Jacob Klein

In Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte’s planned LYNX Silver Line Light Rail
Transit (LRT) initiative aims to enhance economic mobility through the implementation of
strategic Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). This approach prioritizes improving resident
accessibility to emerging economic opportunities while promoting sustainable, market-driven
infrastructural expansion. This study applies spatial analysis techniques, including Kernel
Density Estimation (KDE) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), to assess the
spatial distribution and density of non-residential economic agglomeration along the preconstruction phases A and B of the LYNX Silver Line corridor. Utilizing both regional and zonal spatial statistics, the study quantifies and ranks economic agglomeration within theoretical preconstruction TOD buffers informed by Charlotte Area Transit System’s Locally-Preferred Alternative (LPA) plan, uncovering notable spatial patterns shaped by existing urban infrastructure and industrial zoning patterns.
The evaluation of the GWR model underscores spatial heterogeneity in economic
agglomeration, employing outcome variables analogous to built environment infrastructural
indicators that impact the feasibility of TOD. This study offers valuable insights to TOD station area planning by quantifying and visualizing spatial variances within the built environment and establishing a baseline for future longitudinal assessments. Findings suggest further investigation into spatial autocorrelation, using state-of-the-art spatial methods, and refining exploratory variables. Notable limitations of this study include data constraints and the omission of sociodemographic and psychographic variables. This research forms part of a broader analytical framework to inform future TOD studies in the region once the alignment becomes operational.
Keywords: Charlotte, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, USA, Light Rail Transit (LRT),
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Land Use, Geographic Information System (GIS), SpatialAnalysis, Geographically Weighted Regression, Kernel Density Estimation, Urban Planning, Urban Economics