Shops and services don’t necessarily flock to new subway stations.

In many large cities, established public transport stations are often accompanied by a number of shops and services. But do newly built stations similarly encourage nearby commercial activities? In new research which examines the effects of new transit stations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco/San Jose, Jenny Schuetz finds that despite considerable investment, these developments have generally not attracted shops, restaurants and services. She writes that this may be down to a number of local factors, including zoning regulations, and local residents’ preferences towards cars.