Multi-Scalar Analysis of Transit-Oriented Development for New Start Commuter Rail

This paper reports a novel, multi-scalar approach to analyzing population growth and employment development by economic sector within commuter rail transit-oriented development zones. To demonstrate, five new-start commuter rail systems are examined – Rail Runner (New Mexico), FrontRunner (Utah), Northstar (Minnesota), Music City Star (Tennessee) and Westside Express (Oregon). Using ESRI Business Analyst, a series of multi-scalar data tables were created to examine transit-oriented development (TOD) zones adjacent to stations for each system. Data for these zones were compiled for circular zones with radii of a quarter-mile, half-mile, one-mile, and 2-miles, and compared to the same data for the greater metropolitan areas. The datasets allow multi-scale sensitivity analysis across commuter rail systems, TOD zones, and metropolitan areas. Results from the analysis show greater population growth within proximity to the rail stations: within half-mile, the population growth was 26.5 percent; just beyond from half-mile to 2-miles, population growth was 14.6 percent; and for the metropolitan areas, population growth was 22.0 percent. Employment patterns in the zones show an elevated employee to resident ratio within half-mile of the stations, which diminishes as distances increase. The types of employment associated with this proximity are skewed toward professional, administrative and information service sectors. This paper adds to the existing literature on transit-oriented development by providing a new means of examining the impacts of commuter rail stations at varying scales.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP070 Standing Committee on Commuter Rail Transportation. Alternate title: Multiscalar Analysis of Transit-Oriented Development for New-Start Commuter Rail
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Blandford, Benjamin L
  • Brock, Timothy J
  • Souleyrette, Reginald R
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic development; Metropolitan areas; Population growth; Railroad commuter service; Transit oriented development
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota; New Mexico; Oregon; Tennessee; Utah
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01590285
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-4069
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 16 2016 2:36PM