The estimation of residential property values around transit station sites in Washington,D.C.

The author examines in this study the relationship between public investment in METRO and property values in several neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., in order to determine if public investment in heavy rail transit systems increases residential property values. In order to examine this relationship, a hedonic price equation which included a dummy independent variable was estimated. Analysis of the data revealed a significant direct relationship between the opening of METRO and residential property values. Therefore, it can be concluded that public investment in METRO caused property values to increase around station site areas.