THE VALUE OF WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
THE VALUE OF WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Decreasing reliance on automobiles and reducing congestion by utilizing sidewalks and greenways can lead to improved air quality. Walking paths serve as a tool for conserving open space and preserving wetlands.
Connected greenways often yield high returns on investment through economic diversification, recreational tourism, and small business opportunities.
A 2018 study looking at the economic impact of four greenways in North Carolina (Brevard Greenway, Little Sugar Creek Greenway, American Tobacco Trail, and Duck Trail) found that every $1.00 spent on trail construction supports $1.72 annually from local business revenue, sales tax revenue, and benefits related to health and transportation.
Less Driving Means Cleaner Air
If 8% more children living within 2 miles of a school were to walk or bike to school , the air pollution re- duced from not taking a car would be equivalent to re- moving 60,000 cars from the road for one year, na-
Cars emit CO₂, nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide, and other gases that are associated with asthma attacks and cardiovascular disease. Pregnant people, newborns, children, and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable to air pollution. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018
Combined Study Results: A one-time $26.7M capital investment in the four greenways supports:
tionally.* Pedroso, 2008, SRTS
$25.7M Estimated annual savings due to more physical activity, less pollution and congestion, and fewer traffic injuries from use of the greenways
$48.7M Estimated business revenue from greenway construction
790 JOBS Are supported annually through greenway construction
$19.4M Estimated annual sales revenue at local businesses along the four greenways
$684K Estimated annual local and state sales tax revenue from businesses along the greenways
*In accordance with North Carolina law, Wake County Public School System “does not automatically provide school bus transportation to families that reside within 1.5 mile of the school their student is attending.” The Transportation Department can decide whether to provide transportation within this 1.5-mile range based on area walkability and cost factors. This assessment is used to establish “no transport”/walk zone boundaries (though these do not exist for every school in the WCPSS district). These boundaries can be changed based on infrastructure improvements or other measures that make walking to school safer for students. The recommendations in this plan have the potential to significantly improve pedestrian safety around schools, allowing many more Fuquay-Varina students to walk to school safely!
Environmental Services of Greenways Greenways protect and link fragmented habitat and provide opportunities for protecting plant and animal species. By conserving plant cover, greenways also preserve the natural air filtration processes provided by plants, which remove harmful pollutants, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and airborne heavy metal particles. Finally, greenways improve water quality by creating a natural buffer zone that protects streams, rivers, and lakes; preventing soil erosion; and filtering pollution caused by agricultural and road runoff. Greenways also act as a line of defense against natural hazards, such as flooding.
The study included extensive trail user surveys for each of the four greenways over a period of three years.
Source: Institute of Transportation Research and Education. (2017). Evaluating the Economic Impact of Shared Use Paths in North Carolina. https://itre.ncsu.edu/focus/bike-ped/ sup-economic-impacts/
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
FUQUAY-VARINA PEDESTRIAN PLAN
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