TRB AMS 50 Economic Development and Land Use will host a webinar at 11 am-12 pm (EST) on Friday, March 25, 2022. Two scholars will present their research on Transit and Gentrification.
Please join the webinar using the following link: https://bit.ly/3MpmKG8

Title: Transit-Induced Gentrification or Vice Versa? A Study of Neighborhoods Around Light Rail Stations From 1970–2010

Presenter: Dr Jyothi Chava is the research scholar in equitable transit and TOD planning. Her research focus is evaluating and incorporating equity related aspects in public transport planning and sustainable transportation planning with emphasis on non-motorized transportation, transit and transit-oriented developments. She is currently working as a senior Data scientist in Anthem. Previously, she worked as a project scientist and transportation planner at Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bengaluru, Innovative Transportation Solutions (iTrans – an incubation unit of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi) and Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP), IIT Delhi. Jyothi holds a PhD in equitable public transport planning from Curtin University, Masters in transportation planning from IIT Delhi and Bachelor’s in civil engineering from Nagarjuna University.

Abstract: In the 1990s, some cities across the United States invested significantly in expanding light rail transit (LRT) systems. As a result, transit-oriented development (TOD) near new stations became a desirable planning goal for local governments and lucrative to developers. In this study we examined evidence of gentrification in all LRT station areas before and after the opening of these new stations. We also tested the prevalence of gentrification in station areas specifically characterized as TODs. Longitudinal data across seven regions, from 1970 to 2010, demonstrated signs of gentrification in proximity to new stations compared with control areas. By 2000, the share of the White population grew near LRT stations, whereas the percentage of Black residents remained flat. From 1990 to 2010, we found signs of gentrification based on both demographic and economic indicators, including low-income populations. We also tested the relationship among built environment variables and a gentrification index, which revealed a positive correlation with walkability, density, and diversity variables. Our study did not include data to compare the differences in effectiveness between market-rate versus affordable housing, which should be part of future research.

Title: Transit-Induced Gentrification and displacement: The state of the debate

Presenter: Dr. Elizabeth Delmelle is an associate professor of geography at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she researches neighborhood dynamics, urban transportation, and the interaction between the two. She and her colleagues recently completed an NSF-sponsored project that investigated the link between new rail investments and neighborhood changes from a multi-scalar and mixed-methods perspective. She currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Transport Geography and for the 2021-2022 academic year is a visiting scholar at the University of Amsterdam in the Department of Geography, Planning, and International Development.

Abstract: Investments in new transportation infrastructure hold the potential to transform the urban socioeconomic landscape by reshaping accessibility and by encouraging new developments around these investments. This chapter outlines the theoretical arguments for why and how transport, specifically rail transit, is expected to impact the socioeconomic composition of neighborhoods and reviews the relevant empirical literature on the subject. Neighborhood socioeconomic change, including gentrification, can be viewed as the product of shifts in residential sorting of residents reacting to the placement of a new (transit) amenity which may place increased demand for living in a particular area. This demand may place an upward pressure on nearby housing values and rents, affecting the socioeconomic composition of those willing and able to afford these price premiums, thus spurring or accelerating gentrification. Rising land values may also lead to the disproportionate exit of lower-income residents unable to keep up with elevated rents or property taxes. To date, the empirical evidence on the link between transport investments and gentrification has mixed findings, very often underscoring the importance of local context in directing a neighborhood’s path. Research has overwhelmingly centered on aggregate neighborhood changes, but several studies have recently emerged that center on individual movements that give rise to these neighborhood-scale outcomes.