Evaluation Criteria
The project evaluation process is broken into three steps:
Step 1: Suitability Analysis
This step evaluates the overall bicycle and pedestrian supportiveness of an area in terms of safety measures, density, mix of uses, street connectivity, proximity to transit and other essential destinations like grocery stores, schools, senior housing and services, social services, major employment areas, colleges, hospitals, libraries and parks. The first step analysis allows the project to identify areas where pedestrian and bicycle improvements would likely have the highest impact on the largest number of existing and potential users.Step 2: Overlay Analysis
This next step will narrow potential projects by overlaying identified system deficiencies, specifically missing sidewalks and bike lanes, on the mapped suitability layer developing ranked improvement areas based on a composite score.
Step 3: Feasibility Analysis
This step will provide a more detailed examination of the potential projects in 1) the improvement on the level of service and/or resolving obstacles, and 2) the ease of implementation. More detail will be provided in later tasks as potential priority projects are evaluated.
Level of Service: Emphasizes reducing the number of obstacles that prohibit the greatest number of users from walking and cycling. Alternative improvement types will be evaluated based on their ability to reduce conflict and attract the greatest number of users.
Ease of Implementation: Emphasizes leveraging existing plans and funding sources. Specific considerations include, but are not limited to: right-of-way availability, public support, and funding competitiveness.
