Thinking Outside the (Half-Mile) Circle: Using the Real Estate Market to Establish Variations in Light Rail Station Catchment Areas

Dissertation Summary:This research empirically evaluates the extent of catchment zones for transit-oriented development (TOD) around light rail station areas using hedonic and spatial modeling techniques. Using a longitudinal approach, an assessment is conducted of how the real estate market capitalizes transit station proximity for retail and office land uses, as well as single-family and multi-family dwellings in Salt Lake County, Utah. The use of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) allows for an understanding of how this value capitalization varies not only by land use type, but also by station location and typology. The results of this work may reframe the planning…

Dissertation Summary:This research empirically evaluates the extent of catchment zones for transit-oriented development (TOD) around light rail station areas using hedonic and spatial modeling techniques. Using a longitudinal approach, an assessment is conducted of how the real estate market capitalizes transit station proximity for retail and office land uses, as well as single-family and multi-family dwellings in Salt Lake County, Utah. The use of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) allows for an understanding of how this value capitalization varies not only by land use type, but also by station location and typology. The results of this work may reframe the planning of TODs, often constrained to within a half-mile circle around transit stations. An understanding of if and how the value of transit access extends beyond this half-mile circle into surrounding areas will be gained. Implications will be offered for how transit station and land-use planning can be improved to take better advantage of market opportunities.