National Accessibility Evaluation Phase II

Project summary:

This project will implement activities for the National Accessibility Evaluation pooled-fund study, performing accessibility evaluations describing conditions in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The National Accessibility Evaluation project has two main objectives. First, it will create a new, national census block-level accessibility dataset that can be used by partners in local transportation system evaluation, performance management, planning, and research efforts. Second, it produced and published a series of annual reports describing accessibility to jobs by driving and by transit in metropolitan areas across America.

• Accessibility Dataset
  This project will create a national census block-level dataset describing accessibility to jobs and other destinations from locations throughout the country, updated annually. Accessibility calculations will rely on detailed travel-time calculations for both driving and transit, which will be implemented using commercially available, GPS-based speed measurements and published transit schedules. Each Access Across America partner will have direct digital access to the accessibility datasets covering the jurisdictions of all partners. The data format will be such that the dataset can be easily accessed using popular software available on office computers.
• Annual Reports
  The annual Access Across America reports will provide summaries of the detailed accessibility datasets for the 50 largest (by population) metropolitan areas across America. These reports will be released to national and local media outlets and supported by publicity and communications efforts. Partners will be recognized in the report for their sponsorship and support.