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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
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Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-05-138
Date: July 2006 |
Shared-Use Path Level of Service CalculatorA User's GuidePDF Version (1298 KB) PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader® Download the Shared Use Path Level of Service Calculator (Microsoft® Excel® format) 4.20 MB
Research and Development Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
FOREWORDShared-use paths are paved, off-road facilities designed for travel by a variety of nonmotorized users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters, runners, and others. Shared-use path planners and designers face a serious challenge in determining how wide paths should be and whether the various modes of travel should be separated from each other. Currently, very little substantive guidance is available to aid in those decisions. This document describes how to use a new method to analyze the quality of service provided by shared-use paths of various widths that accommodate various travel mode splits. Given a count or an estimate of the overall path user volume in the design hour, the new method described here can provide the level of service (LOS) for path widths ranging from 2.4 to 6.1 meters (8.0 to 20.0 feet). The document describes in detail the input data needed to begin using the method, provides step-by-step instructions, and provides example applications of the new method. This document also describes how to use a spreadsheet calculation tool called SUPLOS that was also developed as part of the same effort and that is being circulated by the Federal Highway Administration. The information in this document should be of interest to planners, engineers, park and recreation professionals, and others involved in the planning, design, operation, and/or maintenance of shared-use paths. In addition, this document will be of interest to researchers investigating how to analyze multiple modes of travelers in a finite space with minimal traffic control. Michael F. Trentacoste Notice This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. Quality Assurance Statement The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors
TABLE OF CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION
2. AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH3. LOS FOR SHARED–USE PATHS
4. APPLYING THE MODEL TO YOUR TRAIL5. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE SHARED–USE PATH LOS CALCULATOR6. IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH FOR TRAIL DESIGN
7. EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS: FICTIONAL CASE STUDIES
APPENDIX A. STUDY TRAIL PROFILESAPPENDIX B. FACTORS USED IN THE LOS MODELAPPENDIX C. LOS LOOK–UP TABLESREFERENCES
LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1. Equation. Basic SUPLOS model Figure 2. Screen capture. Existing conditions LOS analysis Figure 3. Screen capture. LOS for selected design widths Figure 4. Screen capture. LOS for 10–year projected volumes and selected design widths
LIST OF TABLESTable 1. Variations in trail user volume Table 2. Variations in trail user mix (mode split) Table 3. Data profile for the average trail Table 4. Average speed by mode Table 6. Interpreting SUPLOS grades Table 7. Study trail level of service grades and characteristics Table 8. Correlation of trail widths and operational lanes Table 9. Selected cross sections Table 10. Volume and mode split estimates to test in the calculator Table 11. Factors used in the shared–use path LOS model Table 12. Shared–use path level of service look–up table, typical mode split Table 13. Shared–use path level of service look–up table, high bicycle mode split Table 14. Shared–use path level of service look–up table, high pedestrian mode split Table 15. Shared–use path service volume look–up table, typical mode split Table 16. Shared–use path service volume look–up table, high bicycle mode split Table 17. Shared–use path service volume look–up table, high pedestrian mode split
SHARED USE PATH LEVEL OF SERVICE CALCULATORDelayed Passings Input Output 1 Delayed Passings Input Output 2 Delayed Passings Input Output 3 Delayed Passings Input Output 4 Delayed Passings Input Output 5 Download the (Microsoft® Excel® format)
FHWA-HRT-05-138 |