Every time a pedestrian pushes a button to cross the street, it creates a useful data point about how many people are walking through that intersection. Now, transportation planners and engineers in Oregon have easy access to that data: The newest feature we've added to BikePed Portal is a dashboard that lets you explore the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)'s pedestrian push-button data from all over the state.
ODOT has shared this data with Portland State University (PSU) for use in BikePed Portal, so that users can see where and how people interact with pedestrian crossings at signalized intersections. The dashboard (watch a walkthrough here) is still being developed and is anticipated to eventually include data from more agencies in addition to ODOT.
WHY IS THIS DATA HELPFUL?
Many, if not all, active transportation projects rely on pedestrian volumes to measure pedestrian exposure, or the number of potential opportunities for a pedestrian to be involved in a crash with a moving vehicle. By analyzing usage patterns, practitioners can prioritize upgrades at high-demand or problematic locations, ensure compliance with ADA standards, and inform pedestrian infrastructure planning. The potential applications of push-button data are numerous, and just a couple of examples are highlighted below.
The new dashboard is a useful resource to help agencies improve signal timing, accessibility, and safety for all road users, as well as guide future investments in walkability.
DERIVING PEDESTRIAN COUNTS
Researchers are exploring methods to convert the push-button data into complete pedestrian counts for the transportation network. At the 2025 annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), Sirisha Kothuri, Joe Broach and Elizabeth Yates of PSU presented a study along with Mahyar Vahedi Saheli and Patrick Singleton of Utah State University on "Pedestrian Volumes from Push-Button Traffic Signal Data in Oregon: Estimating Models and Assessing Model Transferability [PDF - add link to poster)" in which they used the ODOT data, along with video recordings, to estimate pedestrian counts. They also developed a workflow to integrate pedestrian traffic counts into ODOT’s enterprise traffic data system.
The initial research was funded by ODOT, as well as some funding support for the dashboard. Learn about the models used to calculate estimated pedestrian volumes in the final report, or watch a recorded seminar to learn more.
ODOT's research unit has also documented a use case for the data—see Pedestrian Traffic Estimation for Liquidation Costs—and is developing more.
ANALYZING PEDESTRIAN CRASHES
At Utah State, Singleton used similar data in Utah to do safety analysis. One paper examined the frequency and severity of crashes involving pedestrians, and another developed improved methods to predict crashes at signalized intersections. The research team wanted to examine whether the “safety in numbers” effect applies to pedestrian safety in the US. Both papers used push-button data as a novel data source to measure pedestrian exposure.
As pedestrian safety and accessibility continue to be top priorities in transportation planning, innovative uses of existing infrastructure—like push-button data—are opening up new possibilities for research, analysis, and informed decision-making. The addition of this new dashboard to BikePed Portal marks an important step in making pedestrian activity more visible for agencies across Oregon. By leveraging this data, planners and researchers can better understand walking patterns, identify safety risks, and ultimately create safer, more walkable communities.
As the dashboard grows to include data from more jurisdictions, its value will only increase—offering a powerful tool to support equitable and evidence-based improvements in pedestrian infrastructure.
PARTNER WITH PSU: ADD YOUR DATA TO BIKEPED PORTAL
Cities and agencies interested in partnering across the region to improve transportation data access should reach out to our team at bikepedportal@pdx.edu. We are interested in adding more push-button data, as well as other types of nonmotorized data.
We accept data in multiple formats (including EcoCounter API, TrafX, manual, turning movement), and convert it all into a standardized format. We offer quality control, quality assurance, and more. Learn about the services that BikePed Portal offers.
METADATA AND DOCUMENTATION
Additional resources have recently been added to BikePed Portal:
- Manual count metadata and data documentation can be found here.
- Pedestrian estimated push button documentation can be found here.
- A video tutorial for organizations interested in having BikePed Portal host their active transportation counts can be found here.
Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research. To get updates about what's happening at TREC, sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media.