Paths Through the Forest: Factors that Influence Transportation Corridor Success

Since 1995, researchers with the State and Local Policy Program at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota have been studying how corridors work and what factors influence their success. The goal of this research, done under the sponsorship of the Federal Transit Administration and Hennepin County, Minnesota, with support from Congressman Martin Sabo, is to create an integrated framework for analyzing corridor development. The framework not only provides planners with a way to examine what went right and wrong and why in projects, but also with a model for anticipating challenges before and during the planning process. This research identified five factors that significantly affect the success of transportation corridors. These factors are citizen preferences, governance, financing, economic development, and design. Further research included evaluations of a dozen corridor projects in North and South America.

This report summarizes the research findings and offers planners and public officials a framework for developing corridor strategies. The report explains how key factors can influence corridor success or failure and offers concrete suggestions to help planners and public officials anticipate and respond to potential roadblocks to corridor development.