Walkability Study Underway in Downtown Dallas

A team of researchers and doctoral students from the University of Texas at Arlington's Institute of Urban Studies "are embarking on a first-of-its-kind study on the walkability of downtown Dallas," according to an article by Brandon Formby.

Formby sets the stage for the research, which takes place in a "downtown whose activity once withered at the end of the workday is now peppered with burgeoning hot spots of residential, recreational and retail vitality."

Hoping to account for the elements already contributing to the success of Downtown Dallas, "[collecting] data to identify and map which city blocks have the highest concentration of pedestrians, the safest crosswalks and the most well-maintained sidewalks."

"In all, the team will collect data on about 30 different urban design features for each street segment," adds Formby. The article provides context for the study in the form of the growing body of literature on the importance of walkability to a number of desirable outcomes. Formby also drills down into specifics of urban design, such as shade trees.