A qualitative data analysis of land use and development impacts of Bus Rapid Transit investments in Quito and Bogota

• In Event: Políticas de transporte y regeneración urbana

Abstract

There is a rapid growth of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems around the world with more than 200 cities implementing this type of mass transit system. Emerging research suggests land use and development impacts of BRT systems are heterogeneous across space and time. However, little is known about the factors that explain why land use and development changes take place after the implementation of BRT and under what conditions. Moreover, little is known about how BRT systems influence the access to land and housing for low income groups. Why land use and development changes take place or not after the implementation of BRT? Under what conditions these changes take place? How BRT systems influence the access to land and housing for low-income groups? This paper answers these questions by examining the cases of Quito and Bogota, two pioneer cities implementing BRT since 1996 and 2001 respectively. Through a qualitative data analysis of semi-structured interviews with key participants in Quito and Bogota, this paper finds five emerging themes explaining the land use and development impacts of BRT: coordination, expertise, development, management and equity issues. These five themes are discussed based on a comparative approach between both cities. Based on the research findings on both cities, this paper closes with a set of recommendations regarding urban management and financial mechanisms associated to BRT investments from an equity perspective.

Author

• C. Erik Vergel-Tovar, Universidad del Rosario