Measuring urban design & walkability

The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) is a governmental association that aims to improve the future of Utah by promoting collaboration in transportation and community design. As part of their efforts, they have utilized an open-source Story Map resource to measure walkability and urban design quality in the Salt Lake County area. The measurement methodology, based on the "Measuring Urban Design" book, focuses on factors such as imageability, enclosure, human scale, transparency, and complexity. Streets were scored based on these qualities to assess their performance, considering aesthetics and factors that encourage walking. Sidewalk inventory and safety/accessibility assessments were also conducted. The study covered three districts: South Salt Lake and Midvale, as well as Transit Station areas including Centre Pointe Station and Millcreek Station, addressing urban design standards and filling in data gaps.