Livability Performance Metrics for Transit

Understanding the performance of our nation's transit systems and how well they meet the needs of communities is critical if we are to advance the new national livability agenda successfully. For the nation's transit agencies, it is essential that livability-based performance measures include both regional (macro) and neighborhood (micro) indicators so that a comprehensive approach is taken to improve the nation's transit systems. Traditionally, transit systems are thought of exclusively in their wholeness: how the system serves a region, city or community, or the extent to which the network serves the population through its reach. Understanding this larger spatial extent…

Understanding the performance of our nation’s transit systems and how well they meet the needs of communities is critical if we are to advance the new national livability agenda successfully.  For the nation’s transit agencies, it is essential that livability-based performance measures include both regional (macro) and neighborhood (micro) indicators so that a comprehensive approach is taken to improve the nation’s transit systems.
Traditionally, transit systems are thought of exclusively in their wholeness: how the system serves a region, city or community, or the extent to which the network serves the population through its reach.  Understanding this larger spatial extent is very important and can provide some basis for comparing the performance across metropolitan areas.  However, only measuring system-wide reach is inadequate because it misses the ability for individuals to access individual points along the system.  These micro-scaled measures of very localized conditions are also important, as they inform about the individual-level environments between potential user and the existing transit system.
This project is developing GIS-based transit and livability performance metrics focusing on the integration of transit system performance, urban form surrounding each transit stop, and transit stop-based ridership data. The research will examine two spatial scales (regional and neighborhood, including stop-level) with two frameworks for evaluation (coverage and accessibility). At a regional scale, performance metrics will focus on the needs of people getting to destinations (particularly jobs and commercial centers) in addition to the geographic coverage of transit. At the neighborhood level (the area surrounding each transit stop) the urban form will be investigated to determine if it supports or hinders access to and use of the transit facility.  The indicators will be validated using transit use/performance data (e.g. ridership) and regression analysis.
In addition, this project will include more qualitative urban design analysis of selected transit stops and their surroundings, providing context to the quantitative analysis.
The expected outcomes are a set of tested and refined performance indicators for a variety of urban configurations that transit agencies across the nation can use to evaluate and improve their system performance in relation to livability goals, and to provide guidelines for transit and local land use agencies to use to improve transit system design to better meet the needs of communities across the country.