIZING DATA COLLECTIONInteractive map from Bike Data Collection CD



FORMALIZING DATA COLLECTIONFORMALIZING DATA COLLECTION


LogisticsLogistics Contractor’s Contractor’s forcesforces

Safety of Safety of surveyorssurveyors

Use clickers Use clickers Customize Customize

methodology to methodology to type of datatype of data

Contingency Contingency PlansPlans


CostCost

~$250,000 for 200 locations~$250,000 for 200 locations

(after initial development phase)(after initial development phase)


Future PlansFuture Plans Video Video

(incorporated into (incorporated into CD)CD)

Incorporate all Incorporate all other agencies other agencies data collection into data collection into this projectthis project


Phase 4- To begin Spring 2007. Will Phase 4- To begin Spring 2007. Will count at 250 locations.count at 250 locations.


What has resulted from the data What has resulted from the data collection effort?collection effort?

An informed discussion of bicycling An informed discussion of bicycling use trends.use trends.

Better data for project development Better data for project development including project selection for including project selection for Enhancements program, CMAQ Enhancements program, CMAQ program.program.

Inform the decision making process on Inform the decision making process on the staging and timing of projects.the staging and timing of projects.


For further information please contact:For further information please contact:Howard J.MannHoward J.MannAssociate Transportation AnalystAssociate Transportation AnalystNew York Metropolitan Transportation New York Metropolitan Transportation

CouncilCouncil199 Water Street 22199 Water Street 22ndnd Floor FloorNew York, NY 10038New York, NY [email protected]@dot.state.ny.us

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FORMALIZING NON- MOTORIZED DATA COLLECTION IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT- REDUX