Spatiotemporal Impacts of Urban Rail Systems on Residential and Commercial Areas

Speaker: Dr. Eleni Bardaka, Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE), and CGA Faculty Fellow

Introduction by: Dr. Ashly Cabas, Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE), and CGA Faculty Fellow

Summary: This forum presentation explores the socioeconomic impacts of transit infrastructure investments through the application of advanced econometric and spatial analysis methods, including difference-in-differences and spatial spillover modeling. Using case studies from Charlotte, NC, and Denver, CO, it investigates the causal effects of urban rail projects on residential gentrification, commercial turnover, and property market dynamics. The discussion will include methodological frameworks, such as quasi-experimental designs, and the implications of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in treatment effects. Insights will inform equitable urban planning and policy development in the context of transit-oriented development.

About the speaker: Dr. Eleni Bardaka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. Her work focuses on two main research areas: (i) the study of causal social and economic impacts of transportation investments and policies; and (ii) the analysis of aggregate and individual travel demand, preferences, and needs related to public transportation and micromobility. Dr. Bardaka holds a Ph.D. and M.S. degree in Transportation Engineering and an M.S. degree in Economics from Purdue University. She earned a five-year diploma in Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens in Greece.