Memorandum
Date January 24, 2014
To Efi Pagitsas, Traffic Analysis and Design Group Manager, MPO Staff
From Beth Isler, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and Livability Program Manager, MPO Staff
Re 2013 Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Collection
This memorandum summarizes the results of the 2013 bicycle and pedestrian count program.
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) collects data about the number of people who are biking and walking at locations throughout the region. The data are used to evaluate long-term volume trends, estimate bicycle and pedestrian demand, and assess changes in usage before and after projects are implemented. This information helps transportation planners and government officials make decisions for bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects, including project prioritization and funding allocation. It also helps to justify investment in bicycle and pedestrian facilities as an integral component of the region’s transportation network.
Although the MPO organizes counts only for the Boston region, it serves as a repository for counts gathered from throughout the state. Counts are generally collected by volunteers, municipalities, and other organizations and typically occur during the months of May, July, and September. The data are publicly available in the online Bicycle/Pedestrian Count Database, which can be accessed from the MPO’s website at www.bostonmpo.org.
This section describes how the count data is currently collected in the Boston region. Data are gathered for both off- and on-street users. Off-street counts record walkers and bicyclists on trails or shared-use paths. On-street counts collect the numbers of
Data were collected in May, July and September of 2013 according to the recommendations of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project (NBPD), an Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)-sanctioned program.
In 2013, 47 counts were conducted at 20 locations around the state, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Locations Counted in 2013
Municipality |
Count Location Description |
|
---|---|---|
1 |
Bedford |
Minuteman Trail - Between South Road and Wiggins Ave |
2 |
Cambridge |
Minuteman Trail - North of Route 2 / Alewife Station |
3 |
Lexington |
Minuteman Trail - Lexington Depot / East of Hancock St / Meriam St / Station Way |
4 |
Hudson |
Assabet River Trail - Rte 85 Crossing |
5 |
Boston |
Southwest Corridor Trail - 100 ft North of Heath St |
6 |
Cambridge |
Kendall Square - Broadway / Main St / 3rd St |
7 |
Southwick |
Congamond Rd and Rte 168 Crossing |
8 |
Arlington |
Minuteman Trail and Swan Place |
9 |
Salisbury |
Old Eastern Marsh Trail and Friedenfels Street |
10 |
Newburyport |
Clipper City Rail Trail at Washington Street |
11 |
Bedford |
Great Rd at South Rd |
12 |
Bedford |
Shawsheen Rd at Page Rd |
13 |
Bedford |
Concord Rd at Mcmahon Rd |
14 |
Methuen |
Methuen Rail Trail at Railroad St Parking Lot |
15 |
Needham |
Kendrick St. and Hunting Rd |
16 |
Westfield/ Southwick |
Columbia Greenway Rail Trail at Southwick Border |
17 |
Amesbury |
Amesbury Riverwalk/Powwow Walk |
18 |
Quincy |
Hancock Street at Washington Street |
19 |
Quincy |
Neponset Bridge at Quincy Shore Drive |
20 |
Quincy |
Wollaston Beach at 790 Quincy Shore Drive |
Of these locations, 14 are within the Boston MPO region and the remaining six are outside of the region. Eight locations are on-street while the rest are trails or shared-use paths.
The hour during which the highest volumes were observed was determined for each location; these volumes are shown in Figure 1. For the majority of weekend counts, the highest hour volumes occurred during midday (consistent with the NBPD project guidelines); during the weekday counts the highest hour volumes occurred during the afternoon (PM). Historical data and analysis of each of location counted in 2013 is provided in Appendix (attached).
Figure 1
2013 Volumes during Hour of Highest Observed Usage
As shown, the Minuteman Bikeway has the highest volumes of all the locations counted in 2013. However, the greatest number of all-day counts took place at locations along the Minuteman Bikeway, ensuring that the peak hour was captured. Other locations that were only counted for a couple hours may not have been recording peak usage.
