Sustainable Transportation: Economic Benefits
Hello Readers,
Public transportation can unlock opportunities for an individual. Today, I will focus on the economic results of public transportation in the United States.
Public transport gives life to the economy of a city. In the past two decades, American cities have been trying to reverse the negative economic effects of urban sprawl by providing accessible trains, trolleys, or buses.
Denver, Colorado
One example is Denver, CO. Since 2000, Denver began creating a light-rail, above-ground train line, and bus system (above image).
Author Joan Fitzgerald, in her book Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development, analyzed Denver’s economic success, “Other neighborhoods along the light-rail line are now prospering. . . . about 3,704 residential units, 460,000 square feet of rail, and 300,000 square feet of office space have either been built or are currently under construction in 15 projects near transit stations” (2010).
This data demonstrates a boost in economic growth nearby Denver’s stations. Businesses were incentivized to build nearby because of the increased pedestrian traffic. The increased residential developments also suggest that more people in Denver want to live near the train stations.
My Time in Denver
I went to Denver a few years ago and rode on the light rail from the airport directly to downtown. Travel was convenient, and as a result, I probably spent more money and time in downtown Denver because of the access.
New York City R Train
Most researchers and activists assume that accessible public transport also boosts employment in a city. However, it is sometimes very difficult to solely analyze the effects transit has on employment.
In 2017, Justin Tyndall published a very specific study on the effects of a lack of public transportation on employment in New York City (NYC). Tyndall studied employment data in 2013 when the R train was not functional for months because of damage from Hurricane Sandy.
He found the following, “After controls are in place, the estimated effect on an individual attributable to living adjacent to the R train in 2013 is an increase in the probability of being unemployed of 1.4 percentage points” (2017).
Unlike many other American cities, NYC is extremely dependent on transportation. 56% of NYC residents use public transit to get around the city (NYPTA, 2013).
The hurricane Sandy R train data suggests that NYC residents were more likely to be unemployed when public transportation was inaccessible. Public transit directly allows workers to get to their jobs, and more cities should try to provide transit.
Thanks for reading. Hopefully, you find this information helpful down the road. Next week I will be discussing the environmental impact of sustainable transit.
Citations
Fitzgerald, A. (2010). Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development, Oxford University Press USA — OSO, Chapter 6.
New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA). (2013) Public Transit Facts. NYPTA. https://nytransit.org/resources/public-transit-facts
Tyndall, J. (2017). Waiting for the R train: Public transportation and employment. Urban Studies, Vol.54 (2), p.520–537.
Uncover Colorado. RTD Rail-Light Rail — Denver Metro. Uncover Colorado.
