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The National Academies

NCHRP 07-37 [Pending]

Modern and Proven Approaches to Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities

  Project Data
Funds: $800,000
Contract Time: 36 months
Staff Responsibility: Yi Zhao

BACKGROUND

The Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, 2nd ed., published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 2021, is a foundational resource for planning, designing, and operating sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use paths, etc. But pedestrian infrastructure planning and design practices are rapidly evolving as practitioners gain a deeper understanding of user needs and the transportation industry focuses more closely on the safety of vulnerable road users with support from many recently updated national and local policies. This trend necessitates continuous updates to the current guide to ensure information remains current, effective, and reflective of best practices.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiatives such as Safe System Approach, Complete Streets, and Vision Zero emphasize creating inclusive and safe environments for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted over 30 years ago, efforts to accommodate pedestrians of all ages and abilities are ongoing. Recent research and technological advancements have improved our understanding of how to make pedestrian facilities more hospitable, comfortable, and usable.

Additionally, several federal regulations, including the Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and the 11th edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) impact pedestrian facility design and operation substantially. Information from these sources needs to be incorporated and aligned with other AASHTO guides such as the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. This alignment will ensure consistency across national guidelines and support the development of pedestrian facilities that are safe, accessible, and meet the evolving needs of all users in accordance with current trends and regulatory changes.

Research is needed to identify and document new content from recent studies and proven approaches in a single document to support practitioners from state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other agencies, as well as transportation professionals from industry and academia, to incorporate these updates into pedestrian facility planning, design, and operational practices.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to investigate and promote modern, proven approaches and provide implementable guidelines for planning, designing, and operating pedestrian facilities. 

The research will focus on enhancing pedestrian safety, accessibility, and mobility in various contexts. Ultimately, this research seeks to develop a comprehensive resource document that will support practitioners in creating pedestrian-friendly spaces for people of all ages and abilities. The research shall include at least the following:

  • State-of-the-industry concepts, methods, and research to enhance pedestrian safety performance, network connectivity, and equity 
  • Context-sensitive approaches for evaluating pedestrian needs and selecting appropriate facilities that promote the pedestrian mode for all ages and abilities
  • Clear, actionable procedures to assist practitioners in planning, designing, and operating pedestrian facilities
  • Alignment with national regulations to support the development of pedestrian facilities that are safe, ADA-compliant, and responsive to evolving needs
  • Consistent, high-quality, and informative graphics that enhance readability and make the deliverables user-friendly

Accomplishment of the project objective will require at least the following tasks.

TASKS

The research will cover a wide range of topics relevant to the development, operation, and maintenance of pedestrian facilities. Given the multitude of potential topics for enhancement or addition, the proposer shall identify and prioritize these subjects. This project will also require substantial effort on the part of the panel to review and comment on the content of the deliverables. To ensure predictability for the panel to review the deliverables, the sequencing of tasks and deliverables shall be structured for delivery in quarterly progress report submissions, with a 3-year duration broken into 12 3-month quarters. 

PHASE I – Planning

Phase I of the project shall focus on establishing foundational elements of the research plan, estimated to last at least two project quarters. During this phase, the research team shall:

  • Develop a structured plan for gathering panel input at key stages of the project
  • Conduct a project kickoff meeting to discuss potential topics with the panel for the literature review and a best practices assessment
  • Perform a thorough evaluation of the existing guide to identify its strengths and weaknesses and a comprehensive literature and best practices review
  • Identify content gaps and explore best practices by analyzing state DOT and local agency manuals, as well as gathering insights from practitioners through surveys, interviews, or focus groups

Based on Phase I research, the research team will prepare a draft of the resource document to be developed in Phase II of the project. The research results contained in the draft resource document may be considered by AASHTO for the next update of the Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities (hereafter called AASHTO Deliverable).

The research team shall submit a draft annotated outline for the AASHTO Deliverable to demonstrate a thorough understanding of its content and development process, articulate identified gaps, and outline topics to be explored.

Proposers shall clearly present their intended schedule of deliverables. The Phase I deliverables shall include at a minimum (1) the Amplified Research Plan, (2) a kickoff meeting (with summary notes), (3) results of the existing guide review, (4) results of the literature and proven approaches reviews, (5) an annotated outline for the AASHTO Deliverable, and (6) a style guide.

 

PHASE II – Resource Development

Phase II is estimated to last approximately five quarters. The research team shall develop the first draft of the AASHTO Deliverable based on the approved Phase I interim report. This draft AASHTO Deliverable shall:

  • Be written from a pedestrian perspective, with language focused on the needs and capabilities of pedestrians
  • Encourage flexibility in application, provide detailed guidelines where possible, and include a set of typical design concepts or graphics to support implementation (hereafter called design typicals)
  • Feature high-quality, illustrative graphics in a suitable format

Proposers shall clearly outline their deliverable schedule, including:

  • One quarterly report with examples of completed content, including relevant exhibits for NCHRP review (either a section from each proposed chapter or a single complete chapter)
  • A virtual meeting following the NCHRP’s review of the quarterly report with example content
  • Multiple midcourse checkpoints allowing NCHRP feedback
  • Substantially complete portions of content for NCHRP feedback, focusing on new or extensively revised topics

The Phase II interim report shall include at a minimum a first draft of the AASHTO Deliverable supported with design typicals, exhibits, and a bibliography. Two months shall be reserved for review and NCHRP approval of the Phase II interim report.

PHASE III – AASHTO Deliverable Review and Refinement

Phase III is estimated to last approximately three quarters. The research team shall plan and conduct a 2-day workshop with the panel and at least 20 designated AASHTO committee members to review the first draft of the proposed AASHTO Deliverable. The participant list and draft agenda shall be provided to the NCHRP for review and approval. The draft AASHTO Deliverable will be shared with the selected participants before the workshop for review and comment. The collected comments will be shared with the research team before the workshop to process them.

The workshop shall provide participants an overview of the draft guide and engage their expertise through breakout sessions focused on specific subject matter areas, collecting input from practitioners on how to use the AASHTO Deliverable to address pedestrian planning, design, and/or operation in their daily responsibilities.

Following the workshop, the research team shall prepare a summary of the workshop activities, comments received, and actions to be taken. The research team shall then develop a second draft of the AASHTO Deliverable, incorporating the comments on the first draft and the outcomes of the workshop. The second draft shall highlight how practitioners’ inputs have been integrated.

PHASE IV – Final Products 

Phase IV is estimated to be accomplished in two project quarters. Based on the approved Phase III interim report, revise and develop the final (third draft) AASHTO Deliverable with design typicals, WITHOUT document layout/production software (e.g., InDesign). The format for the final AASHTO Deliverable shall be discussed with AASHTO staff.

Final deliverables shall include at a minimum: 

  1. A conduct of research report documenting the entire project and describing the deliverables, including future research needs and technical appendices or data as needed 
  2. The AASHTO Deliverable 
  3. PowerPoint presentation(s) with speaker notes that summarizes the project and deliverables and distinctly illustrates for the audience how the deliverables can be applied in their organization
  4. A technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”, including recommendations to support AASHTO, states, and localities in implementing the research product

 

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.

 

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