MassMotion is an agent-based pedestrian simulation tool which employs 3D environments and behavioral profiles to analyze pedestrian movements and route choice. This paper describes how observed evacuation drills were used to validate MassMotion for tower building egress modeling. Validation metrics include modeled evacuation time, journey times, speeds, flow rates, and behavioral observations. The results indicate that MassMotion is a suitable application for tower building egress modeling, producing total evacuation times between 1% and 10% of observed times.

Over the past 20 years, federal transportation policy and funding initiatives—such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users; Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grants; and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities—have opened doors to establishing sustainable transportation policy in the United States. However, these initiatives have not always resulted in transformative change. A clear path to actionable, sustainable transportation policy requires a change within the local and regional agencies tasked with establishing and implementing the policy. This paper documents the incremental changes in departments of transportation and planning in seven American cities (Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; New York; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, D.C.) that have enabled a shift toward sustainable transportation policy. Interviews with key transportation leaders in each city revealed the methods used to implement more sustainable transport. These methods serve as a blueprint for other leaders who wish to create similar changes in their own cities.

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is experimenting with creating new public spaces quickly in the public right-of-way. Through the use of painted asphalt, planters, folding chairs, rotating public art, and other temporary materials, construction time and costs are minimal. This innovative strategy allows the department to create immediate neighborhood change while formalized design and construction move through a longer capital planning process. Five reclaimed spaces were analyzed, and the way that people interact with these plazas, each other, and traffic while they enjoy new view corridors and experiences in the city was evaluated. Goals of this research were to understand how plaza design elements affect plaza use and to provide recommendations for informing development of plazas in other cities. This project was conducted in collaboration with Project for Public Spaces. Observational data were used to gain information about physical aspects of the site and patrons’ patterns of use. Each site was filmed from a bird's-eye view during peak periods of weekday plaza use. Video data were used to analyze site geometry and features and to conduct activity mapping, spot counts, and user path tracking. User surveys provided direct feedback on aspects of the plaza. Study findings provide guidelines for reallocating street space for pedestrians to maximize use, safety, and appeal. The New York City DOT provided report feedback but did not participate in the development of the analytical approach, the data collection, or the analysis.