Impacts of Small Changes in Thoroughfare Connectivity on the Potential for Student Walking
Publication: Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 147, Issue 4
Abstract
Distance between a student residence and their school is as a major barrier for active commuting while trends in school siting and residential development have increased this distance. This study conducted a cost–benefit analysis of increased thoroughfare connectivity around schools in a representative US school system. A novel metric for organizations to rank schools by their walkability is introduced, and then network optimization techniques located the new thoroughfare connections that maximized student walking and minimized the length of the new connection. The increased time of physical activity from student walking and the cost savings from busing fewer students were compared to the financial construction costs of the new thoroughfares. Results from this case study show that recent development trends are antithetical to student active commuting, that short and inexpensive new thoroughfares can increase the number of student walkers and their physical activity and reduce busing costs, traffic, accidents, and pollution. This work calls for a collaboration between planners, school officials, and developers to design neighborhoods around schools that improve the health of the community and its children.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research Fellowship. We would like to thank Alex Zendel (GIS Analyst at the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission) for compiling the school network data, Rickey Grubb (Director of Enrollment and Transportation at Knox County Schools) for school busing costs, and Rebecca Warren, Dr. Sheryl Magzamen, and the journal editor and reviewers for their comments on the manuscript.
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Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 147 • Issue 4 • December 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 1, 2021
Accepted: Apr 14, 2021
Published online: Jul 16, 2021
Published in print: Dec 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 16, 2021
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