This research establishes a comprehensive evaluation framework for Quick Build interventions using portable LiDAR technology, driving simulation, and field data to quantify safety impacts for non-motorized road users including pedestrians and cyclists. Building on Phase 1 simulation- based foundations, the study addresses the challenge of limited long-term effectiveness data for quick- build street treatments such as curb extensions, protected bike lanes, and temporary traffic calming features. The methodology combines portable detection systems including LiDAR sensors, edge computing, and 5G connectivity to capture high-resolution vehicle and non-motorized transport trajectories, speeds, conflict points, and crossing patterns before and after intervention implementation. UC Win Roads driving simulator environments will replicate selected corridors to analyze road user behavior and interactions under controlled conditions, while survey questionnaires assess community perceptions of safety improvements. The research develops multimodal safety performance metrics tailored to temporary installations including Post Encroachment Time, Time to Collision, and crash modification factors for non-motorized transport modes. The study produces Standard Operating Procedures enabling Maryland Department of Transportation staff to implement evaluation methods independently for future Quick Build projects, supporting evidence-based decision-making for permanent infrastructure investments.
Universities Involved
Morgan State University
Principal Investigators
Mansoureh Jeihani,
Mansha Swami,
Ehsan Mehryaar
Expected Research Outcomes & Impacts
The application of this research will transform how transportation agencies evaluate and implement temporary infrastructure improvements by providing robust data-driven assessment capabilities for Quick Build interventions. Maryland Department of Transportation will gain enhanced abilities to quantify real-world safety impacts of temporary treatments, supporting evidence-based decisions for converting successful pilots into permanent infrastructure investments. Transportation planners will benefit from standardized evaluation frameworks that demonstrate intervention effectiveness through objective safety metrics rather than anecdotal evidence, facilitating capital project justification and funding acquisition. Communities will experience improved pedestrian and cyclist safety through data-validated interventions that address specific local safety concerns identified through comprehensive before-and-after analysis. The portable LiDAR technology and evaluation protocols will enable cost-effective assessment of multiple intervention sites, supporting broader deployment of quick- build treatments across Maryland’s transportation network. Long-term impacts include enhanced non- motorized transport ridership through improved safety perceptions validated by objective measurement data, supporting mode shift goals and community mobility objectives. Transportation agencies nationwide will benefit from transferable evaluation methodologies applicable to diverse quick-build intervention types, advancing the state of practice in temporary infrastructure assessment. The research outcomes will enable more strategic allocation of transportation improvement resources through improved understanding of intervention effectiveness, supporting development of evidence-based design standards for temporary and permanent interventions.
Subject Areas
Safety, Traffic Management, Intelligent Transportation Systems