New research lays the groundwork for a universal standard by which to measure effectiveness of bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects.

If it proves effective, the formula—from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center—could influence the allocation of funds to active transportation projects.
"[T]his model needs to be made more rigorous, but we have the beginning of something that’s uniform and can be applied consistently across jurisdictional boundaries. That’s especially important when you’re making tradeoffs," a researcher on the project explains in Next City.
The model evaluates projects by seven factors, including demand, equity, and mobility (defined as "the contribution the improvement makes to overall bike/pedestrian access").Each factor is assigned a value—with safety factors weighted highest—and tallied to yield an overall score.
Researchers have so far applied the method to 10 cities in Cook County, and will now submit the results to community feedback before expanding the study to other areas.
FULL STORY: Planning Method Offers Way to Prioritize Pedestrian, Bike Projects

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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