Of the 11 day-long counts, nine took place on the weekend and all were on trails. The weekend data are shown in Figure 2, and the weekday data are show in Figure 3. The weekend trail data likely reflect recreational rather than commuter use.
In Figure 2, there is no obvious reason for the unique data line shown for the Minuteman Bikeway at Lexington Depot on the Sunday in May. The most likely reason would be a change in weather, although without more data there is no way of knowing.
Figure 2
2013 Weekend Day-Long Count Results
Figure 3
2013 Weekday Day-Long Count Results
The MPO plans to continue collecting bicycle and pedestrian data in 2014. Developing a more robust data-collection program is essential in order to help inform bicycling and walking planning and project prioritization.
BI/bi
TABLE 1
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 2007 | Sa | 4:30-5:30 | PM | 121 |
May 2008 | Sa | 9:45-10:45 | AM | 96 |
May 2008 | Tu | 12:15-1:15 | MID | 292 |
July 2008 | Sa | 9:45-10:45 | AM | 289 |
September 2008 | Sa | 3:00-4:00 | PM | 286 |
May 2009 | W | 11:45-12:45 | MID | 198 |
May 2009 | Sa | 12:15-1:15 | MID | 314 |
September 2009 | Su | 2:30-3:30 | MID | 399 |
September 2009 | Tu | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 187 |
July 2010 | Sa | 10:00-11:00 | AM | 336 |
July 2010 | Tu | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 131 |
September 2010 | Tu | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 144 |
May 2011 | Sa | 11:15-12:15 | MID | 253 |
May 2011 | Tu | 7:30-8:30 | AM | 34 |
July 2013 | Sa | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 210 |
FIGURE 1
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 2
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 3
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 2
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2008 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 664 |
May 2008 | Sa | 10:15-11:15 | MID | 221 |
July 2008 | Sa | 10:00-11:00 | MID | 230 |
May 2009 | Sa | 3:15-4:15 | PM | 241 |
July 2009 | W | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 465 |
July 2009 | Sa | 10:30-11:30 | MID | 312 |
May 2013 | Tu | 7:45-8:45 | AM | 676 |
FIGURE 4
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 5
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 6
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 3
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 1993 | Tu | 5:15-6:15 | PM | 124 |
May 1994 | M | 2:00-3:00 | MID | 678 |
July 1998 | Sa | 1:45-2:45 | MID | 431 |
July 1998 | Su | 2:00-3:00 | MID | 648 |
September 2007 | Sa | 9:30-10:30 | AM | 311 |
May 2008 | Sa | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 153 |
May 2008 | Tu | 6:00-7:00 | PM | 275 |
May 2008 | Sa | 3:30-4:30 | PM | 408 |
July 2008 | Sa | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 348 |
July 2008 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 334 |
September 2008 | Sa | 2:00-3:00 | MID | 349 |
May 2009 | Sa | 2:45-3:45 | MID | 338 |
May 2009 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 275 |
September 2009 | Sa | 3:00-4:00 | PM | 397 |
September 2009 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 223 |
May 2010 | Sa | 1:30-2:30 | MID | 495 |
May 2010 | Tu | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 150 |
September 2010 | Sa | 3:30-4:30 | PM | 462 |
May 2012 | Sa | 2:45-3:45 | MID | 588 |
September 2011 | Sa | 2:45-3:45 | MID | 487 |
September 2011 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 294 |
September 2012 | Th | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 232 |
