This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADD10 Transportation and Economic Development.
Transit-oriented development, Transportation -- Planning, Street-railroads -- Economic aspects
Commuter rail transit (CRT) is a form of rail passenger service connecting downtowns and other major activity centers with suburban commuter towns and beyond. Between 1834 and 1973, only three public CRT systems were built in the U.S. serving New York, Chicago and then Boston. There are now 25 such systems. Modern CRT systems aim to expand economic development in metropolitan areas. But do they? This paper evaluates the economic development performance of five modern CRT systems. The authors find that several economic sectors perform well within 0.50 miles of CRT stations. The authors offer planning and policy implications.
Nelson, Arthur C.; Miller, Matt; Kim, Keuntae; Ganning, Joanna P.; Liu, Jenny H.; and Ewing, Reid, "Commuter Rail Transit and Economic Development" (2015). Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations. 130.