MTR, transit oriented development, and spatial justice: A competition for prime residential locations in Hong Kong from 1995-2015

Hong Kong’s MTR rail system is known as one of the most successful public transport systems in the world, notably for its unique Rail + Property (R + P) model which ensures stable revenue and captive ridership. However, MTR... [ view full abstract ]

Hong Kong’s MTR rail
system is known as one of the most successful public transport systems in the
world, notably for its unique Rail + Property (R + P) model which ensures
stable revenue and captive ridership. However, MTR projects, like other
transit oriented development (TOD) projects, have been under scrutiny in the
urban (re)development context as a catalyst to a neighborhood’s
gentrification. Its impact on low-income community is subject to debate from
the perspective of spatial justice. As a promise to the public, MTR is
expected to reserve adequate amount of land in the precincts of the stations
for public housing estate. Nevertheless, whether this promise is delivered
has never been examined. Indeed, new private residential projects appear to have
taken many prime locations in recent years, which is a hypothesis to be
tested. In this study, we aim to review the MTR’s business model and its
impact on the spatial distribution of housing estates across Hong Kong. In
parallel with MTR expansion from 1995 to 2015, rail accessibility and the
changes in the spatial-socio-economic characteristics of Hong Kong’s
neighborhoods were investigated. The impacts of new MTR lines on the
neighborhood changes and on the locations of new public and private housing
estates were modeled and visualized. Based on the findings, a series of
rail-based development recommendations were proposed with a view to make Hong
Kong a more equitable city.