MTPO Pedestrian Master Plan updates
Sidewalks are a crucial element of any city’s infrastructure, promoting walkability and enhancing community connectivity. To evaluate and prioritize sidewalk replacement, the City of Topeka, Kansas, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization, engaged our team to provide an impartial assessment of sidewalk conditions across its 700-mile sidewalk network. Our approach was designed to ensure a comprehensive and efficient evaluation of the city’s pedestrian infrastructure.
Leveraging techniques typically used for street data collection, this project utilized two sets of electronic bicycles pulling trailers, a method that saved an enormous amount of time compared to data collection on foot. Summer interns rode the bikes, and the trailers were equipped with technology to record data and video for every inch of the sidewalk network. Once the data was compiled, it was analyzed through an AI application trained to detect more than 140 different types of sidewalk distresses and identify anything out of compliance. The system then produced an ArcGIS file with precise GPS coordinates of specific areas needing attention.
With this data, we are developing a pavement condition index and employing GIS maps to pinpoint sidewalks most in need of repair, identify where there are gaps in the network based on user demand, and assess transportation equity factors. These insights will allow us to help the City use an objective, data-driven methodology to prioritize repairs and create a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly community. Additionally, this project serves as a scalable model for other communities, allowing us to offer similar solutions to cities of various sizes in the future.
