WalkScore Introduces Transit Ranking

Walkscore.com has released a new transit ranking system that assigns scores to 25 big U.S. cities based on residents’ access to public transportation. Seattle scores seventh out of the top 25, Portland comes in at tenth, New York City is number one. Tacoma wasn’t big enough to make the list, but the story reminded us that it’s been a while since we took a look at Tacoma’s walkability, according to our Walk Score.

Seattle-based Walk Score assigns walkability scores to any address based on its proximity to nearby amenities (grocery stores, restaurants, schools, parks, public transit, etc.). When we searched for Tacoma on the Walk Score algorithm, it came up with a score of a stunning 94 out of 100. Then we looked closer. The map tool was using an address smack in the middle of downtown (11th and Tacoma Avenue, it appears) to assess the score. Well, that makes sense. A second search turned up a more believable 59.

So we tried another address – one we used the last time we wrote about Walk Score. Back in 2007, our house had a score of 73; it’s now up to an 88. We find it to be a pretty walkable neighborhood, with most of what we need close by, and bus lines not too far off, but we’re not sure what the improvement over the last five years has been. City Hall gets a score of 95, making it a “Walker’s Paradise.” Perhaps even more interesting than block-by-block scores, however, are the scores given to Tacoma’s neighborhoods. Hmm…

The score can’t capture some of the realities of walking down your block (weren’t we just talking about Tacoma’s sidewalks/trees?). And the minutiae of a point or two one way or the other are probably not all that useful, as some of their data may not be completely accurate (listings of “Food and Drug Administration” as “grocery,” and “Daniel Blue” as the most proximate shopping option are questionable). Still, it is interesting to think about the broader patterns and implications. The site measures walk scores by city, by neighborhood, and even by particular street address.

Try your address – how does the score measure up to your reality?

More about Walk Score and Tacoma, previously from Exit133: Measuring Walkability.