Emily Guenther Zach Olson Locating Unsafe Areas for

Emily Guenther Zach Olson Locating Unsafe Areas for Cyclists and Pedestrians in Monona, Wisconsin Laura Scott Cameron Wein Geography 578 Final Presentation

Study Area • Population of approximately 8000 residents • Four square miles of residential homes, commercial properties, and green space surrounded by the City of Madison • Because of its unique geography connecting East Madison to the Isthmus, Monona faces challenges in managing high traffic volume on its three main transportation corridors

Study Area

Background: Univer. City Alliance • The City of Monona has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to explore sustainable development across four areas: Housing and Development, Community Media, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation • Our role: To assist planners to better understand existing transportation infrastructure, with an emphasis on pedestrian and cyclist safety. • Why is this important? • In 2015, motor- vehicle related crashes claimed the lives of 5376 pedestrians and injured 70, 000. Motor-vehicle-related crashes injured 45, 000 bikers and claimed the lives of 818. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2017)

Background • “Livable Communities” is a relatively new concept in urban planning that encompasses a wide range of characteristics that describe a general quality of life • Elements: variety of housing types, quality health facilities and schools, reliable public transportation, access to shopping, recreation and culture, physical environment that fosters walking and cycling (AARP Public Policy Institute, 2015) • Benefits of walkable communities: reduced carbon emissions and vehicle related air and noise pollution, physical health and well-being, increased economic activity, higher home values

Question What are the unsafe areas for pedestrians and cyclists while traversing Monona?

Methodology Identify five factors that affect designation as unsafe: • Traffic Speed • Traffic Volume • Absence of Bike Lane/Sidewalk • Slope • Previous Accidents

Methodology 1. Identify unsafe areas for each data layer. 2. Assign scores of “ 0” (low risk) or “ 1” (high risk). 3. Merge data layers to assess total risk.

Traffic Speed • Traffic speeds derived from existing roadway data • Threshold: Speeds equal to or greater than 30 miles per hour were designated as potentially unsafe Areas of potential risk: Monona Drive, Stoughton Road, Broadway, Beltline Highway*

Traffic Volume • Traffic volume data was obtained from the Wisconsin DOT Interactive Traffic Map • Approximately 30 data points were added to existing road layer • Threshold: Locations with greater then 4000 daily vehicles were designated as potentially unsafe • Add map Areas of potential risk: Monona Drive, Stoughton Road, Broadway, Nichols Road, Bridge Road, Winnequah Road (south end)

Bike Routes • Bike routes defined as dedicated bike paths, bike lanes, or scenic trails • Corridors with established bike routes were scored “ 0” and those without bike routes were scored “ 1”

Sidewalks • Lack of sidewalks creates a potentially dangerous environment for pedestrians • Areas with sidewalks were scored “ 0” and areas lacking sidewalks were scored “ 1”

Slope • Contour map converted into DEM via interpolation • Calculated gradients from DEM • Established threshold of 7% grade( four degrees) • Locations greater or equal to a 7% gradient were determined to pose a potential risk • Reclassed to assign values of “ 1” to sites over 7% and sites less than 7% were assigned a value of “ 0”

Previous Accidents • 22 vehicle vs. bike accidents • 10 vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents • Accidents were officially recorded from 2010 -2016

Results: Pedestrian Safety • Score 0 -3

Results: Pedestrian Safety • Majority of Pedestrian Accidents along Monona Dr. • 1 on road with score of 0

Results: Bicycle Safety • Score 0 -3

Results: Bicycle Safety • Winnequah Road and Winnequah Trail are considered to have 0 risk • Scenic bike routes without any bike infrastructure

Results: Bike Accidents • Many Accidents on Monona Drive

Key Conclusions • Speed and Volume are the most dangerous factors for both Pedestrians and Bicyclists • Bike Infrastructure need to be added to shared bike path

Future Considerations • Affect of signage on pedestrian safety • Obstructions and condition of pavement • Crosswalks • Analysis using a more nuanced scoring system

References • AARP Public Policy Institute. Livable Communities: An Evaluation Guide. 2005. Accessed online 4/26/2017 • City of Monona. Official Website. Accessed online 4/30/2017 • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed online 4/24/2017. • State of Florida Department of Transportation. Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways. May 2013. Accessed online 4/6/2017. • State of Virginia Department of Transportation. Traffic Calming Guide for Local Residential Streets. October 2002. Accessed online 3/30/2017. State of Wisconsin • State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation: Interactive Traffic Count Map. Accessed online 4/4/2017.

Acknowledgements • Special thanks to Brad Bruun and the City of Monona