Beyond Neighborhood Design: Exploring the Effects of Smart Growth on Older Adults' Travel Behavior over Time

Previous studies mainly substantiate the influence of neighborhood design on older adults' travel behavior. This study goes beyond and examines how smart growth affects older adults' travel behavior over time in the central Puget Sound. Using regression models for the years 1999, 2006, and 2014, we find that smart growth factors have significant but changing effects. The regional growth centers play a growing role in reducing older adults' travel distance, trip frequency, and promoting non-car commuting modes. This study adds to the knowledge of how older adults' travel behavior can be affected by the multilevel and long-term urban development strategies.