Benefit-Cost Analysis of Added Bicycle Phase at Existing Signalized Intersection

Abstract

A benefit-cost analysis framework is developed for an added bicycle phase at an existing signalized intersection. The intersection operates with both high volume levels of both vehicles and bicycles. As part of this study, traffic volume counts were collected and average vehicle delays computed and extrapolated to represent a full year. The costs and disbenefits included in the analysis were construction costs and changes in operating costs, safety, and vehicle capacity. We find that the overwhelming benefits associated with increased bicycle safety, which can be seen as a decrease in the number of bicycle-vehicle conflicts, outweigh all costs and the disbenefits associated with increased vehicle delay. Externalities such as the change in vehicle emissions are also examined but are not included in the benefit-cost ratio. We find that the change in emissions associated with increased vehicle delay is relatively minor.