Three Stages of Accessibility Analysis

There are generally three stages to accessibility analysis: Stage one will assess the relative connectivity between settlements and assist in the process of allocating the RDS Housing Growth Indicators in development plans. Stage two will involve a general analysis of the existing transport situation in an area, to assist in the determination of broad areas of relatively good or poor accessibility. Ideally the process will involve producing a set of isochrone maps for the different transport modes of public transport, walking, cycling and car. These maps will help on the assessment of where, in general terms, development should be directed within a settlement. The maps will also assist in the formulation of transport measures and schemes to be included in transport plans. Stage three will involve a more focused analysis, examining in greater detail the accessibility of potential sites to be zoned in the development plan. For example, for a new industrial zone, a key issue will be to understand the ease with which it might be reached by prospective employees. For a housing zone the main interest would be in destination accessibility – the places prospective residents can reach by different modes of transport from that potential site. This process will assist in the final selection of sites for zoning. In cases where sites with poor accessibility by non-car modes are selected for potential zoning, accessibility analysis will help to identify measures that should be introduced to improve accessibility. These can then be identified in the development plan as key site requirements.