Developing and pilot-testing a neighbourhood multi-destination walking accessibility index: evidence from ‘New Deal’ villages

Accessibility is a central objective in contemporary urban planning and design. Neighbourhood walking accessibility supports opportunities, health, and sustainability. This study develops the Enhanced Threshold-Based Cumulative Opportunities (ETCO) measure, a theory-based, multi-destination walking accessibility index piloted in four New Deal communities. ETCO compares neighbourhood walking accessibility and correlates with commute walk-share and a proprietary accessibility metric, indicating value for policy, planning and design. Mixed-methods case studies show that Puerto Rico’s Eleanor Roosevelt Village scores over twice its US counterparts, owing to a denser, connected street network, informal governance and lower initial automobility, yet weak governance contributes to declining pedestrian infrastructure.