Access Testing: Who Benefits & How

“Access” refers to the totality of opportunities reachable by a person given a specified time window (e.g., 15 minutes) and method of reaching it (e.g., walking, e-delivery)[i]. In the last few years, a variety of resources and guidebooks related to accessibility have been developed by academic committees, non-profit partnerships, international organizations, federal agencies, and other researchers. This post discusses a process of measuring access and a case study that uses automated methods to evaluate transportation projects and understand the magnitude and distribution of their benefits.