Walkability
Walkability measures how friendly an area is to pedestrian traffic. It encompasses pedestrian safety and proximity to amenities and services within a reasonable walking distance, typically around 30 minutes or less. Walkability is a key component of transit accessibility. Low walkability can discourage public transit use, regardless of how well-connected the system may be.
Understand Your Datasets
Neighborhood walkability measures include street connectivity, transit stop density and the extent to which land is mixed-use. The EPA’s National Walkability Index’s features are also positively associated with accessibility measures for older adults and persons with disabilities. Walkability may also be approximated through Connected Node Ratio (ideally greater than or equal to 90%) and Average Block Length (ideally less than or equal to 600 ft) data available by census tract. All of these metrics vary greatly by region and neighborhood. Datasets like the EPA’s National Walkability Index and a 15-minute city score only represent one measured aspect of walkability. In some cases, other data sources on sidewalk quality, shade and nearby critical social services can and should be used to supplement walkability studies.
Example Dataset:
1. National Walkability Index: https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=f16f5e2f84884b93b380cfd4be9f0bba
Instructions: Open the online web map and locate your area of interest. The EPA’s Walkability Index is available at the Census Block Group level. Most and least walkable block groups are symbolized by green and orange respectively. Clicking on block groups displays additional information, including the percentage of one-car households and mean commute vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
Data Considerations: The Walkability Index ranks 0-20 with <5.75 being the least walkable and >15.26 being the most walkable. The Walkability Index is calculated using weighted ranked statistics for intersection density, proximity to transit stops, employment mix and employment and household mix. The Walkability Index was last updated in 2021 and contains 2018 vintage American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. (See also: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/national-walkability-index-user-guide-and-methodology)
Community Demographics Profiles Alignment
Healthy Places Index
Caltrans Equity Index
Households with no Access to a Vehicle
Explore the Index of Indicators in Metro’s Community Demographics Profiles Dashboard here.
Coordinate with Community Members
Assess community walkability with input from Metro riders and non-riders to understand barriers to ridership and community priorities, with a focus on distance from bus stops and train stations and its relationship to walkability. Target engagement with local perspectives through CBO partnerships, a public meeting or a broader impact survey to consider ways to enhance walkability. Consider whether the National Walkability Index assessment accurately reflects the lived experiences of residents in the neighborhood. If infrastructure improvement projects impact walkability in the short and/or long term, consider implementing a construction management plan. This plan should be informed by external stakeholder engagement to minimize or eliminate temporary construction-related inconveniences. Include a robust feedback mechanism, performance monitoring and reporting for these impacts.
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