Walkability

Surrounding walkability is fundamental to health. The proximity of a project to easily accessible, everyday amenities can greatly benefit health, since the area surrounding a project can naturally promote physical activity. Numerous studies show that people walk more in their daily lives if different types of destinations are within comfortable walking distance.

Strategy Insight

A project may demonstrate its walkability via one of two ways:

1. In geographies where WalkScore® is supported, project teams may submit a screenshot or record of their WalkScore based on the project's address(es). 

2. If WalkScore® is not supported, or a project team feels that the score undervalues walkability and/or is outdated, then the project team may pursue a secondary approach to demonstrate surrounding walkability:

To demonstrate compatibility with a WalkScore® of 50 or higher:

Identify a minimum of three of the following amenities located within a 1/2-mile or an 800-meter walking route of the main building entrance:

• Food outlet (including cafe, restaurant, food court, deli, grocery store)
• Financial service (including bank, ATM, cash machine)
• Gym, recreation, or leisure facility (including fitness center, gym, sports facility, recreation center)
• Public transit stop (including bus stop, light rail station, heavy rail station, ferry terminal, subway station, tram stop)

To demonstrate compatibility with a WalkScore® of 70 or higher:

Identify a minimum of three of the following amenities located within a 1/2-mile or an 800-meter walking route of the main building entrance:

• Food outlet (including cafe, restaurant, food court, deli, grocery store)
• Financial service (including bank, ATM, cash machine)
• Gym, recreation, or leisure facility (including fitness center, gym, sports facility, recreation center)
• Public transit stop (including bus stop, light rail station, heavy rail station, ferry terminal, subway station, tram stop)

-and-

Identify a minimum of two of the following amenities located within a 1/2-mile or an 800-meter walking route of the main building entrance:

• Outdoor open space
• Postal facility
• Community facility
• Pharmacy
• Medical facility (including doctors office, surgical center, urgent care facility, hospital, general medical center)
• School or child care facility
• Retail (including shopping mall, retail center, or street retail)
• Sidewalk with street furniture (including benches, tables, and chairs)

To demonstrate compatibility with a WalkScore® of 90 or higher:

Identify a minimum of three of the following amenities located within a 1/3-mile or an 500-meter walking route of the main building entrance:

• Food outlet (including cafe, restaurant, food court, deli, grocery store)
• Financial service (including bank, ATM, cash machine)
• Gym, recreation, or leisure facility (including fitness center, gym, sports facility, recreation center)
• Public transit stop (including bus stop, light rail station, heavy rail station, ferry terminal, subway station, tram stop)

-and-

Identify a minimum of two of the following amenities located within a 1/3-mile or an 500-meter walking route of the main building entrance:

• Outdoor open space
• Postal facility
• Community facility
• Pharmacy
• Medical facility (including doctors office, surgical center, urgent care facility, hospital, general medical center)
• School or child care facility
• Retail (including shopping mall, retail center, or street retail)
• Sidewalk with street furniture (including benches, tables, and chairs).

*Note that amenities must be located outside the building submitting for certification.