“connectivity the number of publicly accessible intersections per square mile, including any combination of streets, dedicated alleys, transit rights-of-way, and nonmotorized rights-of-way. If one must both enter and exit an area through the same intersection, such an intersection and any intersections beyond that point are not counted; intersections leading only to culs-de-sac are also not counted. The calculation of square mileage excludes water bodies, parks larger than 1/2 acre, public facility campuses, airports, rail yards, slopes over 15%, and areas nonbuildable under codified law or the rating system. Street rights-of-way may not be excluded.”
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
For all projects
Either (a) locate the project on a site served by existing water and wastewater infrastructure or (b) locate the project within a legally adopted, publicly owned, planned water and wastewater service area, and provide new water and wastewater infrastructure for the project.AND
Option 1. Infill sites
Locate the project on an infill site.OR
Option 2. Adjacent sites with connectivity
Locate the project on an adjacent site (i.e., a site that is adjacent to previously developed land; see Definitions) where the connectivity of the site and adjacent land is at least 90 intersections/square mile (35 intersections/ square kilometer) as measured within a 1/2-mile (800 meters) distance of a continuous segment of the project boundary, equal to or greater than 25% of the project boundary, that is adjacent to previous development. Existing external and internal intersections may be counted if they were not constructed or funded by the project developer within the past ten years. Locate and/or design the project such that a through-street and/or nonmotorized right-of-way intersects the project boundary at least every 600 feet (180 meters) on average, and at least every 800 feet (245 meters), connecting it with an existing street and/or right of way outside the project; nonmotorized rights-of-way may count for no more than 20% of the total. The exemptions listed in NPD Prerequisite 3, Connected and Open Community, do not apply to this option.
Figure 1. Adjacent and connected project site based on minimum 25% of perimeter adjacent to previously developed parcels and at least 90 eligible intersections per square mile (35 intersections/square kilometer) within 1/2 mile (800 meters) of boundary segment adjacent to previous development
Figure 2. Project site with through-street right-of-way intersecting project boundary at least every 600 feet (180 meters) on average
OR
Option 3. Transit corridor or route with adequate transit service
Locate the project on a site with existing and/or planned transit service such that at least 50% of dwelling units and nonresidential building entrances (inclusive of existing buildings) are within a 1/4 mile (400 meters) walk distance of bus and/or streetcar stops, or within a 1/2 mile (800 meters) walk distance of bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, and/or ferry terminals, and the transit service at those stops in aggregate meets the minimums listed in Table 1 (both weekday and weekend trip minimums must be met). Projects must meet the requirements for both weekday and weekend trips and provide service every day. Commuter rail must serve more than one metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and/or the area surrounding the core of an MSA (or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) . Table 1. Minimum daily transit service
Weekday trips |
Weekend trips |
|
Projects with multiple transit types (bus, streetcar, rail, or ferry) |
60 |
40 |
Projects with commuter rail or ferry service only |
24 |
6 |
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Addenda
“connectivity the number of publicly accessible intersections per square mile, including any combination of streets, dedicated alleys, transit rights-of-way, and nonmotorized rights-of-way. If one must both enter and exit an area through the same intersection, such an intersection and any intersections beyond that point are not counted; intersections leading only to culs-de-sac are also not counted. The calculation of square mileage excludes water bodies, parks larger than 1/2 acre, public facility campuses, airports, rail yards, slopes over 15%, and areas nonbuildable under codified law or the rating system. Street rights-of-way may not be excluded.”
Replace all instances of "square footage" with "floor area"
Section a.
Behind "the Federal Transit Administration " add: "(or equivalent national agency for projects outside the U.S.)”
Section c.
In the first paragraph under the "OR" section, replace “municipality” with “local government.”
“connectivity the number of publicly accessible intersections per square mile, including any combination of streets, dedicated alleys, transit rights-of-way, and nonmotorized rights-of-way. If one must both enter and exit an area through the same intersection, such an intersection and any intersections beyond that point are not counted; intersections leading only to culs-de-sac are also not counted. The calculation of square mileage excludes water bodies, parks larger than 1/2 acre, public facility campuses, airports, rail yards, slopes over 15%, and areas nonbuildable under codified law or the rating system. Street rights-of-way may not be excluded.”
Add the flowing statement at the end of the first sentence: “(local equivalent standards for threatened and endangered species may be used by projects outside the U.S. if the site area is not covered by NatureServe data).”
Documentation toolkit
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
For all projects
Either (a) locate the project on a site served by existing water and wastewater infrastructure or (b) locate the project within a legally adopted, publicly owned, planned water and wastewater service area, and provide new water and wastewater infrastructure for the project.AND
Option 1. Infill sites
Locate the project on an infill site.OR
Option 2. Adjacent sites with connectivity
Locate the project on an adjacent site (i.e., a site that is adjacent to previously developed land; see Definitions) where the connectivity of the site and adjacent land is at least 90 intersections/square mile (35 intersections/ square kilometer) as measured within a 1/2-mile (800 meters) distance of a continuous segment of the project boundary, equal to or greater than 25% of the project boundary, that is adjacent to previous development. Existing external and internal intersections may be counted if they were not constructed or funded by the project developer within the past ten years. Locate and/or design the project such that a through-street and/or nonmotorized right-of-way intersects the project boundary at least every 600 feet (180 meters) on average, and at least every 800 feet (245 meters), connecting it with an existing street and/or right of way outside the project; nonmotorized rights-of-way may count for no more than 20% of the total. The exemptions listed in NPD Prerequisite 3, Connected and Open Community, do not apply to this option.
Figure 1. Adjacent and connected project site based on minimum 25% of perimeter adjacent to previously developed parcels and at least 90 eligible intersections per square mile (35 intersections/square kilometer) within 1/2 mile (800 meters) of boundary segment adjacent to previous development
Figure 2. Project site with through-street right-of-way intersecting project boundary at least every 600 feet (180 meters) on average
OR
Option 3. Transit corridor or route with adequate transit service
Locate the project on a site with existing and/or planned transit service such that at least 50% of dwelling units and nonresidential building entrances (inclusive of existing buildings) are within a 1/4 mile (400 meters) walk distance of bus and/or streetcar stops, or within a 1/2 mile (800 meters) walk distance of bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, and/or ferry terminals, and the transit service at those stops in aggregate meets the minimums listed in Table 1 (both weekday and weekend trip minimums must be met). Projects must meet the requirements for both weekday and weekend trips and provide service every day. Commuter rail must serve more than one metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and/or the area surrounding the core of an MSA (or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) . Table 1. Minimum daily transit service
Weekday trips |
Weekend trips |
|
Projects with multiple transit types (bus, streetcar, rail, or ferry) |
60 |
40 |
Projects with commuter rail or ferry service only |
24 |
6 |