The ballot proposal committee “Connect Franklin” has claimed that adding sidewalks will improve walkability scores and increase property values. Let’s take a look at this claim.
Determining Walkability Scores
Points are awarded based on the distance to amenities in each category. Amenities within a 5 minute walk receive the maximum score, and anything more than 30 minutes receives a score of zero. Everything in between is derated using a formula which isn’t provided. There are some other factors used like population density, block length, and intersection density which may be factored in (https://www.walkscore.com/methodology.shtml).
Verdict
This is a real whopper intended to garner votes based on misinformation. The only thing that will improve Franklin’s walkability score would be more amenities and having residences closer to amenities.
In fact, sidewalks will negatively impact the value of the affected homes reducing the property values, these reduced property values will also negatively impact all nearby home values.
Good News: Franklin is VERY WALKABLE today!
The majority of residents living in Franklin chose to live here to be away from the hustle and bustle of surrounding towns. We covet the rural nature of the town, with its close proximity to every possible type of amenity. This is the where the value comes from, not in the ability to walk home with our groceries.
While today’s metrics will NEVER allow Franklin to have a high walkability score, does it matter? Franklin is already a walker’s paradise given the high number interconnected low traffic residential areas with lots of trees and park-like settings.
Just take a walk and you will see how walkable Franklin is. Distance to amenities is NOT a good judgement of how walkable an area is, but the number of people out walking indicates we are far more walkable than the scores indicate.
See the following article if you want some more details on flaws of walkability scores and how they might be improved
Franklin Villagers 