The Transitway Impacts Research Program (TIRP) answers questions about the economic, travel, and community impacts of transitway corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The research program is measuring the impacts of transitways on property values, land use and housing mix, businesses, travel behavior, environment and public health, safety, and community cohesion. The program was launched in 2006 by the Hennepin County-University of Minnesota partnership and has grown to include a mix of funding partners and program supporters.
- Program overview (PDF, April 2020)
Recently Completed Research
- 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. - 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. - 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. - After Study of the Bus Rapid Transit: 'A Line' Impacts (2018)
Principal Investigator: Alireza Khani
Aims at providing a deeper understanding of the operational aspects of the A Line, travel behavior of users, and perceptions of users and nonusers.
- Specific Strategies for Achieving Transit-Oriented Economic Development: Applying National Lessons to the Twin Cities -- Phase 2 (2017)
Principal Investigator: Yingling Fan
Recommends specific economic development programs, policies, and implementation efforts to maximize the economic benefits of the Twin Cities' regional transit system.