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Explore the significance of connectivity in urban planning for safer streets, mode choice influence, and reduced driving. Learn from studies and strategies applied in California cities and Olympia to improve connectivity through street networks and pathways.
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Making Connectivity A Part of Your Smart Growth APA Washington October 6, 2010
Why is Connectivity Important? Street network characteristics influence safety • 24 California cities: safer and less safe • Safer cities have reduced rates of severe and fatal crashes • Safer cities have greater street and intersection density per sq mile • Underlying factor may be lower vehicle speeds Source: Street network types and road safety: A study of 24 California cities Wesley Marshall and Norman Garrick, April 2010
Why Connectivity is Important Street network patterns influence mode choice • Street network patterns: connectivity and density • Connected dense street networks have higher walk, bike and transit mode-share • Intersection density associated with greatest increases rates of walking and biking • Model indicated: Increased intersections from 81 to 324 per sq mile would lead Walk/Bike combined mode share increases from 3.2% to 7.8% Source: The Effect of Street Network Design on Walking and Biking Wesley Marshall and Norman Garrick, November 2009
Why Connectivity is Important Associated with less driving CMHC study of Seattle neighborhoods: • Fused grid increases walking trips by 11.3% • A 10% increase in network density for pedestrians can be associated with 23% decrease in local vehicle miles travelled Sources: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Olympia’s Policies • Where no street connection, build connector paths • Block sizing good, 1800 feet max • Street connections = moderate success • Need to make case; data and analysis will help • 100 non-motorized connectors inventoried • Need to formalize existing connectors
ViaCity RDI Applied to Olympia • Via City Route Directness Index (RDI) Measurement tool • Transpo Group tests on Olympia • RDI = tax parcel to all other parcels in specific radius • Good RDI is 100, “as-the-crow-flies” direct • Enhance network = RDI improves • Case for street connections and connector path construction
ViaCity RDI Applied to Olympia Olympia Test: • Baseline street centerlines • Add existing trails • Add planned connectors • See RDI improve • Sub area demonstrations
ViaCity RDI Applied to Olympia Subarea Connectivity Analysis Connectors 1 4 Shared-Use Paths 2 3
Pedestrian Connectors & Pathways Connectors Shared-Use Paths
Area 1: Plan Impact Connectors
Area 1: RDI Statistics Connectors
Area 2 : Plan Impact Connectors
Area 2 : RDI Statistics Connectors
Area 3 : Plan Impact Connectors
Area 3 : RDI Statistics Connectors
Area 4 : Plan Impact Connectors Shared-Use Paths
Area 4 : RDI Statistics Connectors Shared-Use Paths
Subarea Improved Connectivity Connectors Shared-Use Paths