In-Depth Examination of Urban Corridor Development

Project summary:

This project builds upon a series of studies on urban transportation corridor redevelopment by the State and Local Policy Program at the university of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. The first study, in 1997, recommended that issues related to transportation and community economic development be integrated into the corridor planning process. Subsequent studies have added examination of innovative methods for public involvement, culminating in the development of an integrated framework for analyzing transportation corridor development, which recognizes that corridor developments affect five areas: citizen preferences, governance, financing, economic effects, and design. The most recent study examined case studies of urban transportation corridors that are examples of best practices in one or more of these areas. This work led to the creation of a "decision model" that could be used by corridor planners as a guide in their effort to identify and develop new corridors. The project will continue the work in this direction, i.e. while the previous study examined how the element or elements were successful in the cases examined, this study will look at why doing those activities led to a successful outcome. The decision model will be enhanced by an understanding of the underlying principles of corridor development, and lessons learned will be tailored for use by corridor planning professionals.