September 2012 | Sa | 3:00-4:00 | PM | 462 |
May 2012 | Tu | 12:15-1:15 | MID | 122 |
May 2013 | Tu | 6:00-7:00 | PM | 333 |
May 2013 | Su | 4:00-5:00 | PM | 557 |
September 2013 | Th | 5:15-6:15 | PM | 177 |
September 2013 | Sa | 10:15-11:15 | MID | 371 |
FIGURE 7
12-Hour Weekend Counts
FIGURE 8
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 9
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 4
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2011 | Sa | 10:45-11:45 | MID | 314 |
May 2011 | Tu | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 167 |
July 2011 | Tu | 6:00-7:00 | PM | 243 |
July 2012 | Sa | 11:00-12:00 | MID | 383 |
July 2012 | Tu | 7:30-8:30 | AM | 246 |
May 2013 | Sa | 9:45-10:45 | AM | 227 |
May 2013 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 320 |
July 2013 | Sa | 3:15-4:15 | PM | 358 |
July 2013 | Tu | 6:00-7:00 | PM | 294 |
September 2013 | Sa | 9:45-10:45 | MID | 351 |
FIGURE 10
12-Hour Weekday Counts
FIGURE 11
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 12
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 5
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 2007 | Sa | 11:15-12:15 | MID | 70 |
May 2008 | Tu | 6:15-7:15 | PM | 102 |
July 2008 | Sa | 11:45-12:45 | MID | 58 |
July 2008 | Tu | 12:30-1:30 | MID | 41 |
September 2008 | Sa | 1:30-2:30 | MID | 61 |
May 2009 | Sa | 2:15-3:15 | MID | 82 |
May 2009 | W | 4:15-5:15 | PM | 59 |
September 2009 | Su | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 107 |
May 2010 | Sa | 10:45-11:45 | MID | 154 |
May 2010 | W | 10:45-11:45 | MID | 66 |
September 2010 | Sa | 1:45-2:45 | MID | 66 |
July 2011 | Sa | 1:30-2:30 | MID | 115 |
July 2011 | Tu | 9:00-10:00 | AM | 46 |
July 2012 | Sa | 10:30-11:30 | MID | 80 |
July 2012 | Tu | 9:00-10:00 | AM | 49 |
September 2012 | Sa | 2:45-3:45 | MID | 114 |
July 2013 | Sa | 10:30-11:30 | MID | 48 |
July 2013 | F | 6:15-7:15 | PM | 33 |
September 2013 | Sa | 10:30-11:30 | MID | 107 |
FIGURE 13
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 14
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 6
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2005 | Tu | 8:30-9:30 | AM | 97 |
May 2009 | W | 8:45-9:45 | AM | 175 |
May 2010 | Sa | 1:00-2:00 | MID | 167 |
May 2010 | Tu | 9:00-10:00 | AM | 199 |
September 2010 | Tu | 6:15-7:15 | PM | 290 |
July 2012 | Th | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 264 |
July 2012 | Sa | 12:45-1:45 | MID | 108 |
September 2012 | W | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 373 |
September 2012 | Th | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 372 |
September 2012 | Sa | 1:45-2:45 | MID | 127 |
May 2013 | W | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 151 |
May 2013 | Th | 8:45-9:45 | AM | 129 |
FIGURE 15
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 16
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 7
Peak Hour Volumes
Day, Month-Year | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|
Weds, May 1976 | 9:45-10:45 | AM | 65 |
Thurs, May 1981 | 5:15-6:15 | PM | 110 |
Tues, May 1987 | 9:00-10:00 | AM | 141 |
Weds, May 1992 | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 143 |
Sat, July 2013 | 1:00-2:00 | MID | 69 |
FIGURE 17
Peak Hour Bicycle Volumes
TABLE 8
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 2009 | Su | 11:30-12:30 | MID | 55 |
May 2010 | Sa | 12:30-1:30 | MID | 86 |
May 2010 | Tu | 9:15-10:15 | AM | 11 |
July 2010 | Sa | 10:00-11:00 | MID | 79 |
July 2011 | Sa | 10:45-11:45 | MID | 135 |
September 2012 | Tu | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 82 |
September 2012 | Th | 6:15-7:15 | PM | 91 |
