1367093 - Automated Multimodal Travel Movement Data Collection Techniques and Applications in the U.S.

With an increase in multimodal fatalities and data-driven transportation funding, state agencies are required to justify their investments with robust quantitative data and measures. Meanwhile, over the last 10 years, rates of pedestrian deaths on the roadway have been increasing by 54%. Thus, there is a critical need for accurate, reliable, and comprehensive information about multimodal travel movements to support the planning, design, and management of smart infrastructure as part of a larger regional surface transportation system. Irrespective of the application, collecting observational data for multiple modes is considered a challenging task due to the unorganized nature of multimodal traffic compared to purely vehicular traffic. In this study, the research team conducts a nation-wide outreach effort consisting of informal interviews with subject matter experts and Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Departments of Transportation employees who are involved with their own piloting studies. Outcomes of these reveal common interests and objectives among these organizations, as well as lessons learned. The outcomes of this study and interviews aim to guide decision makers including those within the city of Austin, TX regarding the piloting and deployment of multimodal detection technologies, as well as the use of related data for improving safety and operational efficiency.