Assessing Neighborhood and Social Influences of Transit Corridors (Research Brief)

This two-page document summarizes a study that assessed how residents and businesses along transit corridors in the Twin Cities perceive neighborhood changes caused by transitways.

Key findings include:

• The majority of residents and businesses in transitway corridors have a positive view of transit induced neighborhood change. The extent of positive neighborhood change that transitway corridor residents and businesses anticipate varies widely from corridor to corridor.
• People with any experience using light-rail transit, frequent transit users, and transit-dependent riders all have overwhelmingly positive attitudes regarding transit-induced neighborhood change
• Racial differences in perceptions of transit-induced neighborhood change do exist, with specific groups on certain corridors having markedly more negative or positive views than others.
• Five key strategies may help address negative perceptions and possible negative impacts of transit-induced neighborhood change: address misperceptions, engage the neutrals, play to the strengths, include transit users, and conduct community-sensitive planning.