How to measure

Pedestrian LOS is scored along five criteria, each receiving a score from A-F. Within the City of Fort Collins, land uses are required to have separate minimum scores for each criterion. 1) Directness of pedestrian trip (actual trip distance ÷ minimum distance as the crow flies, measured between trip origins within the development under study and destinations such as schools, commercial centers, recreational facilities, etc.). Figure 1, right, shows how different street layouts would score under this measure. 2) Sidewalk continuity and width (completeness of the sidewalk system, measuring physical consistency, type of sidewalk and visual connection between blocks). 3) Quality and frequency of street crossings, including number of lanes, crosswalk presence and quality, signal head visibility, and lighting at intersection. Fort Collins uses a separate “Crosswalk Treatment Identification Process” to assess mid-block and unsignalized intersections.

4) Visual interest and amenities, including landscaping,

street furniture, and public art.

5) Security features based on lighting level, sight distance,

separation from vehicles, and proximity to high-volume,

high-speed traffic lanes.

Multi-Modal Level of Service Toolkit

Figure 1: Directness in urban form (Fort Collins Pedestrian Plan, 2011)

Fort Collins MMLOS Manual – Pedestrian LOS

Overview

Fort Collins created MMLOS standards for its streets in the late 1990s and has continued to refine them. Fort Collins

standards consider both route characteristics and land use characteristics; high-priority land uses, such as public

schools, require higher LOS for pedestrian and bicycle modes.

Advantages

New development achieves connectivity and continuity goals

Reduces City’s capital infrastructure burdens (developments must meet LOS standards to win approval)

Educates developers, engineers and planners; promotes buy-in among professionals

Creates better interconnectivity between modes, higher modal splits

Sample Applications

Development Review: Multi-modal LOS analysis is required for improvements to arterial roads and for all public and private development in Fort Collins. The City may require private developments to provide off-site improvements if their sites do not meet minimum standards for pedestrian and bicycle LOS. Pedestrian Planning: Fort Collins’ 2011 Pedestrian Plan uses the City’s MMLOS standards to establish policies and design guidelines for pedestrian infrastructure improvement. Land use designations within the City include separate standards for each of the five Pedestrian LOS criteria, as shown in Figure 2. Table 1: Pedestrian LOS Standards (from City of Fort Collins Pedestrian Plan, 2011)

Land Use

Factor

Directness Continuity Street

Crossing

Visual Interest

and Amenity

Security

Pedestrian Districts A A B A A

Activity

Centers/Corridors B B C B B

School Walking Areas B B B C B

Transit Corridors B C C C B

Other Areas C C C C C

Disadvantages

Harder to enforce when economy, demand for development are weak

Can be difficult to implement in infill areas

Qualitative criteria (for pedestrian LOS) can be inconsistent

Requires defined pedestrian networks, congestion/transportation demand management plan

Applications

General Plans Pedestrian Plans Development review Transportation Master Plans

Data Requirements

Field measurement of pedestrian trip length from site origins to two to five destinations.

Existing pedestrian plan

Presence of sidewalk

Data on street crossings (crosswalk presence, type, etc.)

Frequency of amenities and safety features