Infrastructure & Access in NCT

This dashboard presents a comprehensive view of Infrastructure & Access across 24 North Central Texas counties, focusing on three key dimensions: Exercise Access, Library Access, and Broadband Access. The analysis spans multiple years, reflecting how data availability differs by indicator.

Overall Insight

  • The average Infrastructure & Access KPI across the region stands at 85.48%, indicating generally strong access levels, with notable variation across counties and indicators.
  • Infrastructure access has improved steadily over time, particularly in recent years as broadband data becomes available and coverage expands.

Indicator Coverage by Year

  • Exercise Access: Available from 2014 to 2024, showing a clear upward trend and forming the historical backbone of the dashboard.
  • Library Access: Available only for 2015, serving as a single-year benchmark rather than a trend indicator.
  • Broadband Access: Available from 2021 onward, reflecting more recent infrastructure expansion and digital incorporation efforts.

Trend Analysis

  • The Infrastructure Trend chart shows minimal values prior to 2019 due to limited indicator coverage.
  • A sharp increase after 2019 aligns with the incorporation of broadband access data, driving overall averages higher.
  • By 2023–2024, infrastructure access levels stabilize in the mid-80% to high-80% range, signaling maturity in service availability.

County-Level Insights

  • The Infrastructure Ranking highlights disparities across counties:
    • Top-performing counties (e.g., Denton, Ellis, Collin) exceed 90%, reflecting strong broadband and service access.
    • Lower-performing counties (e.g., Hamilton, Comanche) remain in the mid- to high-70% range, indicating potential infrastructure gaps.
  • These differences emphasize the importance of targeted infrastructure investment rather than uniform policy approaches.

Geographic Patterns (Broadband Access – 2023)

  • The map visualization reveals:
    • Higher broadband access clustered around urban and suburban counties.
    • Lower access percentages in more rural counties, highlighting ongoing digital divide concerns.
  • Broadband access ranges roughly from ~77% to ~95%, underscoring uneven regional coverage.

Key Takeaway

This dashboard illustrates that while overall infrastructure access is strong and improving, data availability varies by indicator and year, and county-level disparities persist. The insights support informed decision-making for infrastructure planning, broadband expansion, and fairness-focused investment across North Central Texas.