Browsing by Subject "Transitways"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessing Neighborhood and Social Influences of Transit Corridors
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2012-07) Fan, Yingling; Guthrie, Andrew
    This research investigates neighborhood and social influences of major transit improvements in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. To delineate a comprehensive picture, this research focuses on four transit corridors—Hiawatha LRT, NorthStar Commuter Rail, Cedar Avenue BRT, and Central Corridor LRT—each of which is at a different stage of planning, construction, or operation. The project undertakes a general quantification of neighborhood social change in transit served areas. For each corridor, the researchers also investigate inter-neighborhood and inter-corridor variations in social change, and examine residents' and business owners' perceptions of neighborhood social change, as well as of the specific impacts of transit corridors. A mix of quantitative analysis and survey research is used. By examining a wide range of system development stages including planning, construction, and operation, research findings will help policy makers determine at what point in the timelines of major transit capital projects policy responses are needed and likely to be most effective. By covering a variety of transit technologies including LRT, BRT and Commuter Rail, as well as a diverse range of urban and suburban neighborhoods, results from this research will help policy makers make more informed decisions about how to prevent and mitigate socially harmful neighborhood changes associated with various types of transitways. The research also presents strategies for engaging residents and businesses with negative, neutral and positive perceptions of transit projects in the transitway development process.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Hiawatha Line: Impacts on Land Use and Residential Housing Value
    (Center for Transportation Studies, 2010-02) Goetz, Edward G.; Ko, Kate; Hagar, Aaron; Ton, Hoang; Matson, Jeff
    This report presents the results of an examination of the economic and land-use impacts of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line. Specifically, the report contains findings on the impact of the line on residential property values, housing investment, and land-use patterns. Property value impacts were determined through the creation of a hedonic pricing model for single-family and multi-family residential properties within a one-half mile radius of the Hiawatha Line stations. Price trends within station areas were examined both prior to and after completion of the Hiawatha Line in 2004 and in comparison to a control area of southeast Minneapolis. Housing investment trends were investigated through an examination of building permit data, also broken down into pre- and post-construction periods. Land use patterns were examined through analysis of the Metropolitan Council’s seven-county land use data base. The findings indicate that construction of the Hiawatha Line has had a positive effect on property values within station areas. The effect is limited to the west side of the line; on the east side a four-lane highway and a strip of industrial land uses intervenes and eliminates any positive impact of the line. Results also show a high level of residential investment (as measured by dollar value of the investment) within station areas compared to the control area. No changes in land use patterns were detected since completion of the light rail line. This study demonstrates that completion of the Hiawatha Line has generated value and investment activity in the Minneapolis housing market.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Maximizing the Benefits of Transitway Investment
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2012-09) Fan, Yingling; Tilahun, Nebiyou Y.
    In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, significant long-range transit planning activities have been ongoing since the late 1990s. By 2030, the region is expected to have a network of fourteen transitways converging on the Minneapolis and St. Paul downtown areas. This project seeks to fully capitalize on the opportunities offered by transitways, by testing forward-looking policy options that enable the effective integration of transit, land use planning, and economic development. The overarching goal of this research project was twofold: 1) to sensitize and prepare policymakers for risks and rewards of various future land use and transit scenarios; and 2) to develop best practices in regional land use and transit planning for promoting economic growth and social equity.