Enhancing street connectivity through shorter blocks, interconnected street networks, pedestrian connections, and multiple route options can reduce travel distances and improve walkability.
Improving street connectivity characterized by short blocks, frequent intersections, and multiple route choices allows for shorter more direct trips. Improved connectivity enhances the effectiveness of bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
For more details, see CAPCOA, T-17. Improve Street Connectivity, pg. 130-132 and CALTRANS VMT Reduction Program, Local road networks/connectivity, pg. 33-36 for VMT reduction quantification.
This measure enhances walkability and access to destinations for residents without cars, especially in underserved neighborhoods with disconnected street grids. Improved connectivity can reduce travel distances and improve access to jobs, schools, and essential services. Prioritize infrastructure improvements in disadvantaged communities to close gaps in mobility access.
Improving street connectivity can require significant upfront funding for new streets, intersections, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, crossings, and associated infrastructure, as well as ongoing maintenance and operations. Where new development creates additional transportation demand, improvements may be funded through development impact fees or other developer contributions, provided that the fees maintain an appropriate nexus and proportionality to the impacts of development. Other potential funding sources include the Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and Transportation Alternatives Program, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, Caltrans Sustainable Communities grants, the Statewide Active Transportation Program, and local transportation and infrastructure programs. Regional and local agencies may also combine roadway, pedestrian, bicycle, and safe-routes-to-school funding to implement connectivity improvements.
StanCOG’s Regional Active Transportation Plan provides a countywide framework for identifying and improving bicycle and pedestrian connections between communities and major destinations. The regional planning process considers connectivity between existing and planned active transportation facilities and emphasizes the importance of creating a network rather than isolated facilities. This provides a basis for coordinating local street-network improvements with regional bicycle and pedestrian investments.
