A study on the impact of a compact city policy on travel behavior and access to urban services

Abstract

This study evaluates the compact city policy in Toyama City from the viewpoints of residents' travel behavior and access to urban services. Questionnaire survey for residents was conducted and travel behavior and difficulties of access to a supermarket and a clinic are compared between inside residential promotion area and outside the area in the location normalization plan. The analysis revealed that residents living outside the area are more likely to use automobiles but residents inside the area are also heavily depend on automobiles. Now, about 90% of the residents don't feel difficulties in access to supermarkets and clinics. The difficulties in access are related to living in areas with convenient public transportation and closeness to urban services.