Project Overview

As cities increasingly prioritize walkability to promote livability and sustainability, this study examines whether New York City’s Open Streets Program is equitably distributed across neighborhoods. Building on Transportation Alternatives’ 2020 findings of income- and race-based disparities, the project evaluates placement equity through a broader lens of social determinants—jobs, schools, health facilities, and household income. Using H3 grid–based catchment analyses, accessibility to Open Streets is quantified for each hexagon by calculating the opportunities reachable within a walkable neighborhood. These accessibility measures are then compared across income levels to assess whether communities with differing socioeconomic characteristics receive similar benefits from the program. The goal is to provide a data-driven basis for improving the fairness and effectiveness of future Open Streets planning in New York City.