Performance Measurement

RELATED TOPICS: Vision Zero, Connected Multimodal Networks, Plan Development

Transportation agencies can use a variety of performance measures to track the impact of their investments and assess progress toward goals related to bicycling and walking. Traditionally, agencies have measured the success of transportation projects using metrics such as traffic flow, travel times, and capacity. Expanding performance measurement to include walking, bicycling, and transit allows agencies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how their transportation systems serve all users.

Choosing appropriate performance measures is an important step in developing pedestrian and bicycle plans. The FHWA Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures outlines 30 different metrics that help agencies evaluate projects based on factors such as connectivity, economic activity, public health, and safety. State, regional, and local agencies can incorporate these measures into project selection and funding decisions to help guide investments toward projects with measurable benefits. Setting clear targets for each measure allows agencies to routinely assess progress and make data-driven decisions that support their overall transportation goals.

Resources

Evaluating Complete Streets Projects: A Guide for Practitioners discusses why and how to use performance metrics to assess projects through a Complete Streets lens.

Estimating Effectiveness of Safety Treatments in the Absence of Crash Data: A Guide presents a guide for using surrogate measures of safety for developing crash modification factors.

Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures helps communities develop and integrate active travel targets into their performance measurement.

Guidebook for Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity examines methods for analyzing and tracking the performance of bicycling and walking networks.

Measuring New Mobility: Definitions, Indicators, Data Collection proposes a comprehensive classification of services and vehicles, and identifies performance indicators.

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Examples

Comparative Study on Communities with High Rates of Pedestrian Injuries shares findings from a study on effective pedestrian safety strategies in various communities.

The Bicycle Network Analysis Tool allows communities to generate metrics and set targets for improving bicycling networks.

State Safety Performance Targets helps States set and report safety performance targets for nonmotorized fatalities and injuries.

Toward an Active California documents existing and potential performance measures related to bicycling and walking that can be incorporated into their Statewide planning process.

San Francisco, CA: Bicycle Comfort Index describes the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Bicycle Comfort Index evaluating street network segments.

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