Evaluate Alternatives and Determine Solutions
Once locations for pedestrian improvements are identified, alternative treatments need to be examined. This follows the traditional evaluation process of alternatives. The cost, anticipated impact, and feasibility of implementation will determine whether an alternative is attractive or not.
Administrative feasibility ensures that the project can be implemented. For example, the opportunity to develop the proposed alternative in conjunction with a planned road construction or reconstruction project may enhance the attractiveness of a given project. Similarly, one option may entail an unpopular decision (e.g., eliminate on-street parking) while another option does not.
Cost information is regularly available from experts, firms, or other localities that have experience with a particular solution. General cost information for infrastructure and engineering solutions is provided in the Engineering section of the web site. Anticipated benefits beyond the expected impacts on pedestrians are harder to quantify. It may be useful to discuss these options with other localities that have used them in the past to gain a better understanding of the potential effectiveness of the intervention. Read through the Case Studies and Examples to learn about the experiences of other communities with various treatments.
