National Study Of BRT Development Outcomes.pdf

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a growing public transit system with 19 operating lines, 7 under construction, and over 20 in planning stages. BRT's combination of low capital cost and potential for high benefits has made it popular. However, its effectiveness in attracting development is unclear. To answer this question, the Metropolitan Research Center reviewed multiple studies using data from the United States Census Bureau, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, and CoStar. The research design compared jobs, population, and households before and after BRT station construction relative to control stations and the metropolitan context. The study used 2010 census blocks and their assemblages within 0.25 mile buffers as units of analysis. The research found that BRT systems can attract development, with some studies showing significant effects on sectoral employment change, housing location affordability, and wage-related job change. The findings can aid metropolitan planning organizations in decision-making processes related to economic development and transportation planning options.