NJTIP @ Rutgers
Environmental Barrier Analysis &
Route Assessment
Louis Hoffman
Training Coordinator
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
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 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
VTC 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
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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
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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
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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
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Street width
Number of lanes
Time of day
Travel control
Bends, curves, hills
Variations of intersection
Avg vehicle speed
Intersection Analysis Cont’d
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Curb ramps
Visual screens
Signal timing
Turning vehicles
Street Crossing
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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
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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