Rail Rapid Transit Investment and CBD Revitalisation: Methodology and Results

A $450 million light rapid rail transit (LRRT) system is currently under construction in Buffalo, New York. This project represents a large public investment for a transportation system for which user benefits are not the sole or even a major consideration. Anticipated increases in service employment, retail activity and land development, mainly in the declining CBD area, are viewed as the major benefits. This paper describes the methodological framework used for the analysis of these impacts. Based on the empirical results from this methodology, the paper then evaluates the overall potential of the project to promote CBD revitalisation.