Reconnecting America People * Places * Possibility

Measuring Complete Communities

Reconnecting America has collected data in all 366 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the country in order to understand the existing condition of our regions and track progress at the regional level. We have graded every one of the 366 metro areas based on how they measure up to our vision in LivingMovingWorkingThriving.

LIVING

Create affordable communities with transportation choices that:

Goals / Strategies Performance / Outcome Metric Source
Maximize the number of households ... who live in fixed-guideway transit station areas and opportunity areas Share of households living near fixed-guideway transit Center for Transit-Oriented Development
Share of households living in opportunity areas Reconnecting America
Maximize the range of households ... who live in fixed-guideway transit station areas and opportunity areas Share of households living near transit who are low income Center for Transit-Oriented Development
Share of households living in opportunity areas who are low income Reconnecting America
Preserve and stabilize existing neighborhoods ... in fixed-guideway transit station areas and opportunity areas Share of section 8/202 units near fixed-guideway transit Reconnecting America
Share of section 8/202 units in opportunity areas Reconnecting America
Focus future growth in opportunity areas Share of growth in opportunity areas vs regional growth Reconnecting America

WORKING

Use transportation options to enhance regional economic growth that:

Goals / Strategies Performance / Outcome Metric Source
Provide more transit options for accessing our jobs Share of jobs near existing transit Center for Transit-Oriented Development
Share of jobs near planned transit Reconnecting America
Share of jobs accessible to all transit The Brookings Institution, Missed Opportunities
Cluster jobs to allow easier transit access Share of jobs in opportunity areas Reconnecting America
Weighted employment density Public Policy Institute of California
Retain and Attract New Regional Talent and firms Share of 18-34 year olds with a college degree Reconnecting America
Provide access to a range of job opportunities Share of low- and moderate income jobs accessible jobs The Brookings Institution, Missed Opportunities

Moving

Reduce Auto Dependency / Vehicle-Related Emissions that?

Goals / Strategies Performance / Outcome Metric Source
Increase Transit Options Number of transit stations Center for Transit-Oriented Development
Future transit stations Reconnecting America
Share of transit stations in opportunity areas Reconnecting America
Increase Transit Usage Transit commute share American Community Survey
Change in transit commute share Census, American Community Survey
Make Walking and Biking Safe Pedestrian fatalities / walking activity Transportation for America
Make Walking and Biking Accessible and Attractive Share of walking and biking commuters American Community Survey
Share of regional blocks smaller than 6 acres Reconnecting America
Reduce per-capita vehicle miles traveled VMT per capita Center for Neighborhood Technology

Thriving

Support complete, vibrant communities that:

Goals / Strategies Performance / Outcome Metric Source
Provide access to healthy food Share of low income households > 1 mile from a grocery store USDA Food Atlas
Share of households with no car > 1 mile from a grocery store USDA Food Atlas
Share of opportunity areas in food deserts Reconnecting America and USDA
Fast Food to Healthy Food Index USDA Food Atlas
Promote physical activity Physical inactivity rate Center for Disease Control
Provide access to arts, recreation, and entertainment Share of households near parks Reconnecting America
Share of households near parks who are low income Reconnecting America
Ratio of Parks to Households in Opportunity Areas Reconnecting America
Employees in Arts and Entertainment Jobs per 1,000 Reconnecting America and County Business Patterns
Make us happy Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index Gallup