Local Access is a resource to help Massachusetts cities and towns focus pedestrian and bike improvements where they will provide the greatest utility for residents travelling to local shops, restaurants, schools, parks, and transit stops. This presentation provides an overview of the dataset, which is available via localaccess.mapc.org

1. Local Access Scores
Tim Reardon
Director of Data Services
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
A New Measure of Network Utility
for Complete Streets Planning and Implementation
Moving Together 2016

2. What inputs do local governments use
when determining where to build
sidewalks and bike facilities?
77% of Massachusetts roadways
lack sidewalks:
35,000 miles of incomplete streets

3. Constituent Requests
Ad hoc
School Administrators
Local Committee

4. Prioritization plans
need prioritization criteria
Speed
Crashes
Feasibility & Cost
Demographics
ADA compliance
Field Surveys
What about utility?

5. Is Proximity Paramount?

6. Which streets and roads
are likely to have the
greatest utility
for pedestrians and cyclists
traveling to local destinations,
if safe and complete streets
were available?

7. Introducing…
Active Transportation Network Utility

8. Local Access Score:
Walk to Shops and Restaurants

9. Local Access Score:
Bike to Shops and Restaurants

10. Local Access Score:
Composite

11. localaccess.mapc.org
Interactive map
Data download
User Guide
Technical Documentation

12. Local Access Score: Applications
Pedestrian Prioritization Plans
Capital Investments
Wayfinding
Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts
Maintenance and Enforcement
ADA Assessments

13. Local Access Score:
Crash Overlay

14. High-Utility road segment
connects residential areas,
schools, & downtown, but
lacks sidewalks
Local Access Score:
Sidewalk Gap Analysis

15. Aerial photo confirms no
sidewalk present
Local Access Score:
Sidewalk Gap Analysis

16. Desire Lines:
the best indicator of
sidewalk need
Local Access Score:
Sidewalk Gap Analysis

17. A rationale for saying “no”
to sidewalk requests…
A reason to say “why not?”

18. Connectivity errors in the source data
Informal or unmapped walking routes missing
Travel around/within blocks nor represented
School trips assume proximity-based assignment
Transit trips hard to estimate
Not all trip types represented
Pedestrian Infrastructure Isn’t Perfect
and Neither are We…

19. MAPC Can Help!
If you…
Have questions about Local Access Scores;
Need assistance with pedestrian prioritization plans;
Have detailed data on ped & bike connections that
would improve the Local Access model results;
Want to customize the model for specific populations
or destinations; or
Want to test out bike lanes & road diets with
temporary installations.
data@mapc.org

20. Tim Reardon, Director of Data Services
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
treardon@mapc.org
data.mapc.org
localaccess.mapc.org
With funding support from:
In collaboration with:
Massachusetts Community
Innovation Challenge
Grant Program