Center for Transportation Studies
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Established in 1987, the mission of the University's Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) is to cultivate improvements and innovation in transportation through research, engagement, and education. CTS conducts multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach programs. Preserved here are CTS research reports, annual reports, and publications arranged by CTS program. Learn more about the CTS here.
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Browsing Center for Transportation Studies by Subject "Access"
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Item Commercial Gentrification Along Twin Cities Transitway Corridors(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2022-05) Wexler, Noah; Fan, YinglingThis report examines how the construction and operation of Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area affected commercial gentrification. Using data on establishments providing retail, food, or personal services, we use several econometric approaches to examine how both the construction and operation of new transit affected sales, employment, and concentration of nearby establishments. We estimate separate models for small single-location firms and establishments affiliated with larger multiple-location firms. Overall, we find that robust evidence that the Green Line reduced sales for single-location firms. We also find some evidence that the A Line BRT slightly reduced sales and employment for the same types of firms. By contrast, the Blue Line did not have significant effects on nearby stores. We use the Green Line as a case study to examine the mechanisms of transit-induced commercial gentrification, finding that gentrification effects are correlated with positive residential construction effects. These findings suggest that transit-induced gentrification is dependent on transit's affects on surrounding physical infrastructure, pointing to actionable policy remedies that can protect small firms during periods when nearby construction may disrupt business.Item Quality of Life: Assessment for Transportation Performance Measures(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2013-01) Schneider, Ingrid E.; Guo, Tian; Schroeder, SierraQuality of life (QOL) is a commonly used term. Defining QOL, however, is an ongoing challenge that experts often take on with minimal input from citizens. This groundbreaking research sought citizen input on what comprised QOL and what role transportation played in it. Further, this research explored in detail the important factors across the breadth of transportation and how the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was performing on these important factors. The research encompassed three phases between 2010 and 2011: (1) an extensive literature review on QOL, (2) 24 focus groups that asked Minnesota’s citizens about their QOL, and (3) a mail questionnaire about what matters in quality of life, transportation and their intersection. Eleven related quality of life factors emerged, including transportation: education, employment and finances, environment, housing, family, friends and neighbors, health, local amenities, recreation and entertainment, safety, spirituality/faith/serenity, and transportation. Within transportation, seven important areas were identified that predicted satisfaction with MnDOT services: access, design, environmental issues, maintenance, mobility, safety and transparency. Results reveal that a) QOL is complex and transportation plays an important and consistent role in it across Minnesota; b) transportation is critical to QOL because it connects us to important destinations in aspects that matter most; and c) Minnesotans can readily identify what matters and how the state is performing within the breadth of transportation services.