The impact of a new light rail network upon walkability in a central business district

Traditionally, in Australia, development has occurred in a way that has encouraged car use rather than public or active transport. Recently, there has been an increasing amount of research into walkability and how it can best be encouraged when designing neighbourhoods, in order to reduce those problems associated with car dependency such as urban sprawl and increased obesity rates. The recent construction of a light rail system on the Gold Coast presents an opportunity to utilise and apply findings from existing research to existing pedestrian infrastructure, walkability levels and connectivity to some important destinations from a new light rail station. Therefore, this research paper aims to determine to what degree the walkability concepts have been considered during the design and construction of pathways from new light rail stations to important destinations, and to provide recommendations which will aid policy makers when designing the next stages of this network and future networks. The paper will have a specific focus on the factors that impact upon the attitudes and behaviours to walking. The mixed methods research project revealed that the routes to the key facilities around the case study tram station were in fact very walkable and well connected, but identified some important factors which inhibit walkability. Suggestions and recommendations are provided to enhance the desirability of walking in a central business district. The key issue this research paper has identified is that the development of a light rail system and the upgrade to the walking facilities around it will not automatically increase the number of people walking in an area, and that policy makers should consider many other factors during the planning, design and implementation stages of new pedestrian networks