2019 Theses Master's

Transit-Induced Urban Transformation: A Comparative Study of Tokyo and Hong Kong

Liu, Yudi

In recent years, scholars increasingly advocate for rail transit development due to its subsequent benefits for sustainable development. In East Asia, Hong Kong and Tokyo have both developed financially self-sufficient rail transit systems. (1). in what ways has the rail transit system directed the two cities’ urban expansion? and (2).in what ways have public sectors’ land use regulation and private sectors’ project financing support rail transit development? To answer these two research questions, this study applies a qualitative approach to explore and compare factors of success in the two cities. First, through literature and data, the analysis confirms that the rail transit-induced urban expansion is an achievement involving supportive planning systems, transit corridor formation strategies, transit hub promotion regulations, as well as project financing solutions. In comparison, the study finds that Hong Kong has a strong public sector-led approach for funding, developing, and using rail transit to promote achieving urban expansion goals. In Tokyo, private sectors, especially private rail firms, play a more active role in the city’ urban expansion for decades. Public entities provide a variety of planning instruments to support rail transit development and recently also started participating in project development.