Many communities have chosen to realign their performance measures with broader aims, including economic growth, public health, sustainability, and mode shift.
Washington, DC: Adopt Comprehensive Performance Measures
As both a project evaluation and benchmarking tool, performance measures beyond LOS are a centerpiece of the District’s Great Streets program. The city tracks revitalization on under-invested corridors based on five main goals: economic health, safe and multimodal transportation, community building, historical assets, and sustainable design.1
Chicago: Reduce Reliance on LOS
Chicago’s Complete Streets Manual (2013) moves away from the LOS paradigm. The manual recommends using no minimum vehicle LOS and prioritizes pedestrian LOS, requiring no pedestrian delays in excess of 60 seconds.2
San Francisco: Phase out LOS
San Francisco adopted its Transportation Sustainability Program in 2002. This policy mandates the gradual elimination of LOS, streamlines the project development review process, and replaces the Transportation Development Impact Fee levied against developers with the Transportation Sustainability Fee (TSF). The TSF offsets or reduces auto trips generated by a project with a fee used to support transit, pedestrian, and bicycle projects.3