As the movement away from “car-only” design continues and more communities integrate Complete Streets planning and design, there is a challenge to collect the detailed data required to scale up from community engagement to actionable, biddable projects. The Town of Barrington, RI recently completed a comprehensive field assessment of its roadways using crowd-sourced data collected via a Survey123 webform. The project provided cost-effective data collection, but also provided public education and coalition building for increased advocacy and implementability. The fieldwork also resulted in Level of User Stress Assessment leading to prioritized capital investment.
The Survey123 form empowers trained volunteers to gather critical data about roadway characteristics, contributing to improved identification of gaps in existing transportation networks and prioritizing projects to improve multimodal transportation infrastructure. Volunteers used the form to record information on:
•Roadway features: Number of lanes, presence and condition of sidewalks and bike lanes •Traffic conditions: Vehicle speed, traffic volume •User experience: Perceived stress levels for cyclists and pedestrians
This crowdsourced data, aided by intentional cartographic choices for public engagement, provides valuable insights into the safety and usability of roadways for diverse users. By identifying areas with high stress levels or inadequate facilities, municipal planners and transportation authorities can prioritize improvements, ultimately creating safer and more accessible streets for residents and taxpayers.
