The introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems and socio-spatial integration in Bogotá and Quito

• In Event: Transportation and housing #1: precariousness and social exclusions in Latin America and the United States

Abstract

Since 2000 and 1996 respectively, Bogotá and Quito have been introducing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors in a staged fashion, offering an opportunity to measure land (re)development impacts before and after the introduction of BRT and its relationship with affordable housing and informal settlements in close proximity to BRT stops. What land (re)development changes, if any, take place after the introduction of BRT within its influence area? Why do some BRT stops have affordable housing and informal settlements within their influence area if land prices are expected to increase after the introduction of the BRT? To address these questions, this paper develops a mixed methods approach in which the BRT system is considered to be a treatment on the built environment. A matching process at two levels is developed: first, corridors eligible to become BRT corridors are matched in order to identify control and treatment areas. Then, within each corridor, current and future BRT stops will be matched based on five built environment attributes: regional and local accessibility, percentage of land uses, average block size, percentage of vacant land and socioeconomic characteristics. This quantitative work is complemented by a qualitative data analysis of semi-structured interviews with key participants in both cities in order to better understand why land (re)development did or did not occur in close proximity to BRT, with a focus on stops with presence of affordable housing and informal settlements. This paper seeks to contribute in the understanding of the mechanisms and forces related to the presence of affordable housing and informal settlements in close proximity to BRT corridors.

Author

• Erik Vergel Tovar, University of North Carolina/Chapell Hill PhD student in City/Regional Planning