The Land-Use Impacts of Urban Rail Transit Systems

Abstract

This article reviews research regarding the impacts of urban rail transit systems on real estate development in the United States and Canada. Transit played an instrumental role in urban expansion during the nineteenth century. More recently, rail transit has also often influenced urban development, but in conjunction with favorable zoning, attractive sites, and a strong market for development. Numerous examples of station-area projects can be found in San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. In several cities, land near transit stations has realized rent premiums. The effects of rail transit on development, independent of zoning and other factors, are not readily identified. Most research has not examined specific real estate projects from the developer's perspective. It is not clear whether rail transit is the most cost-effective means of directing development, but if rail transit is built, then station-area development should be encouraged to enhance the returns on the investment.