Suburban multifamily housing is the fastest growing housing type in the U.S.  Although areas with this type of housing tend to be near local commercial areas (LCAs), the combination of an absence of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure with a site design practice that lacks access or connectivity makes trips using these modes difficult.

A new study by the Oregon Transportation Research Education Consortium (OTREC)explores pedestrian connectivity in suburban multifamily housing and investigates the link between mode choice and connectivity in these developments.

The study shows that, while suburban multifamily development sites are very often designed and built for access by automobile only,  there is a substantial amount of walking in and around these areas, and that better connected sites/infrastructure result in more walking.  The author concludes that creating better pedestrian connections has the potential to save residents money, provide environmental benefits, and increase residents’ health and sociability.