Rail Trail traffic counts 2006Hon. Mary Clare Higgins
Mayors Office
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
PIONEER
VALLEY
PLANNING
COMMISSION
February
3, 2006
Hon. Mary Clare Higgins
Mayors Office
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
im, cut I y 0Z. B. r e- nnata, Ex ec utive ViI- ect.or
26 Central Street -Suite 34, West Springfield
RE: Number of Users Observed on the City of Northampton Bikeway
(April — November 2005)
Dear Mayor Higgins;
Massachusetts 01089 -2787
Tel.: (413) 781 -6045
Fax: (413) 732 -2593
www.pvpc.org
In response to your request, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) has
collected volume data for the number of users on the Northampton Bike Path. The off - season
weekday volume on the bikepath averaged 301 users per day for the first two weeks in April and
280 users for the first two week period in November. These volumes contrast with a midweek
average daily volume during July and August of 417 and the average weekend/holiday volume
during the summer months of 470 users.
The volume of users on the bikepath was monitored intermittently from April 5, 2005
until November 15, 2005. The counter uses a passive infra -red signal detector with a data logger
to tabulate and store volume counts (events). The device records a count each time the infra -red
beam is interrupted by a passing cyclist or pedestrian. PVPC was unable to collect bikepath
volume data for December and January as the counting equipment experienced catastrophic
failure caused by extremely low overnight temperatures. Efforts were further hampered by
municipal snow removal operations that buried the counting device or otherwise obstructed its
operation.
The Northampton City Bikeway
The City of Northampton Bikeway (or Ryan Memorial Bikeway) consists of a 10 -foot wide
asphalt paved path extending 2.5 miles from behind Stop and Shop on State Street northwest to
Bridge Road near Look Park in the Florence section of town. The bikepath was opened and
dedicated as the "Ryan Memorial Bikeway" in 1984 in honor of Francis P. Ryan, long time
director of the Department of Public Works. Construction of the rail trail followed the
installation of a municipal sewer in the 1970's along the Williamsburg branch of the New Haven
Railroad (circa 1867). With a population of 29,287 (2003) Northampton is home to Smith
College, Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a vibrant downtown. The City has growing network of
bicycle facilities, including regionally significant extensions to the Norwottuck Rail Trail and
the Manhan Rail Trail.
The Northampton Bikeway has ten primary access points and numerous informal access points
from connecting neighborhood streets and private yards. Parking is offered near Stop and Shop
off of King Street, North Maple Street, Bridge Road (JFK Middle School), and Depot Street.
Most users appear to prefer walking or bicycling to the trail.
,�
im, cut I y 0Z. B. r e- nnata, Ex ec utive ViI- ect.or
26 Central Street -Suite 34, West Springfield
RE: Number of Users Observed on the City of Northampton Bikeway
(April — November 2005)
Dear Mayor Higgins;
Massachusetts 01089 -2787
Tel.: (413) 781 -6045
Fax: (413) 732 -2593
www.pvpc.org
In response to your request, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) has
collected volume data for the number of users on the Northampton Bike Path. The off - season
weekday volume on the bikepath averaged 301 users per day for the first two weeks in April and
280 users for the first two week period in November. These volumes contrast with a midweek
average daily volume during July and August of 417 and the average weekend/holiday volume
during the summer months of 470 users.
The volume of users on the bikepath was monitored intermittently from April 5, 2005
until November 15, 2005. The counter uses a passive infra -red signal detector with a data logger
to tabulate and store volume counts (events). The device records a count each time the infra -red
beam is interrupted by a passing cyclist or pedestrian. PVPC was unable to collect bikepath
volume data for December and January as the counting equipment experienced catastrophic
failure caused by extremely low overnight temperatures. Efforts were further hampered by
municipal snow removal operations that buried the counting device or otherwise obstructed its
operation.
