sophisticated way of evaluating the reach
of transportation systems. Using the actual
layout of road and rail networks, travel
time or distance to specific points can be
measured in a much more useful manner
than traditional analyses. The graphic at
the right shows driving access to
commuter rail stations in Massachusetts in
blue, compared with the older method of
simply drawing a circle around the
stations. Uses include:
 | Identifying areas within a certain | |
| distance of transit stops or highway onramps | ||
| Examining coverage of distribution | |
| facilities | ||
| Examining the impact of a proposed | |
| new road or transit line |
can begin with a GIS base with information
about road layout and traffic volumes,
which can be used to identify potential
problems, and to propose possible
solutions. At right and below is an analysis
of Dudley Square in the Roxbury
neighborhood of Boston. This project
included:
| Traffic flow analysis | |
| Identification of available parcels | |
| Exploration of street frontages | |
| Detailed analysis of the local bus | |
| circulation patterns |
Based on this analysis, a number of
solutions were suggested, including:
| Rerouting buses through the main | |
| stop | ||
| Splitting high traffic streets into | |
| more lower capacity streets | ||
| Creating more street frontage | |
| around the transit hub |
