Do light rail transit investments increase employment opportunities? The case of Charlotte, North Carolina

Abstract This paper examines whether rail transit stations tend to increase employment opportunities in nearby neighbourhoods and whether rail transit tends to be placed in neighbourhoods which connects to higher‐wage jobs. The results show no significant relative increase in the level of employment in neighbourhoods near rail stations post opening of the first light rail line in Charlotte, NC. However, the line connects to areas with significantly higher shares of high‐wage workers and industries. While creating accessibility to higher‐skilled jobs may result in greater economic impacts, it may conflict with goals of increasing employment opportunities for transit dependent, lower‐wage workers.