Examining the impact of the urban transportation system on tangible and intangible vitality at the city-block scale in Nanjing, China

Cities’ transportation systems have substantial impacts on urban vitality. Given the increasing availability of data on residents’ activities, cities’ tangible/intangible vitality can be analyzed more accurately. This study examined the associations of tangible and intangible vitality with transportation system features, specifically exploring various transportation modes’ accessibility, features related to block forms, and border vacuums at a block scale across different urban areas. Nanjing, China, was analyzed as a case study. Our findings reveal a declining gradient of urban vitality from the Old Town to the Main City and the New Area. Consequently, we suggest prioritizing efforts to enhance urban vitality in the New Area, particularly in its low-vitality blocks. Strategies for improvement include increasing public transportation accessibility and road density, which can positively influence the overall vitality of the entire city. Improving active travel accessibility has a positive impact on tangible vitality, while enhancing automobile accessibility potentially contributes to intangible vitality. Negative border effects of large transportation projects on tangible vitality should be mitigated. Interestingly, we found that intersection density has opposite effects on tangible and intangible vitality. These insights offer valuable guidance for urban planners aiming to enhance vitality levels across an entire city or within specific areas.