Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Level Of Traffic Stress topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SRTC updates Level of Traffic Stress method; city and county data to be refreshed
Summary
SRTC said it will update its Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) ranking for the regional bicycle priority network using the WSDOT design manual and refreshed GIS inputs (lane widths, speeds, parking), with field checks and an expected completion by October.
Angela Paparazzo of SRTC briefed the board on an upcoming update to the region’s Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) analysis, a ranking system (1–4) for bicycle-route comfort.
"LTS is a ranking designation that is used to categorize the comfortability and accessibility of bicycle routes throughout the region," Paparazzo said, explaining SRTC will use the WSDOT design manual methodology and update the GIS database with lane width, travel lanes, speeds and parking information. The update will include manual field verification where aerial imagery is out of date.
Board members noted the City of Spokane performed a LTS study in 2017; SRTC said it will lean on existing local counts and a regional travel demand model as needed. Paparazzo said the update is intended to provide a data point to prioritize infrastructure investments and to help project sponsors identify improvements that could reduce LTS levels on targeted corridors.
Why it matters: an updated LTS map helps staff and advocates identify where design changes can best improve safety and accessibility, and it shapes which corridors are competitive in federal and regional funding rounds.
SRTC and board members discussed the analytical approach (use of aerial imagery versus in-field checks), available traffic-count sources (tube counts and city counts), and how planned-but-not-yet-built connectors are treated in the regional priority network. Paparazzo told the board SRTC expects to conclude the update by October and will post methodology and results to its ArcGIS hub when ready.
