QUANTIFYING LIGHT RAIL’S EFFECT ON INTRAURBAN DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND COMMUTING PATTERNS

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Khabazi, M. (2019). QUANTIFYING LIGHT RAIL’S EFFECT ON INTRAURBAN DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND COMMUTING PATTERNS. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This dissertation consists of two consecutive parts. The first part examines the impact of light rail transit (LRT) investment on the type of jobs (i.e., industrial and wage composition) in neighborhoods adjacent to rail transit stations using Charlotte, NC as a case study. Applying a quasi‐experimental approach, this research aims to address to what extent LRT affects the industrial and wage composition of jobs and workers in neighborhoods adjacent to the LRT stations. I use data from the LEHD Origin–Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) between 2002 and 2014. The results show no significant increase on employment in adjacent neighborhoods after the introduction of the LRT. However, the industrial makeup of the area has been changed. Additionally, the LRT appears to connect higher-wage neighborhoods to areas with significant shares of higher-wage jobs. However, low- and medium-wage workers have not seen much change. The second part examines the impact of LRT on commuting patterns in adjacent neighborhoods. The results show a reduction in commuting distance experienced by higher-wage workers, while it is increased for lower-wage workers after the opening of the city’s first LRT line. These results are expected as the LRT connects higher-wage neighborhoods to the areas with significant shares of higher-wage jobs. Therefore, low- and medium-wage workers in the LRT adjacent neighborhoods have not seen a significant improvement in the spatial separation between their work place and place of residence after the opening of the LRT, which may conflict with goals of increasing accessibility for the most transit dependent population.

Details
Author

Khabazi, Maryam

Title

QUANTIFYING LIGHT RAIL’S EFFECT ON INTRAURBAN DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND COMMUTING PATTERNS

Physical Description

1 online resource (100 pages) : PDF

Date

2019

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This dissertation consists of two consecutive parts. The first part examines the impact of light rail transit (LRT) investment on the type of jobs (i.e., industrial and wage composition) in neighborhoods adjacent to rail transit stations using Charlotte, NC as a case study. Applying a quasi‐experimental approach, this research aims to address to what extent LRT affects the industrial and wage composition of jobs and workers in neighborhoods adjacent to the LRT stations. I use data from the LEHD Origin–Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) between 2002 and 2014. The results show no significant increase on employment in adjacent neighborhoods after the introduction of the LRT. However, the industrial makeup of the area has been changed. Additionally, the LRT appears to connect higher-wage neighborhoods to areas with significant shares of higher-wage jobs. However, low- and medium-wage workers have not seen much change. The second part examines the impact of LRT on commuting patterns in adjacent neighborhoods. The results show a reduction in commuting distance experienced by higher-wage workers, while it is increased for lower-wage workers after the opening of the city’s first LRT line. These results are expected as the LRT connects higher-wage neighborhoods to the areas with significant shares of higher-wage jobs. Therefore, low- and medium-wage workers in the LRT adjacent neighborhoods have not seen a significant improvement in the spatial separation between their work place and place of residence after the opening of the LRT, which may conflict with goals of increasing accessibility for the most transit dependent population.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Transportation
Geography
Economics

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Commuting Pattern
Difference-In-Difference
Economic Activity
Industrial Composition
Light Rail Transit
Wage Composition

Subject Area

Geography & Urban Regional Analysis

Advisor(s)

Nilsson, Isabelle

Committee Members

Campbell Jr., Harrison
Delmelle, Elizabeth
Kazemi, Mohammad

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2019.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Khabazi_uncc_0694D_12275

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2369