WSDOT - Active Transportation Data Level of Traffic Stress

Assignment of LTS ranking to WA state highway segments was undertaken to aid in efforts to analyze high-level systemic safety and user acceptance of state highways for active transportation users. This data was also intended to inform high-level prioritization of active transportation improvements. Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) data rank highway segments from 1 to 4 based on roadway characteristics, with LTS 1 being most suited to active travel. LTS 1 was deemed suitable for all ages and abilities by WSDOT. LTS 2 is considered suitable for most active travelers. LTS 3 and 4 represent functional gaps in active transportation networks that present systemic safety issues and likely deter use of active modes. The data provided is not a substitute for detailed investigation of a location when specific investment decisions are being considered. The specific characteristics of locations with the same LTS rankings could vary considerably. It is important to note that an LTS 1 or 2 location might have additional, unmeasured characteristics that reduce its presumed suitability for active travel.Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) was described in the 2021 WSDOT Active Transportation Plan (ATP) with methodology outlined in Appendix D. This data updates the data and methods used for the ATP with additional considerations based on:Furth, P. G., Putta, T. V., & Moser, P. (2018). Measuring low-stress connectivity in terms of bike-accessible jobs and potential bike-to-work trips: A case study evaluating alternative bike route alignments in northern Delaware. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2018.1159. The current methodology assigns LTS rankings to roadway segments based on a combination of posted speed, traffic volume, and number of travel lanes. In addition, the presence of bike lanes of 5’ or greater was used to generate Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (BLTS) rankings. Pedestrian Level of Traffic Stress (PLTS) was calculated using the presence of sidewalks as indicated in WSDOT enterprise sidewalk data. Ramp segments are included in the dataset with a default LTS ranking of 999. This ranking indicates that all ramps are to be considered high LTS (3 or 4) unless a manual evaluation of the roadway characteristics indicates otherwise. Datasets were not available that would enable ramp rankings to be determined systematically based on posted speed, traffic volume, and number of travel lanes, however a manual review of many ramp configurations across the state indicated that most ramps present LTS concerns.For additional information regarding ranking methodology or other questions about WSDOT’s Level of Traffic Stress dataset, contact: [email protected].

Data and Resources

Additional Info

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Source https://geo.wa.gov/maps/WSDOT::wsdot-active-transportation-data-level-of-traffic-stress
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Shared (this field will be removed in the future) Open
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GUID https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=36ba1d681bbb46f0a5792b9ff9dac21b&sublayer=2
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dcat_issued 2022-06-01T23:52:05.000Z
dcat_modified 2023-08-29T19:49:54.099Z
dcat_publisher_name Washington State Department of Transportation
harvest_object_id 59c667ac-2ea5-4467-a172-a32884a65f74
harvest_source_id 03016d16-b963-4f6a-99b0-8a37574f4576
harvest_source_title Washington Geospatial Open Data Portal