Assessing The Influence Of Street Design On Pedestrian Walkability By Using Pedestrian Movement Modeling In Selected Areas Of Downtown Adama City.

Abstract

Walkability Is Crucial For Several Reasons. It Encourages Physical Exercise, Enhances Social Interaction, Lowers Pollution And Traffic, Improves Public Health, And Helps Create Thriving, Livable Communities. The Main Aim Of This Research Is To Investigate The Influence Of Street Design On Pedestrian Walkability, Including Different Facilities On Walkability, Pedestrian Density, Pedestrian Flow, And The Condition Of Disability-Friendly Pedestrian Amenities In Downtown Adama City. The Study Used A Mixed-Methods Approach, Including A Descriptive Survey And Manual Field Counts, To Quantitatively And Qualitatively Assess Pedestrian Densities And Identify The Most Congested Pathways. It Makes Use Of Primary And Secondary Data Sources, With Surveys, Interviews, And An Investigation Of Accident Data Providing The Necessary Information. A Sample Of 386 Was Chosen, And The Data Was Analyzed Using Descriptive Statistical Tools. The Key Findings Show That The Pedestrian Route From National To Posta Bet Was Extremely Congested, Especially During Peak Hours, With A Total Peak Hour Volume Of 825 Walkers Per 15-Minute Interval And A Pedestrian Level Of Service Grade Of F (Constrained Maneuverability). This Route Also Experienced Increased Walking Times, With An Average Of 750 Seconds To Cover The Distance. The Highest Pedestrian Flow Was In Gurmmu Kebele's Zone One, With 9,900 Pedestrians On The Franco To Posta Bet Route And Around 8,460 On The Peacock To Posta Bet Sidewalks Daily. The Research Provides Insights Into The Impact Of Pedestrian Behavior On Overall Walkability. The Primary Gap Identified Is The Lack Of Adequate Pedestrian Infrastructure, Including Small Streets, Few Sidewalks, Poor Sidewalk Conditions, Poorly Placed Crossings, And Non-Functioning Tactile Pavement. The Recommendations Include Providing Necessary Pedestrian Amenities Like Seating And Shade To Enhance The Walking Experience And Promote Socialization, As Well As Developing Design Guidelines To Educate Stakeholders On Appropriate Sidewalk Geometry Standards.