The impact of a new light rail system on single-family property values in Charlotte, North Carolina

Sisi Yan

Environmental Systems Research Institute

Eric Delmelle

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Mike Duncan

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.v5i2.261

Keywords: Light Rail, Public Transit, Hedonic Model, GIS


Abstract

This paper examines the impact of a new light rail system on single family housing values in Charlotte, North Carolina is evaluated from 1997 to 2008. We use a Hedonic Price Analysis (HPA) to estimate how proximity to light rail, housing characteristics and spatial components (at the neighborhood and block group level) affect single family housing values. The same method is applied to each of the four time periods (t1, t2, t3, t4) that coincide with the pre-planning, planning, construction and operation phase of the light rail system. We observe a trend suggesting a greater desirability to live closer to a light rail station as the transit system becomes operational.

Author Biographies

Sisi Yan, Environmental Systems Research Institute

Graduate student

Eric Delmelle, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Assistant professor.

Mike Duncan, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Assistant professor.