Residents’ choices and preferences regarding transit-oriented housing

Abstract

Transit-oriented development (TOD) housing aims to provide housing in locations with good public transportation network, and where residents can work, study and pursue leisure nearby. With this goal, TOD housing could create a more sustainable and time-saving living environment. However, a controversy then arises as these benefits may mean that TOD housing may be pushed to higher price brackets through demand and commercialisation. Although there is much research on TOD and non-transit-oriented development (non-TOD) housing the analysis of revealed and stated preference for TOD house demand and supply is rare. Using stated preference data, results derived from three different groups of residents in Adelaide–‘Corridor Population’, ‘Working Population’ and ‘Mawson Lakes Population’ (a transit-oriented development [TOD] group)–are compared, revealing their different housing needs and demands. All three modelled populations show similar preference patterns regarding housing type, distance to the train station and housing affordability, but some differences are evident. The Corridor Population and Working Population seek houses closer to bus stops, while the Mawson Lakes Population desires housing with high-frequency train services and more activities nearby. The power of the modelling approach to identify factors pertinent for policy development is clearly demonstrated.