Transportation Accessibility and Quality of Life

Accessibility is a key component of measuring how well our transportation system is functioning and serving the people using it. The aim of a regional transportation system is not to just provide fast and safe transportation, it is also about providing accessible and convenient transportation options that meet the vital needs of residents and enhance quality of life.

Access to Core Services in Southeast Michigan measures and benchmarks accessibility for seven core services – fixed-route transit, jobs, health care facilities, supermarkets, parks, schools, and libraries. These core services are major destinations that residents need to access on a regular basis.

Cover of the January 2016 SEMCOG report titled Access to Core Services in Southeast Michigan. Image shows a sidewalk with parked bikes, a bus, and storefronts with plants and flowers.

SEMCOG’s Map Gallery includes the interactive Access to Park

Map of Southeast Michigan showing walk access to all parks in seven counties. Areas are color-coded by walking time: 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–30 minutes. A high concentration of green markers indicates greater park accessibility.