Performance Measurement

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

Transportation agencies can use a wide range of performance measures to track the impact of their investments and ensure that they are meeting goals related to bicycling and walking. For decades, transportation project success was often measured using metrics focused on motor vehicle movement, such as delay, congestion, and level of service. As agencies expand their focus to include the needs of people walking, bicycling, and using transit, performance measurement methods are evolving to reflect a broader set of goals and travel experiences.

Selection of performance measures is a key step in the development of pedestrian and bicycle plans. The FHWA Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures provides 30 different metrics that help agencies track the impacts of projects on goals related to connectivity, economic growth, and safety. State, regional and local agencies can incorporate these measures into project prioritization and funding formulas to ensure that their investments are being directed toward projects that have a desirable and measurable impact. Setting targets for each measure allows agencies to routinely examine how their projects are helping to meet their goals.

Resources

Evaluating Complete Streets Projects: A Guide for Practitioners
National Complete Streets Coalition
Provides general steps to take in evaluating projects and discuss useful measures for common Complete Streets goals.

Estimating Effectiveness of Safety Treatments in the Absence of Crash Data: A Guide
National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Presents a guide for using alternative measures of safety for developing crash modification factors.

Guidebook for Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Helps communities develop performance measures that can integrate pedestrian and bicycle planning into ongoing performance management activities.

Guidebook for Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Shares methods for measuring networks and prioritizing opportunities to build connections.

Measuring New Mobility: Definitions, Indicators, Data Collection
International Transport Forum
Proposes a comprehensive classification of “New Mobility” services and vehicles, and identifies performance indicators.

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Examples

Indicators to Evaluate States' Support of Walking, Rolling and Active Kids
Safe Routes Partnership
Previews the 26 indicators used to evaluate each state in the 2024 edition of the Making Strides state report cards.

Integrating the Safe System Approach into California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Offers a case study of the Safe System Approach in California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Comparative Study on Communities with High Rates of Pedestrian Injuries
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Shares findings from a study on effective pedestrian safety strategies in various communities.

The Bicycle Network Analysis
PeopleForBikes
Helps communities generate metrics and set targets for improving bicycling networks.

State Safety Performance Targets
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Helps States set and report safety performance targets for nonmotorized fatalities and injuries.

More Examples >