Analyzing Crime Patterns Surrounding Light Rail Expansion in Charlotte, NC

• In Event: Crime Generators, Crime Attractors, and Place

Abstract

Public transportation infrastructure often increases the risk of crime in surrounding areas. Most research to date has examined this relationship over shorter periods of time. Our study uses a natural experiment constructed around the expansion of light rail service in Charlotte, NC over an extended period of almost two decades from 2005 to 2023. Three phases influenced by light rail expansion are examined: pre-expansion, construction, and post-expansion. We explore the use of two-way fixed effects to analyze crime incidents at street intersections surrounding light rail stations across varying spatial distances. This research design allows for the observation of both short-term disruptions and long-term trend changes in the prevalence of crime near public transportation infrastructure. Our findings suggest the expansion of the light rail system influenced crime patterns for the spatial areas around both the old and new light rail stations. These findings have implications for a wide range of community stakeholders.

Authors

• Matthew Dylan Spencer, Georgia Southern University

• Samuel E. DeWitt, American Institutes for Research

• Cory Schnell, University of South Carolina