University of California Institute of Transportation Studies

Understanding how residents feel about neighborhood changes due to new development along transit corridors (often referred to as transit-oriented development) remains understudied despite growing concerns over displacement and gentrification. Studies that examined these concerns are largely based on analyzing land use, housing values, and socio-economic shifts (i.e., who is moving in and out of neighborhoods), and do not provide conclusive evidence that transit-oriented development (TOD) is linked to neighborhood gentrification and displacement. Prior surveys of residents living near transit indicate a generally positive assessment of TOD in terms of improved walkability and accessibility but also express concerns over pedestrian safety and parking related to increased traffic and new commercial development. However, recent studies counter this relatively positive assessment of TOD, particularly among activists and community organizers in low-income communities of color.