Data-Driven Planning: Leveraging the National Accessibility Evaluation Study

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Course Details

Access to destinations combines transportation systems and land use patterns into a single effectiveness measure. The National Accessibility Evaluation (NAE) pooled-fund study is a pioneering initiative that delivers comprehensive access data across the United States at the census block level. This study creates a nationwide framework for evaluating multimodal accessibility across essential destinations, including jobs, education, health care, grocery stores, and other key services.

By offering multimodal access metrics for auto, transit, bike, and pedestrian travel, NAE provides nuanced insights into guiding localized investments. For instance, Cook County, Illinois, utilizes NAE data to inform cycling infrastructure, while the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota is leveraging metrics to assess the impact of transit service changes and park and ride facilities in the Twin Cities. Regionally, the Appalachian Regional Commission uses multimodal access to destinations to identify underserved areas and economic opportunities within the thirteen Appalachian states.

This course explores the integration of NAE access metrics into transportation planning, scenario evaluation, and performance management across different scales. Gain insights into the intricacies of the study, its practical applications, and publicly available products that include interactive web apps, tools, and datasets designed to facilitate data-driven decision-making in transportation and land use planning.

Learning Outcomes

  • Leverage detailed multimodal access metrics to enhance local and regional transportation planning, ensuring that investments meet community needs and improve accessibility across essential destinations.
  • Apply insights from case studies to assess and address transportation and accessibility challenges in your own areas, leading to more equitable and effective infrastructure projects and policy decisions.
  • Utilize access metrics through interactive web apps and customized tools to streamline data analysis, integrating accessibility metrics into performance management and decision-making processes for better outcomes in transportation planning.
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