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Strategies > Land Use Strategies > Regional Accessibility

Regional Accessibility

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Photo: pedbikeimages.org
Regional accessibility, or regional access to destinations, represents the ease with which destinations (e.g., shopping) can be reached throughout a region. See Local Accessibility for access to destinations at a neighborhood scale. 

Increasing regional accessibility can be accomplished through a variety of other strategies, including diversifying land uses, improving transit service, and improving the jobs-housing balance within the region. 

Proven Outcomes

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Reduced VMT
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Reduced GHG
Regional access to destinations has the largest influence on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) among commonly examined built environment variables, and therefore, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Regional accessibility has been measured in different ways, such as residents' distance from downtown or access to jobs by automobile. No matter how regional accessibility is measured, an increase in regional accessibility decreases VMT. However, studies measuring the distance to downtown show the highest impact. This finding underscores the need for additional housing within close-in neighborhoods (Stevens, 2017, paywall). As with all land use strategies (e.g., residential density), combining multiple land use strategies is likely to produce a stronger influence on travel behavior. 

Likely Outcomes

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Preserved Open Space
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Reduced Infrastructure Costs
Increasing regional accessibility through infill development and/or containing sprawl also preserves open space and reduces infrastructure costs. Investments in transit service may improve regional access to destinations.

Equity and Inclusion

Regional accessibility can be improved through either an improvement in transportation infrastructure (e.g., new transit line) or through a change in the distribution of land uses. Note that strategies that involve changes to the built environment may increase the attractiveness of an area. An increased demand for housing may result in increased property values or rents and could lead to involuntary displacement if appropriate mitigation strategies are not put into place. The lessons learned from anti-displacement efforts in several cities can be found in this PolicyLink report. Practitioners can evaluate the risk of displacement through the methods described by Chapple et al. (2017) or Bates (2013). 

Complementary Strategies

  • Residential Density
  • Land Use Mix
  • Street Network Connectivity
  • Transit Access
  • ​Transit Service

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
Evaluating accessibility for transport planning: Measuring people's ability to reach desired goods and services
Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2020
Tools
Smart Location Calculator



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US Environmental Protection Agency, 2017​
Accessibility in practice: A guide for transportation and land use decision making

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Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, 2017
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Housing and Transportation Affordability Index 

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Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2017
The accessibility shift: Conceptual obstacles and how to overcome (one of) them


International Transport Forum, 2020
Smart Location Database



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US Environmental Protection Agency, 2013
A people-centred approach to accessibility




International Transport Forum, 2020
Access to jobs and workers via transit



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US Environmental Protection Agency, 2014
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  • Home
  • Goals
    • Physical Activity
    • Bicycling
    • Walking
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Vehicle Miles Traveled
  • Strategies
    • Transportation Infrastructure >
      • Bicycle Infrastructure
      • Pedestrian Infrastructure
      • Traffic Calming
    • Transportation Demand Management >
      • Active Travel to School
      • Employer-Based Trip Reduction Programs
      • Parking Availability and Pricing
      • Road User Pricing
      • Voluntary Travel Behavior Change Programs
    • Land Use Strategies >
      • Local Accessibility
      • Regional Accessibility
      • Residential Density
      • Land Use Mix
      • Street Network Connectivity
    • Public Transit >
      • Transit Access
      • Transit Service
    • Engagement >
      • Community Engagement
  • Emerging issues
  • Approach
  • About
  • Support Us
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • News