High-speed rail accessibility: a comparative analysis of urban access in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Madrid, and Barcelona

Authors

  • Chuyuan Zhong Cornell University
  • Germà Bel Universitat de Barcelona
  • Mildred E. Warner Cornell University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2014.14.4.3048

Abstract

This paper is intended to set the context for policy discussion on HSR feasibility from the perspective of station accessibility. We compare the proposed Los Angeles – San Francisco HSR corridor to the functioning HSR line between Madrid and Barcelona to assess relative station accessibility based on urban structure. Our methodology assesses socioeconomic and spatial characteristics of mono-centric versus polycentric cities that may affect HSR accessibility. By addressing challenges of unit (urban geography), data series (normalization) and identifying four key components of HSR attractiveness (population, population density, income and employment) we have created a methodology that allows us to assess relative station accessibility in the four compared metropolitan areas. We find urban structure limits the potential accessibility of HSR in the California context, and warn HSR planners they should proceed with caution.

Downloads

Metrics

PDF views
311
Jan 2015Jul 2015Jan 2016Jul 2016Jan 2017Jul 2017Jan 2018Jul 2018Jan 2019Jul 2019Jan 2020Jul 2020Jan 2021Jul 2021Jan 2022Jul 2022Jan 2023Jul 2023Jan 2024Jul 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 202617
|

Downloads

Published

2014-09-01

How to Cite

Zhong, C., Bel, G., & Warner, M. E. (2014). High-speed rail accessibility: a comparative analysis of urban access in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Madrid, and Barcelona. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2014.14.4.3048

Issue

Section

Research articles