Yazmin Valdez-Torres

Bio: Yazmin Valdez-Torres is an academic researcher from Florida State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Transit-oriented development & Population. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 56 citations.

Do aging populations have differential accessibility to activities? Analyzing the spatial structure of social, professional, and business opportunities

Abstract: Accessibility is facilitated by well-organized transportation systems that move people efficiently, and it is improved as more activities are reachable to people given the means of available travel. As the current population ages, it will ultimately challenge those who manage transportation systems in their attempts to satisfy the older population’s basic needs. Scanning the literature, accessibility has not been fully explored in relation to aging and older populations. We construct a systematic quantitative analysis of the older population’s accessibility to potential activities. Given their residential patterns and the prevailing transportation system, we ask whether they have as much potential accessibility to activities as their younger counterparts. Our study area is a smaller metropolitan area in the state of Florida. Using highly disaggregate spatial data containing the locations of populations and possible activities, we implement accessibility models in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment, accounting for mode of transportation. Scenarios and activities analyzed are informed by a review of the broader literature as well as our own analysis of the 2009 National Household Travel Survey. We find that the potential accessibility of the aging population varies by activity type and differs with other age group cohorts. When we look in detail at subgroups within the aging population, the oldest group (those 85+) tends to have higher levels of accessibility.

Aging Populations and Transit-Oriented Development: Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Neighborhood Trends from 2000 and 2010

Abstract: In the coming years, transportation planners and policy makers in the United States will need to shift their focus to acknowledge the needs of the growing aging population. A principal task that must be addressed is how to cope with meeting the demands of aging adults who may not be able to operate and maintain their own personal vehicles because of growing physical and financial constraints. Transit-oriented developments (TODs), typically defined by mixed-use and pedestrian-friendly development surrounding a transit stop, are places that might benefit aging populations and meet their transportation needs. This paper explores demographic trends and characteristics surrounding transit-oriented developments. To compare how the environment has changed in terms of socioeconomic characteristics, this study examined census attributes such as people’s age, income by age, and the number of various activities performed in TODs. Also investigated were trends in TOD road infrastructure and activity locations. It was...

Spatio-temporal travel characteristics of the elderly in an ageing society

Abstract: Hong Kong’s population is ageing at an unprecedented and considerable rate, predominantly due to sustained low fertility and mortality rates. In 2013, the proportion of people aged 60 years or above was the second highest in Asia, exceeded only by that in Japan. Given that Hong Kong is a high-density, transit-oriented city, the predicted rapid growth of its elderly population is expected to significantly affect the existing public transport systems. To provide suitable policy recommendations that cater to the travel needs of an ageing society, we must investigate and understand the travel behavior and preferences of Hong Kong’s elderly citizens. In this study, we extracted the household interview survey data from the 2011 Travel Characteristics Survey to identify the travel patterns of the elderly and compare them with other age cohorts and among subgroups of the elderly population. We visualize and uncover the spatio-temporal travel characteristics of the elderly, and offer policy insights that promote age-friendly public transport systems. We believe that the findings and discussions herein will prove useful in future studies aiming to establish effective and appropriate public transport policy measures to improve elderly mobility.

Active travel, public transportation use, and daily transport among older adults: The association of built environment

Abstract: Objectives To examine active travel and public transportation use among U.S. older adults and the built environment characteristics associated with them. Methods Total active travel, public transportation trips, travel purpose diversity, total and maximum distance traveled for older adults (>= 65 years) relative to middle age adults (45–64 years) as reported in the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) were compared using linear regression models and logistic regression models. Results Overall, adults over 65 years of age had 3.3 trips and total travel distance of 20.6 miles per day. Active travel and daily transport trips declined from younger to older age groups. Among the older adults, the daily transport varied by a number of characteristics. The association of built environment on older adults’ transport differed by the specific environmental characteristics and travel modes. Discussion Existing transportation facilities and policies need to be adjusted to meet the challenge. Our study has a potential to contribute to the design of effective interventions that enhance health and quality of life for the burgeoning aging population in the U.S.

A Twenty-Five-Year Biography of the TOD Concept: From Design to Policy, Planning, and Implementation:

Abstract: Promoting a new vision of community—walkable, affordable, environmentally sustainable—the urban design idea of transit-oriented development (TOD) extended the land use and transportation nexus. Thi...

Investigating walking accessibility to recreational amenities for elderly people in Nanjing, China

Abstract: Taking into account the rapidly aging demographic landscape in China, securing elderly’s right to participate in society has become an urgent challenge. Geographical access to urban amenities is known to influence social participation and integration. However, the application of accessibility analysis to elderly population in China has received little attention to date. This study examines the walking accessibility to recreational amenities for older adults in the Chinese context with an explicit focus on equity. Building on empirically-based estimates of a cumulative opportunity approach, we calculate the levels of accessibility at the traffic analysis zone level, evaluate how accessibility varies across age cohorts, and present the distribution of accessibility across zones. To this end, we draw on the 2015 Nanjing Travel Survey and the city’s GIS database. Instead of assuming a fixed threshold, this paper applies a spatial expansion model to allow for person- and location-specific walking distances to measure accessibility. The spatial disparities in access to recreational amenities are evaluated using the notion of vertical equity for identifying areas that are better-off or worse-off. Our results show pronounced distributional effects of current land-use and transportation policies for different age cohorts. In particular, elderly people experience lower accessibility to chess/card rooms and urban parks than their younger counterparts. The empirical evidence in this research can inform planning and policy interventions and feed current scientific debates on the role of accessibility in addressing social inclusion for an age-friendly society.