HIGHWAY STUDIES RELEVANT TO ANALYSIS OF RAPID TRANSIT

HIGHWAY IMPACT STUDY METHODOLOGIES ARE REVIEWED WHICH MAY BE ADAPTABLE FOR TRANSIT ANALYSIS. CHARACTERISTICS ANALYZED IN HIGHWAY STUDIES ARE: LAND USE, EMPLOYMENT ACCESSIBILITY, EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, REAL ESTATE AND TAX ROLL EFFECTS, CIVIL DEFENSE, AND EFFECTS ON LIFE STYLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STUDIES OF HIGHWAY IMPACT INVOLVED COMPARISONS OF LAND VALUE, LAND USE, POPULATION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A STUDY TOWN AND IN FOUR CONTROL TOWNS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AFTER HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. ANOTHER HIGHWAY STUDY TECHNIQUE THAT MAY BE USEFUL IN ANALYSES OF COMMUNITY EFFECTS OF BART INVOLVES EXAMINATION OF THE GROWTH RATES OF SELECTED GEOGRAPHIC AREAS RELATIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE AREA. ANOTHER DEVICE USED IN THE PAST TO LEARN WHETHER A HIGHWAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY CENTRAL BUSINESS USE, INVOLVES COMPARISON OF BUILDING HEIGHTS AND LAND AREA. STUDIES OF MARKET PENETRATION AND PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES CAN HELP SHOW THE EFFECTS OF AN IMPROVEMENT IN TRANSPORTATION. LAND VALUE ANALYSES IS ONE OF THE INDICATORS USED IN IMPACT STUDIES. ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES CONCERNING THE IDEAL MODE FOR CERTAIN TYPES AND LENGTHS OF TRIPS AND AN EVALUATION OF SERVICE PROVIDED WOULD BE USEFUL. STUDY METHODS USED IN HIGHWAY IMPACT STUDIES MAY BE OF USE TO THE IMPACT ANALYSES OF BART.