2025 Theses Master's

Transit Deserts in the New York–New Jersey Metropolitan Area

Li, Guiliang

Sustainable and equitable urban development relies on fair access to reliable public transportation, especially for communities that depend heavily on transit. However, public transit services remain unevenly distributed in many metropolitan regions, creating areas known as "transit deserts." These areas are defined by significant mismatches between transit demand and available services. This thesis investigates the spatial distribution and socioeconomic characteristics of transit deserts within the New York–Newark–Jersey City Metropolitan Statistical Area (NY–NJ MSA), focusing specifically on accessibility to bus and rail transit.

The research employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistical methods, including Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and K-means clustering, to identify fine-grained patterns of transit service inequity at the census tract level. Separate analyses for bus and rail transit highlight distinct accessibility issues often hidden by aggregate measures. Additionally, qualitative field observations in representative underserved neighborhoods of Newark, Jersey City, and Ocean County validate the spatial analysis and illustrate the everyday impacts of inadequate transit service.

Transit deserts disproportionately affect low-income households without cars, elderly residents, and communities of color, further exacerbating existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Areas identified as "double transit deserts," with critically low access to both bus and rail, represent zones of compounded disadvantage. Yet findings indicate that many transit deserts are adjacent to more transit-rich areas creating opportunities for connection. This thesis highlights these spatial inequities and recommends targeted, equity-oriented transportation interventions aimed at enhancing mobility and fostering inclusive regional development.