Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Rapid transit development can exert influence on neighbourhood characteristics, such as housing costs, employment opportunities, demography, and service access. Changes to the neighbourhood environment correspond to changes in the health opportunities and risks to which residents are exposed. Therefore, a social determinants of health (SDOH) lens is an important but perhaps underutilized tool for identifying and examining the neighbourhood changes brought about through rapid transit development. This scoping review aims to map out the literature on LRT development as it relates to SDOH and comment on the associated gaps and implications. The Arksey and O’Malley scoping review method was used to examine the extent and nature of research on the impacts of light rail transit (LRT) development on surrounding neighbourhoods. Twenty-nine articles from Canada and the United States were included. Thematic analysis was applied to generate impact themes: (a) property values; (b) neighbourhood demography; (c) economy; (d) development and land use; and (e) transit service. Included studies established the role of LRT development in residential property value increases, high-density residential development, new business openings, and increases in neighbourhood household income. Articles had limited recognition of the role of LRT development in creating health disparities. Future transit research that applies an SDOH lens can support evidence-based transit policy and allow transit infrastructure to be built and serve neighbourhoods in a more equitable manner.