Transit-oriented development and historic preservation across the United States: A geospatial analysis

Abstract

The article examines the spatial relationship between the location of fixed-transit stations in proximity to historic districts and buildings across the United States. This study cross-linked data from the federal National Register of Historic Places database (and parallel sources at state and local historic registers) with a national data source on transit-oriented development (TOD). Findings revealed that half of all transit station areas (area within a half-mile around fixed-route transit stations) intersect with a federally designated national historic district. Moreover, 15.6% of all transit stations in the United States are located within a historic district, and 9.5% of nationally registered historic buildings are within half-mile of a fixed station. The study also found that more than half of all individually listed historic buildings in station areas were located in stations categorized as TODs. There was also a closer spatial cross-linkage between historic resources in higher density and more transit-oriented New Jersey than in Florida. Thus, there is some spatial relationship between the location of fixed-route transit stations and the location of historic resources, albeit the closeness of this interconnection varies by place. That spatial interconnections evokes consideration of how TOD and historic preservation can be complimentary “good neighbors.”