Case Studies: Measuring the Value of Connectivity

NCAPA

September 2010

GREATEST HITS

Re-defining Connectivity: Circa 2010

• Change in emphasis at the Federal level

• New initiatives in North Carolina• How do we get to true integration

of transportation & land use?• Pedestrian & bicycle planning in

the context of Active Living• Implications for safety & access

Driving & the Built Environment – the 5 D’s

Density Population & employment by geographic unit (e.g., per square mile, per developed acre).

Diversity Mix of land uses, typically residential and commercial development, and the degree to which they are balanced in an area (e.g., jobs–housing balance).

Design Neighborhood layout and street characteristics, particularly connectivity, presence of sidewalks, and other design features (e.g., shade, scenery, presence of attractive homes and stores) that enhance the pedestrian- and bicycle-friendliness of an area.

Destination accessibility Ease or convenience of trip destinations from point of origin, often measured at the

zonal level in terms of distance from the central business district or other major centers.

Distance to transit Ease of access to transit from home/work (e.g., bus/rail stop within ¼ to ½ mile).

Ewing & Cervero, JAPA, Summer 2010 | TRB Report #298

DOT – HUD – EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities

• Livability PrinciplesImprove access to affordable

housingMore transportation optionsLower transportation costs

while protecting environment• Partnership Agreement

Develop livability measures and tools

Undertake joint research & data collection

Connectivity & Active Living

• International Journal of Health Geographics– Berrigan, Pickle, Dill

• Los Angeles and San Diego Counties• Applied 9 measures of street

connectivity• Identified positive correlation

between connected street system and the propensity and duration of leisure walking and cycling

Draft FTA Policy – Connectivity Nexus

“

FTA encourages the use of its funds for the type of well-designed pedestrian and bicycle amenities that attract new public transportation riders by expanding the catchment area and utility of public transportation stations.

(Proposed FTA Policy Statement on the Eligibility of Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Under Federal Transit Law. November 6, 2009)

“

Draft FTA Policy – Connectivity Nexus

Key requirement for determining the eligibility of a pedestrian or bicycle improvement is whether it has a functional relationship to a public transportation facility.

Pedestrian Improvements – within one-half mile

Bicycle Improvements – within three miles

Connectivity & Safe Streets

Source: Wesley Marshall and Norman Garrick | New Urban News and CNU

CharacteristicSafer Cities

Less Safe Cities

Percent Difference

Average year of incorporation 1895 1932

Average year of block development 1957 1972

Population (2000 Census) 65,719 58,845 -8.9

Real intersection density (per sq mi) 106.2 62.7 -41.0

Average block size (acres) 18.2 34.5 89.6

Link to node ratio 1.34 1.29 -3.7

Fatal crashes 3.1 10.1 225.8

Fatal crashes not on limited access highways 2.3 8.6 273.9

Source: Wesley E. Marshall and Norman Glick, Street Network Types and Road Safety: A Study of 24 California Cities

safer less safe

• Better connected cities are safer

• Intersection Density (better measure) & Link-Node Ratio

• Both measures – difficult for people to understand intuitively

NC Sustainable Communities Task Force

NC House Bill 1701

• Regional sustainability partnerships• Technical assistance to state agencies,

local government, regional collaborations, and nonprofits

• Indentify & pursue sustainable development funding

• Recommendations for sustainable development policies and program appropriations to Governor, cabinet, & General Assembly

NC Sustainable Communities Task Force

NC House Bill 1701

• Distribute task force grants to regional sustainable development partnerships

• Develop a common local government sustainable practices scoring system

• Pursue opportunities for coordination among state agencies

• Reduced overlap in the responsibilities of regional entities

Case Studies: Measuring the Value of Connectivity

NCAPA

September 2010