September 2012 | Su | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 227 |
May 2013 | Tu | 5:45-6:45 | PM | 106 |
May 2013 | Th | 4:45-5:45 | PM | 14 |
May 2013 | Su | 1:30-2:30 | MID | 188 |
September 2013 | Sa | 11:00-12:00 | MID | 141 |
September 2013 | Tu | 4:00-5:00 | PM | 34 |
FIGURE 18
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 19
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 20
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 9
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2011 | Sa | 8:45-9:45 | AM | 51 |
May 2013 | M | 5:15-6:15 | PM | 40 |
May 2013 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 61 |
May 2013 | Sa | 10:30-11:30 | MID | 56 |
FIGURE 21
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 22
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 23
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 10
Peak Hour Volumes
Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2010 | Tu | 11:45-12:45 | MID | 62 |
July 2013 | Sa | 10:15-11:15 | MID | 145 |
July 2013 | Su | 4:00-5:00 | PM | 159 |
FIGURE 24
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 25
Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 11
Peak Hour Volumes
Location | Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GREAT RD AT SOUTH RD | September 2012 | Tu | 7:15-8:15 | AM | 17 |
GREAT RD AT SOUTH RD | May 2013 | M | 7:15-8:15 | AM | 16 |
GREAT RD AT SOUTH RD | May 2013 | Tu | 7:15-8:15 | AM | 25 |
SHAWSHEEN RD AT PAGE RD | September 2012 | W | 7:30-8:30 | AM | 18 |
SHAWSHEEN RD AT PAGE RD | May 2013 | M | 7:15-8:15 | AM | 6 |
CONCORD RD AT MCMAHON RD | September 2012 | W | 7:30-8:30 | AM | 31 |
CONCORD RD AT MCMAHON RD | May 2013 | F | 7:15-8:15 | AM | 15 |
FIGURE 26
Weekday Peak Hour Bicycle Volumes
TABLE 12
Peak Hour Volumes
Date | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
07-MAY-2013 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | pm | 17 |
09-MAY-2013 | Th | 4:45-5:45 | pm | 8 |
11-MAY-2013 | Sa | 2:00-3:00 | mid | 12 |
FIGURE 27
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 28
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 13
Peak Hour Volumes
Date | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
07-JUL-2013 | Su | 9:45-10:45 | AM | 92 |
04-JUL-2013 | Th | 1:45-2:45 | MID | 37 |
05-JUL-2013 | F | 12:45-1:45 | MID | 16 |
06-JUL-2013 | Sa | 12:45-1:45 | MID | 27 |
11-AUG-2013 | Su | 9:00-10:00 | AM | 106 |
12-SEP-2013 | Th | 4:00-5:00 | PM | 62 |
FIGURE 29
Weekday Peak Hour Bicycle Volumes
FIGURE 30
Weekend Peak Hour Bicycle Volumes
TABLE 14
Peak Hour Volumes
Date | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
11-MAY-2013 | Sa | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 28 |
07-MAY-2013 | Tu | 5:30-6:30 | PM | 64 |
09-MAY-2013 | Th | 5:00-6:00 | PM | 15 |
FIGURE 31
12-Hour Counts
FIGURE 32
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
FIGURE 33
Weekend Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 15
Peak Hour Volumes
Date | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
10-SEP-2013 | Tu | 4:15-5:15 | PM | 27 |
FIGURE 34
Weekday Peak Hour Volumes
TABLE 16
Peak Hour Volumes
Location | Month-Year | Day | Peak Hour | Period | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HANCOCK STREET AT WASHINGTON STREET | September 2013 | W | 4:00-5:00 | PM | 17 |
NEPONSET BRIDGE AT QUINCY SHORE DRIVE | September 2013 | W | 8:00-9:00 | AM | 18 |
WOLLASTON BEACH AT 790 QUINCY SHORE DRIVE | September 2013 | W | 5:00-6:00 | PM | 16 |
NEPONSET BRIDGE AT QUINCY SHORE DRIVE | September 2013 | Sa | 12:00-1:00 | MID | 13 |
FIGURE 35
Peak Hour Bicycle Volumes