Citation

Sherman L, Barber B, Kondo W. Transp. Res. Rec. 1974; 499: 70-82.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Improving the quality of urban life requires not only the provision of employment, medical, educational, and recreational opportunities but also a convenient means of access to these facilities for all citizens. This study reports on a prototypical application of a new methodology, called Special Area Analysis (SAA), designed to assess the quality of accessibility in metropolitan areas. Starting with a definition of accessibility in functional terms, this SAA develops measures that focus on the level of accessibility afforded by Boston's present, planned, and programmed urban transportation systems to such essential urban activity centers as major employment districts, medical, recreational, and educational facilities, the central business district, and the airport. In addition, the methodology is applied toward an evaluation of the level of accessibility afforded to specific population subgroups such as low-income and zero-car households. This study demonstrates that the SAA methodology is a useful evaluation tool for use by metropolitan area transportation planning agencies.

Language: en