Can Community Coalitions Unlock Equitable Benefits from Transit Investments?
Nicholas Finio, Dominique Gebru, Katy June-Friesen, Gerrit-Jan Knaap
University of Maryland
Transit-oriented development (TOD) represents a promising form of development in urban transit corridors offering walkable communities, reduced car dependence, and enhanced access to opportunities. But all too often, the benefits of new transit investments are overshadowed by rising housing costs and the displacement of long-time residents and small businesses. What if there was a way to ensure that these investments truly benefit everyone, especially those most vulnerable to displacement?
Our recent analysis of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC) in Maryland reveals a powerful strategy: leveraging multi-sector community collaborations to promote equitable development in transit corridors. By bringing together diverse stakeholders and focusing on community needs, these coalitions can play a crucial role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.
The TOD Equity Paradox
New transit lines can be a double-edged sword. While they offer improved mobility and economic opportunities, they also tend to drive up property values, making housing less affordable for existing residents and forcing small businesses to close their doors both during and after construction. This creates a paradox: investments intended to benefit the community can inadvertently displace those who need them most.
The PLCC: A Coalition for Equitable TOD
The PLCC, a multi-sectoral coalition established in the Purple Line corridor, offers a compelling model for addressing this challenge. Our research, drawing on interviews and analysis of coalition activities, and our own personal engagement, demonstrates how the PLCC has worked to mitigate the negative impacts of transit development and ensure that the benefits are shared equitably. The PLCC brings together representatives from local governments, community organizations, businesses, and anchor institutions like the University of Maryland. This diverse coalition works collaboratively to:
Preserve and create affordable housing options.
Support local businesses and promote economic opportunity.
Advocate for policies that protect vulnerable communities.
Promote workforce development.
Engage communities so that residents have a voice in the planning process.
How It Works: A Multi-Faceted Approach
The PLCC's strength lies in its ability to leverage the resources and expertise of its diverse members. By working together, the coalition has:
Secured funding for affordable housing and small business development, including millions of dollars in support for affordable housing projects, main street improvements, and technical assistance to small businesses are traceable to PLCC organizing activities.
Advocated for policies that promote equitable development, such as inclusionary zoning and rent stabilization, including the adoption of a right-of-first-refusal policy and the creation of an affordable housing trust fund in Prince George's County.
Engaged community members in the planning process, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
Provided technical assistance to small businesses, helping them navigate the challenges of transit-induced development.
In short, the PLCC is centering diverse community voices, serving as a venue for dialog, and working as a community organizer across the Purple Line corridor.
Challenges and Considerations
While the PLCC offers a promising model, our research also highlights several challenges:
Balancing diverse interests: Coalitions must navigate the often-competing interests of their members.
Securing long-term funding: Sustainable funding is essential for ensuring the coalition's long-term viability.
Measuring impact: Demonstrating the effectiveness of the coalition's work is crucial for attracting support and sustaining momentum.
Overcoming stereotypes: Capturing the benefits of leadership by a university research center while assuring that the PLCC truly promotes the interests of communities over the long term.
For these reasons, strong leadership, extensive engagement, data-driven analysis, and close partnerships with experienced organizations are essential.
A Call to Action: Replicating the Model
The PLCC's experience demonstrates the power of community coalitions to unlock equitable benefits from transit investments. As cities across the country invest in new transit infrastructure, the PLCC offers important lessons for other communities nationwide. By fostering collaboration, prioritizing community needs, and focusing on equitable outcomes, we can ensure that transit investments truly benefit everyone.
Nicholas Finio is an Associate Research Professor and the Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth that the University of Maryland, College Park. His research is focused on the measurement, causes, and consequences of neighborhood change and the links between social inequality and land use policy and regional planning. He has published work on gentrification, equity planning, and scenario planning.
Dominique Gebru is a Transportation Planner with the Washington DC Department of Transportation and an alumna of the National Center for Smart Growth and a Master's of Community Planning Graduate (2023) in the Urban Studies and Planning Program.
Katy June-Friesen is a PhD Candidate in at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism and the Associate Director of Communications and Research for the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network at the National Center for Smart Growth. She researches representations of race, class, and place in news.
Gerrit-Jan Knaap is Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park and an affiliate at the National Center for Smart Growth. His research interests include the economics and politics of land use planning, the efficacy of economic development instruments, and the impacts of environmental policy. On these subjects, Knaap has authored or coauthored over 65 articles in peer refereed journals and coauthored or co-edited nine books.