The Northampton City Bikeway
The City of Northampton Bikeway (or Ryan Memorial Bikeway) consists of a 10 -foot wide
asphalt paved path extending 2.5 miles from behind Stop and Shop on State Street northwest to
Bridge Road near Look Park in the Florence section of town. The bikepath was opened and
dedicated as the "Ryan Memorial Bikeway" in 1984 in honor of Francis P. Ryan, long time
director of the Department of Public Works. Construction of the rail trail followed the
installation of a municipal sewer in the 1970's along the Williamsburg branch of the New Haven
Railroad (circa 1867). With a population of 29,287 (2003) Northampton is home to Smith
College, Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a vibrant downtown. The City has growing network of
bicycle facilities, including regionally significant extensions to the Norwottuck Rail Trail and
the Manhan Rail Trail.
The Northampton Bikeway has ten primary access points and numerous informal access points
from connecting neighborhood streets and private yards. Parking is offered near Stop and Shop
off of King Street, North Maple Street, Bridge Road (JFK Middle School), and Depot Street.
Most users appear to prefer walking or bicycling to the trail.
Methodology Used for Data Collection
The volume of users on the bikeway was monitored intermittently from April 5, 2005 until
November 15, 2005. A passive infra -red signal detector with a data logger was used to tabulate
and store volume counts (events) on the bikeway at a location north of Chestnut Street. The
device recorded a count each time an infra -red beam was interrupted by a passing cyclist or
pedestrian. The weatherproof data logger (Onset Computer Corp) has the capacity to store
16,000 events. The counter is not certified and data the collected does have a potential for error.
The potential for error exists when two users trip the infra -red beam at precisely the same
moment. In these instances, the counter "under counts" and logs only one count or event.
Opportunities for error also occur during heavy rainstorms or hail activity. As we have recently
learned counting device operates between a temperature range of 14 to 158 degrees F and will
loose all data if temperature exceed these limits. In each instance where the counting device
records erroneously high or low volumes the errors can be identified when the data is
downloaded and normalized.
Estimated Annual Volume of Use
The average estimated annual volume for the Northampton City Bikepath at the location north of
Chestnut Street is 100,000 to 120,000. Studies completed of other bikepaths in the region have
shown that most users travel on only a portion of the bikepath, averaging 45 minutes for each
visit. Based on this assumption, the volumes recorded at Chestnut Street represent only a
percentage of the overall number of users for the entire bikepath. Individuals that enter and exit
the trail at other locations may not be included in this calculation. The busiest season for the
Northampton Bikeway occurs during July and August and appears to remain strong through
September and October before dropping off.
Figure 1.0
Volume of Users (Seasonal) on the Northampton Bikeway
800
700
600
'
500
- -�' -'
400
• s.
Average Daily Volume .
• ,
300
s
200
100
0
-
— — -
N
Page 2 of 4
Number of Users Observed
The usage continually increased as the day progressed with a peak volume between 6 and 7 PM
for the weekday and 4 to 5 pm during the weekend. This distribution of users on the
Northampton Bikeway is consistent with the trend of other multi -use trails in the region.
