Livable Streets, Livable Arterials? Characteristics of Commercial Arterial Roads Associated With Neighborhood Livability

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Planners and engineers traditionally consolidate motorized traffic onto arterial roads that pose challenges for surrounding neighborhoods. We investigate the positive and negative impacts of commercial arterials with nodes of activity on the livability of surrounding neighborhoods. We examine 10 arterials in Denver (CO) and survey respondents in adjacent neighborhoods, asking how they view those arterials. We use factor analysis to create a typology of neighbors' perceptions of these arterials. Neighbors like arterials that they perceive as a) vibrant with good transit access and b) quiet and clean; they dislike arterials that they perceive as a) unpleasant and b) sketchy. Vibrant arterials contribute to the perceived livability of the surrounding neighborhoods, whereas sketchy arterials are negatively associated with livability, but the same arterials are often simultaneously vibrant and sketchy. Residents clearly value the social functions that arterials provide and seem less aware of traffic volumes; some low-volume arterials are not more livable than those with higher traffic volumes. Our findings are limited by the small sample size; we do not try to validate objective measures of livability with residents' perceptions.

Takeaway for practice: Arterials can be good places for surrounding neighborhoods while still serving as major traffic corridors; accessibility and mobility do not always conflict. Planners should develop economic development plans for affected neighborhoods and enhance neighborhood livability by encouraging active land uses on arterials, maintaining the safety and cleanliness Livable Streets, Livable Arterials? Characteristics of Commercial Arterial Roads Associated With Neighborhood Livability Carolyn McAndrews and Wesley Marshall of arterials, and enhancing the pedestrian environment along those arterials.

Keywords:

• arterial roads
• livability
• neighborhoods
• street design
• traffic

Research Support

Mountain-Plains Consortium University Transportation Center and the University of Colorado Denver supported this study.

Supplemental Material

Supplemental data for this article can be found on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carolyn McAndrews

Carolyn McAndrews ([email protected]) is an assistant professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Colorado Denver.

Wesley Marshall

Wesley Marshall ([email protected]) is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver.