title: Exploring the impact of a dedicated streetcar right-of-way on pedestrian motor vehicle collisions: a quasi experimental design.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The frequency of pedestrian collisions is strongly influenced by the built environment, including road width, street connectivity and public transit design. In 2010, 2159 pedestrian collisions were reported in the City of Toronto, Canada with 20 fatalities. Previous studies have reported that streetcars operating in mixed traffic pose safety risks to pedestrians; however, few studies evaluate the effects on pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions (PMVC). The objective of this study was to examine changes in the rate and spatial patterning of PMVC, pre to post right-of-way (ROW) installation of the St. Clair Avenue West streetcar in the City of Toronto, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate changes in PMVC rate, following implementation of a streetcar ROW. Collision data were extracted from all police-reported PMVC, complied and verified by the City of Toronto, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2011. A zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis estimated the change in PMVC, pre to post ROW. Age and injury severity were also examined. Changes in the spatial pattern of collisions were examined by applying the G function to describe the proportion of collision events that shared a nearest neighbor distance less than or equal to a threshold distance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 23,607 PMVC occurred on roadways during the study period; 441 occurring on St. Clair Ave, 153 during the period of analysis. There was a 48% decrease in the rate of collisions on St. Clair [Incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.52, 95% CI: 0.37-0.74], post ROW installation. There were also decreases noted for children (IRR=0.13, 95% CI: 0.04-0.44), adults (IRR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.38-0.97), and minor injuries (IRR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.40-0.80). Spatial analyses indicated increased dispersion of collision events across each redeveloped route segment following the changes in ROW design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Construction of a raised ROW operating on St. Clair Ave. was associated with a reduction in the rate of collisions. Differences in pre- and post collision spatial structure indicated changes in collision locations. Results from this study suggest that a streetcar ROW may be a safer alternative for pedestrians compared to a mixed traffic streetcar route and should be considered by city planners where appropriate to the street environment.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: sarah.a.richmond@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: linda.rothman@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Programs in Environment, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buliung
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: nrschwartz1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Programs in Environment, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: andrew.howard@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002958:City Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009864:Ontario; D016138:Walking / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accidents; Traffic Public Transit Pedestrian Safety Streetcars