New tools and data sources have begun to change the way we think about and plan for meeting people’s transportation needs. Accessibility analysis lets us measure transportation performance in terms of people’s ability to reach destinations instead of simply how fast cars move or whether transit runs on time. Trip-making data, which come from smartphones, navigation devices, and GPS-enabled vehicles, let us understand people’s travel patterns and trip characteristics in detail without relying on costly travel surveys or complex travel demand models.
Connecting Sacramento is the first study to incorporate both technologies, including data from multiple sources, and assess how they can be used together to guide transportation- and land use-related decisions. This study focused specifically on opportunities to improve first- and last-mile connections to light rail transit in Sacramento, but its findings are widely applicable. Key outcomes are:
- Ground-truthing of the various tools and data sources, with stakeholder involvement.
- Techniques for applying the tools and data in specific decision-making applications.
- Important advancements in each of the technologies.
- A more complete understanding of the various methods and technologies available.
The results are presented in a technical report and a series of briefs, provided below.
This study involved collaboration among many partners, supporters, and stakeholders. SSTI led the study along with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. TransitCenter sponsored the work and played an essential role in guiding it. The Barr Foundation and Planet Bike provided additional support. SSTI engaged local stakeholders throughout the study – including the Sacramento Council of Governments, the City of Sacramento, Sacramento Regional Transit, Caltrans, and the Sacramento Downtown Partnership – along with technological providers Citilabs, StreetLight Data, and Teralytics.
Materials
Accessibility and Trip-Making: An Introduction for Practitioners
Briefs
Connecting Sacramento: A Trip-Making and Accessibility Study
Accessibility Analysis and Connections to Transit
Understanding Trip-Making with Big Data