Framework for selection and evaluation of bicycle and pedestrian safety projects in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety (BPS) Program provides funds for implementing short-term, low-cost bicycle and pedestrian safety projects in Virginia. This initiative is administered by evaluating each project application on a case-by-case basis. The current evaluation process does not include a direct linkage between the selection criteria and conditions at the site that might be hazardous to non-motorized travel. This significant limitation has resulted in the desire for a new methodology for project selection and evaluation. This study developed a four-component framework for administering the BPS Program. In this framework, analysis procedures were identified for each component that can be used for identifying hazardous locations, determining causal factors, establishing performance measures, and determining potential countermeasures. The framework was then applied for selecting an appropriate safety treatment and for prioritizing a set of safety projects requested for funding. To demonstrate the applicability of the framework, five case studies were conducted at locations in and around Charlottesville, Virginia. The prioritization process was demonstrated using the results of the case studies. The study findings showed that the framework synthesizes existing practice into a systematic approach for identifying bicycle and pedestrian hazardous locations and selecting appropriate countermeasures for implementation. The study also established the need for evaluation studies on safety treatments after implementation, as the effectiveness of many bicycle and pedestrian safety countermeasures are not well established.