Quality of Service for Uninterrupted-Flow Pedestrian Facilities in Highway Capacity Manual 2000

Abstract

The objective of the research described in this paper was to develop the basis for revised operational analysis procedures for transportation facilities with pedestrian users where flow is not interrupted by traffic control devices. This paper contains both new and revised level-of-service (LOS) tables for analyzing various types of uninterrupted-flow pedestrian facilities. It details the results of a review and synthesis of American and international literature as part of a Federal Highway Administration study of pedestrian and bicycle facilities conducted by North Carolina State University between 1995 and 1998. The year 2000 edition of the U.S. Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) will incorporate, either directly or indirectly, most of the revised and synthesized information described in this paper. The research team recommends that the HCM revise the pedestrian walkway level of service to reflect the current literature. Proposed revisions include a decrease in the threshold for LOS A from 130 to 60 ft2/ped (12 to 5.6 m2/ped) and a change in the capacity level from 6 to 8 ft2/ped (0.6 to 0.75 m2/ped). The incorporation of a simplified walkway platoon level of service is recommended. In addition, given the different expectations of acceptable levels of platooning in transportation terminals, different LOS criteria are recommended for these facilities. A method of analyzing pedestrians on shared pedestrian-bicycle paths has also been identified. Although developed in the Netherlands, the procedure has been validated on at least one trail in the United States and is therefore recommended for inclusion in the HCM.