Figure 2.0
Hourly Volume of Users Observed
PVPC staff will continue to collect data as the weather and conditions allow. If you or your
staff have any questions regarding the data provided, or if PVPC can be of further assistance,
please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely
�L
Jeffrey McCollough
Senior Transportation Planner
cc: Wayne Feiden
Page 3 of 4
Volume of Users Observed on the Northampton City Bikeway
Date
Day of the Week
Temps ura
Precipitation
% Cloud Cove
Volume
(weekends 8
holidays in bold )
High
Temp
(F)
Low
Temp
(F)
(inches) _a=
10 = Cloudy
Sunshine
Dail
4/5/05
Tuesday
62
39
0
0.8
236
4/6/05
Wednesday
75
43
_
0
6.3
156
417/05
Thursday
70
47
0
9.9
328
4/8/05
Friday
65
48
0
7.2
418
4/9/05
Saturday
66
38
_
0
0
629
4110/05
Sunday
74
33
0
2.5
635
4/11/05
Monday
56
38
0
0
335
4/12/05
Tuesday
54
32
0
3,6
304
4/13/05
Wednesday
59
34
0
2.4
344
4/14105
Thursday
64
41
0
3,4
349
4/15/05
Friday
62
36
0
0
259
4/16105
Saturday
70
30
01
0
461
4/17105
Sunday
80
33
0
0.7
617
4 /18 /05
Monday
76
44
0
1.8
650
4/19105
Tuesday
81
39
0
0
540
4/20/05
Wednesday
86
50
0
6.2
484
4121/05
Thursda
67
43
0
0.4
445
4/22/05
____
Frida
63
35
0
8.6
365
4/24/05
Sunday
63
46
0.17
6.9
400
4/25105
Monday
52
43
0.01
5.8
186
4/26/05
Tuesday
70
41
0
5.1
422
4127/05
Wednesda
58
51
0.15
10
156
4/28/05
Thursday
61
42
0.01
6.4
322
4/29/05
Friday
66
38
0
3.9
186
513/05
Tuesday
57
36
0.01
6.5
174
5!4/05
Wednesday
57
48
0
6.8
259
515105
Thursday
65
30
0
4.3
393
5/6105
Friday
60
34
0
10
293
5!7/05
Saturday
491
43
0.121
9.7
129
5/8105
Sunday
55
43
0
9
264
519/05
Monday
72
47
0
4.1
517
5110/05
Tuesday
77
43
0
0.4
429
5111/05
Wednesday
75
47
0
6.8
421
5112/05
Thursday
61
35
0
4.4
362
5/13/05
Friday
66
39
0
2.4
417
5114/05
Saturday
70
49
0
7.9
514
5115/05
Sunday
65
20
0.22
9.4
314
5116/05
Monday
69
54
0.02
6.6
375
5/17/05
Tuesda
70
62
0
3
460
5/18105
5/19/05
Wednesda
Thursday
67
43
0
6.7
371
71
39
0
5.2
452
5/20105
Friday
56
41
0
7
362
5/21/05
Saturday
67
39
0.02
6.6
407
5/22105
Sunday
55
45
0.2
9.6
316
5123/05
Monday
59
40
0.34
9.4
311
5/24/05
Tuesday
51
39
0.16
10
150
5/25/05
Wednesday
51
49
0.03
10
193
5/26/05
Thursday
55
52
0.14
10
200
5/27/05
Friday
74
50
0.12
8
409
5128/05
Saturday
79
47
0.01
7
507
5129/05
Sunday
74
55
0
7.8
339
5/30/05
Monday
77
52
0
5
736
5!31!05
611105
Tuesday__ _
Wednesda
74
52
0,32
7.5
397
72
53
0
376
6/2/05
Thursday
74
55
0
461
6!3/05
Frida
78
55
0
432
6/5!05
Sunda
89
57
0
]4.6
356
6/22/05
Wednesda
73
49
0.29
419
6/23/05
Thursda
79
45
0
547
6124/05
Frida
88
54
0
531
6/26/05ISaturday
951
61
01
2.6
385
6126/05
Sunday
95
66
0
4.1
449
6127105
Monday
90
66
0
6.6
453
6/28105
Tuesday
76
72
0.35
9.7
298
6/29/05
Wednesday
84
70
1.49
9.9
388
6/30105
Thursday
84
69
0.01
8.9
505
7/1105
Friday
83
60
0.14
8.2
405
7!2!05
Saturday
80
55
0
3.8
533
713/05
Sunday
80
53
0
3.8
564
7/4105
Monday
83
54
0
1.2
535
7/5/05
Tuesday
83
50
0
7.6
501
716/05
Wednesda
81
65
1.44
10
256
717/05
Thursday
70
63
0
9.9
554
7 /6 /05
Friday
64
58
1.15
10
155
B /11/05
Thursday
92
66
0
7.9
395
B/12/05
Friday
90
65
0
8.4
411
B/13105
Saturday
97
71
0.68
6.1
352
8114/05
Sunday
89
69
0.36
9
286
11!4105
Friday
69
41
0
6.4
339
11/5/05
Saturday
71
42
0
4
415
11/6/05
Sunday
59
46
0
10
261
1117105
Monday
59
35
0
1.7
252
11/8105
Tuesday
59
35
0
7.7
331
11/9/05
Wednesday
46
30
0.2
9.7
189
11110/05
Thursday _
50
35
0
5.8
286
11/111/0511'riday
411
25
0
0
287
11/12/05
Saturday
51
19
0
0
291
11/13/05
Sunday
62
28
0.02
5.7
367
11/14/05IMonday
601
32
0
1.2
348
11115/051
Tuesday
421
37
0.15
10
181
Page 4 of 4