Factors Influencing Walking in Small Urban Region

Abstract

With a population of about 145,000 people, Chittenden County, Vermont, has a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that oversees approximately $30 million annually in transportation investments. Despite the county's small size, nonmotorized travel is an important element of the MPO's transportation planning efforts, as it is for many small and medium-sized communities across the United States. The objective of this research was to identify factors associated with nonmotorized travel, specifically walking trips, within the context of a small urban area. The research used survey, census, and geographic information systems (GIS) data to represent Chittenden County travelers in an analysis of personal, regional, and environmental factors. The results of the research suggest that Chittenden County travelers are represented by both spectrums of the population's income and education. These results contribute to a relatively scarce literature base and provide additional information that, when combined with tools developed previously for small urban areas, may provide planners with insights as they identify and prioritize infrastructure investments to meet the needs of their communities. More research is needed to capture better the travel and built environment effects on walking within a small urban area as well as to determine how to best integrate the demographic characteristics into nonmotorized planning efforts.