Transit Impacts Research Program (TIRP)

The Transit Impacts Research Program (TIRP) studies the contributions of transit to mobility, economic development and job access, equity and opportunity, public well-being and safety, and sustainability. The program aims to provide information to optimize transportation investments, regional connectivity, and system effectiveness.

The program was launched in 2006 to study the impacts of investments in Twin Cities transitways. In 2023, the program's scope was expanded to include analysis of the overall transit system, including potential projects throughout Minnesota.

• Program overview (PDF, Oct. 2022)
• Video overview by Hennepin-University Partnership, Sept. 2015

Recently Completed Research

• Transitway Development and Commercial Gentrification (2022)
  Principal Investigator: Yingling Fan
  Investigates the effects of transitway development between 2000 and 2019 on businesses along transit corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan region, specifically, commercial gentrification along the Blue Line, the Green Line, and the A Line.
  • Final Report (PDF)

• Addressing Accessibility and Equity along Transitways (Design) (2021)
  Principal Investigator: Thomas Fisher
  Presents a mixed-methods toolkit for use in community engagement as part of transitway planning and design. This is Part 2 of a two-part study.
  • Final Report (PDF)
  • TIRP Digital Engagement Platforms spreadsheet (XLSX)
  • Research Brief (PDF)

• Addressing Accessibility and Equity Along Transitways: Toward a Mixed Methods Toolkit - Part 1 (2021)
  Principal Investigator: Andrew Owen

  Presents the results of a transit accessibility analysis for the B, D, E, Gold, and Rush Line transitways in the Twin Cities and evaluates census block level access to grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and high schools.

  • Final Report (PDF)
  • Research Brief (PDF)
• The Impact of Transitways on Travel on Parallel and Adjacent Roads and Park-and-ride Facilities (2021)
  Principal Investigator: Alireza Khani
  Investigates two research questions; 1) how many vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are influenced as a result of transitway projects in their impact zones, and 2) what factors affect the utility of park-and-ride facilities for commute trips in the Twin Cities region?
  • Final Report (PDF)
  • Research Brief (PDF)

• Value of Transitways to Regional Economies: National and Twin Cities Perspectives (2020)
  Principal Investigator: Yingling Fan
  Analyzes how investment in fixed-guideway transit affects regional GDP growth, job growth, household income, and inequality, and compares the Twin Cities region to two regions with higher and lower levels of transitway development.
  • Final Report (PDF)
  • Research brief (PDF)
• Those Who Need it Most: Maximizing Transit Accessibility and Removing Barriers to Employment in Racially Concentrated Areas of Poverty (2019)
  Principal Investigator: Yingling Fan
  Aims to develop strategies to leverage the public investment represented by the regional transit system to benefit residents of ACP50s to the greatest degree possible through a case study approach and focused regional accessibility analysis.
  • Final Report (PDF)
  • Research brief (PDF)
• Multimodal Connections with Transitways: Ridership, Access Mode and Route Choice Implications (2019)
  Principal Investigator: Yingling Fan
  Explores the impact of station-area intermodal transportation services and facilities such as park-and-ride lots, connecting bus services, car sharing and bike sharing services, and mobility app availability at the agency and region level on transitway ridership.
  • Final Report (PDF)
  • Research brief (PDF)

See all completed research