Why Detroit Needs Rapid Transit
The transit debate is really a debate on the future of Detroit. No big city can thrive without a quality rapid transit system.
Rapid transit supports the vibrant urban neighborhoods many people want
Housing preferences are changing
Many baby boomers and young professionalsprefer vibrant urban neighborhoods, with housing, shopping, recreation and work all within a short walk or transit trip. While two-thirds of housing demand is still for large single-family dwellings, fully one-third is for other housing choices, including apartments, townhouses, live-work spaces, and bungalows in walkable, urban neighborhoods. Yet just 2% of housing starts are in this category. There is an urgent need to increase this housing stock in order to meet market demand.
Workers and firms prefer "24-hour neighborhoods"
Young creative and high-tech workers prefer diverse, urban regions. The firms seeking this talent now also prefer these locations. A recent survey found access to public transit is very important to 70 percent of “new economy” companies. And, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' respected Emerging Trends publication, “24-Hour places” are the best real estate investment locations. “Transit-oriented development near subways or light-rail lines almost can’t miss.”
Rapid transit is key to creating vibrant urban communities
One key to vibrant, “24-hour neighborhoods” is having compact, walkable neighborhoods built on a person-scale, not a car scale. This works best when many people arrive by train and don’t need many parking structures.
Rapid transit brought huge economic development benefits to Dallas
Dallas, another big car-based city, began investing in rail transit in 1996. Since then:
· Private developers invested $3.3 billion at stations along DART's light rail system.
· Property values increased far more near new light rail stations than properties elsewhere – office properties increased in value 53% more, and residential properties 39% more, than similar properties not served by rail.
· Businesses located near DART experienced a nearly 33% jump in retail sales in one year, compared to just 3% increase elsewhere in the city.
· Economic development researchers estimated DART as providing more then 32,000 jobs to the local economy in the first six years.
Dallas’ experience has been repeated by cities all across the county, but not by Detroit. Detroit could have the same benefits if we invest in quality rapid transit.
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