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Transit access and neighborhood segregation. Evidence from the Dallas light rail system

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  • Heilmann, Kilian

Abstract

I study the effect of transit access on neighborhood incomes by exploiting a quasi-experimental setting of an extensively planned, but only partially built urban rail system in Dallas. I show that neighborhood income in census tracts that received rail access increases compared to neighborhoods that were promised to receive access, but did not due to funding cuts. The treatment effect is positively correlated with initial neighborhood income and negative for the poorest tracts. This reconciles gentrification and “poverty magnet” effects of rail infrastructure found in the earlier literature and highlights the role of transit as a potential incubator for income segregation.

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  • Heilmann, Kilian, 2018. "Transit access and neighborhood segregation. Evidence from the Dallas light rail system," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 237-250.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:73:y:2018:i:c:p:237-250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2018.10.007
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    Cited by:

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    2. Qiu, Feng & Tong, Qingmeng, 2021. "A spatial difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the impact of light rail transit on property values," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Meriläinen, Marjut & Karhula, Aleksi & Kurvinen, Antti & Falkenbach, Heidi & Ala-Mantila, Sanna, 2024. "Transit-induced socioeconomic ascent and new metro stations in Helsinki Metropolitan Area: Distinct effects on renters, homeowners, and pre-existing housing dwellers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Andrew Schouten, 2022. "Residential relocations and changes in vehicle ownership," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 89-113, February.
    5. Viguié, Vincent & Liotta, Charlotte & Pfeiffer, Basile & Coulombel, Nicolas, 2023. "Can public transport improve accessibility for the poor over the long term? Empirical evidence in Paris, 1968–2010," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    6. Lee, Yoonseok & Wang, Yulong, 2023. "Threshold regression with nonparametric sample splitting," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 816-842.
    7. Tornabene, Sara & Nilsson, Isabelle, 2021. "Rail transit investments and economic development: Challenges for small businesses," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    8. Cuberes, David & Roberts, Jennifer & Sechel, Cristina, 2019. "Household location in English cities," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 120-135.
    9. Vitor Pestana Ostrensky & Alexandre Alves Porsse & Leonardo Matsuno da Frota, 2022. "Public transport and gentrification. Evidence from São Paulo metro new stations," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(6), pages 254-269, December.
    10. Liang, Cong & Huang, Yaoxuan & Yip, Tsz Leung & Li, Victor Jing, 2022. "Does rail transit development gentrify neighborhoods? Evidence from Hong Kong," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 354-372.
    11. Jerch, Rhiannon & Barwick, Panle Jia & Li, Shanjun & Wu, Jing, 2024. "The impact of road rationing on housing demand and sorting," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    12. Ulrich B. Morawetz & H. Allen Klaiber, 2022. "Does housing policy impact income sorting near urban amenities? Evidence from Vienna, Austria," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 411-454, October.
    13. Maysen Yen, 2024. "Does Rapid Transit and Light Rail Infrastructure Improve Labor Market Outcomes?," Working Papers 24-22, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transit provision; Income segregation; Gentrification; Spatial sorting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R3 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation

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