NJTIP @ RutgersEnvironmental Barrier Analysis

& Route Assessment

Louis HoffmanTraining Coordinator

Alan M. Voorhees Transportation CenterEdward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public

Policy

Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC)Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC)

• One of 17 research centers at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick

• Leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy in a variety of fields including transportation equity & options for transportation disadvantaged

• NJTIP joined VTC as NJTIP @ Rutgers in January 2013, offering travel training opportunities for a diverse audience seeking independence and an improved quality of life

VTC Transportation Equity WorkVTC Transportation Equity Work

VTC five-year transportation action plan:

“Meeting the Employment Transportation Needs

of People with Disabilities in New Jersey”

http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/documents/TransEq.DDS_Final_Report.pdf

Plan recommendations pursued by VTC:

• NJ Find A Ride/ NJ 211 transportation information website

• Travel Concierge Pilot

• NJ County Transportation: Expanding Resources to Improve Services

• Connect to Transit Training Pilot

Getting to Work Getting to Work VTC 2010/2011 Survey FindingsVTC 2010/2011 Survey Findings

• 76% of respondents felt strongly that transportation was important for their job search

• 40% reported refusing a job offer due to travel difficulties

• 25% reported leaving a job due to travel difficulties

NJ Bike Ped Resource Center

• Research Topics Include– Complete

Streets– Pedestrain

Safety Analysis– Biking Walking

Ambassadors

DOT, NJ Bike Ped Resource Center & NJTIP

• Collaboration to use NJTIP’s strangths• In the field knowledge• Knowledge of special and

individualized needs

Process

• Literature Review• Interviews• Tabulation of variables• Testing the application

Definition

• The study of the environmental conditions along a path of travel that is done prior to initiating the teaching of any route to a person with a disability or a senior citizen. Considered in the environmental analysis are the essential features and conditions along the path of travel (e.g., presence/absence of curb ramps; timing of any pedestrian control signals and vehicular traffic signals; salient landmarks; availability and location of shelter and safe havens; types of intersections and traffic flow patterns for street crossing) that may hinder or facilitate a person’s ability to travel. Using the results of this study of the environment the travel training instructor/travel trainer can design an instructional plan and route that considers the individual’s needs, the environmental conditions, and safety (ESPA, 2003).

Litertature Reviewed

• Geographically diverse• Many fields reviewed

– Engineering – Travel Training– Transportation Advocacy– TRIS/TRB– Conference Presentations

Structured Interviews

• 11 individuals from 9 travel instruction providers

• Geographically diverse• Organizationally diverse• Best Practices• In person• Telephone

Terminology

• Environmental Analysis• Barrier Analysis• Route Check• Route Assessment • Route & Scout

Need & Timing

• Before Training• During Training• After Training

Types of Barriers

• Potential Barriers e.g.• Physical and environmental barriers

e.g.• Social Barriers e.g.

Components

• On foot• Entire path of travel• Recording of observations• Sharing with other entities

– Most popular origins and destinations for paratransit

– Agencies that have many potential riders

Intersection Analysis

• Street width• Number of lanes• Time of day• Travel control• Bends, curves, hills• Variations of intersection• Avg vehicle speed

Intersection Analysis Cont’d

• Curb ramps• Visual screens• Signal timing• Turning vehicles

Street Crossing

• Stopping safely at corners• Scanning in all directions• Responding to stimuli• Using signals• Timing • Crosswalks• Continuing to scan• Speed • Completing the crossing

Data Recording

• Notes• Checklists• Narrative

• Beneficial for the agency– Turnover– Go back and refer to the data

Staff Training

• One element• Training done in real time• With clients• Used online tools

– Lots of variability in the type and length of training

Planning & Implementation

• As close as possible to first trip• Day and time• Use of online tools

Accident and Traffic Statistics

• Use of NHTSB database• Other databases

Decision points

• A point in the path of travel where one makes a choice

Other uses for data collected

• Government– DOT– Transit– Human Services

• Advocacy• Funding

Using EBA/RA outside of travel instruction

• Other agencies• Just the Planning & Barrier Analysis

elements• As needed• Extra revenue generator• Build on natural expertise

Variable formulation

• Collected info from customer database

• Detailed notes were taken for new route checks

• Variables were used from existing lists

• Variables were suggested by outside agencies

Variables List for eChecklist

Future Plans

• Incorporate feedback from ATI conference

• New database• Incorporate this data collection tool

in customer database• Complete streets