The Impact of Light Rail Station Type on Single Family Residential Property Value in the City of Portland, OR

Abstract

Light rail projects increase accessibility and light rail stations should result in a land value uplift (LVU) benefit for housing near stations. Extensive research has tested this hypothesis, generally using distance or distance band as a proxy of accessibility. However, the context of transit stations has not gained enough attention in past research. This research divides light rail stations into four different types based on land use ratio, density, sidewalk length, and accessibility; then, the station types are incorporated into a hedonic model. The modeling results confirm the price premium brought by light rail stations to nearby single-family homes. Findings also suggest that, after controlling for accessibility, TOD impacts on single family housing price varies in relation to station type. In other words, station area land use matters when considering land use value capture from light rail development. Future research should further examine how surrounding land uses interact with TOD in affecting housing price.