01129438

Component

This paper presents a causality analysis of the coupled development of population and streetcars in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Historic residence and network data were assembled for 1900-1930, and linear cross-sectional time-series models were estimated at both a tract and block level using this data. It is found that, in contrast with transportation systems that were expanded in response to increased demand, the rapid expansion of the streetcar system during the electric era has been driven by other forces and to a large extent led land development in the Twin Cities. The main forces that have driven this process include technological superiority, monopoly, close connections with real estate business, and people's reliance on the streetcar for mobility. Proximity to the streetcar is found to be a crucial factor that determines the distribution and development of residences: it is observed that residential density declines with the distance from streetcar lines, and significantly drops beyond a walkable distance; it is also observed that gaining a closer access to streetcar lines within 800 meters (about a half mile) predicts the increase in residential density to a significant extent.

01120148

09-1271

English

22p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

References

Mobility; Population density; Public transit; Residential areas; Streetcars; Urban areas; Urban development

Minneapolis (Minnesota); Saint Paul (Minnesota); Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Minnesota)

History; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-1271

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 5:29PM