Using GIS for Evaluation of Neighborhood Pedestrian Accessibility

The neighborhood-level destination offers the potential for diversion from automobile travel to walking, and design that minimizes neighborhood walking distances should be encouraged. This paper illustrates the use of a geographic information systems (GIS) based approach to compare the average walking accessibility between alternative neighborhood designs. Three neighborhood plans for an actual 23.3-ha site are considered: the development's original layout, the original layout without pedestrian walkways, and a more sustainable redesign. Schools, open space, and transit stops are considered as neighborhood destinations and a difference in pedestrian accessibility for the alternative plans is documented. Results suggest that empirical evaluation of neighborhood accessibility for subdivision layouts should be undertaken; that pedestrian walkways are an excellent means to improve walking accessibility within neighborhoods; and that with only minor changes to a site plan, many residents unfortunately remain beyond currently accepted walking distances for neighborhood-level destinations.