Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is an increasingly popular choice for sustainable and liveable urban design. However, interviews show the future Purple Light Rail may be at risk for transportation injustice.

For the attention of: Transit planners, Highway Authorities, Metro personnel, governors and mayors, urban planners.

The problem: Transit Oriented Developments solve many urban planning problems such as urban sprawl, pollution, and housing. However, proper implementation is difficult. Transit Oriented Developments are financially risky. Moreover, successful Transit Oriented Developments promote transportation injustice and transit induced gentrification.

What we did and why: We interviewed the current local transit community to find out what they thought about the forthcoming light rail system. We wanted to gain their perspective about how the forthcoming Purple Light Rail System will impact their daily lives. By capturing the voices missed by transportation planners, we can promote equitable development of TODs.

What our study adds: This study urges transportation planners to;

  1. Involve transit communities in key decision making process in transportation design,
  2. Include transit dependent and bus users in transportation planning, and
  3. Recognize the conflicting influences of neoliberal urbanism in transportation planning.

Implications for city policy and practice: Transit Infrastructure Development should

  • Survey the entire transit community (including bus community) for train line relevance

  • Recognize the concept of TOD idealism

  • Take note of the neoliberal influences in urban design.

Full research article: Transit justice: community perceptions and anticipations of a new light rail transit line in Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States by Shuling Wu and Jennifer D. Roberts