This group project, created for an introductory GIS course at ASU, explores the relationship between housing development, demographic shifts, and the expansion of the Valley Metro Light Rail system in Phoenix. Using spatial analysis and census data, we examined how the city’s light rail corridor has evolved since 2010 and what that means for transit-oriented development going forward.

Project Scope & Goals

Our team set out to investigate the impact of light rail infrastructure on surrounding communities across Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. We focused on three key dimensions: Housing type (owner vs. renter), median household income, and population density within a half-mile buffer of the light rail corridor.

Key Insights

• Housing growth has been most pronounced in areas surrounding downtown Tempe and central Phoenix, especially among renter-occupied units.
• Despite long-term investments, income disparities remain stark, particularly east of downtown Phoenix and throughout Mesa.
• Census tracts that experienced both rail expansion and significant housing development often remain below national median income levels, indicating ongoing equity challenges in TOD planning.

I drove our group’s exploration of demographic data, focusing on changes in median household income between 2010 and 2024. I also drafted most of the narrative copy for our final presentation and designed our central ArcGIS Online visualization.

Explore our StoryMap below, which allows users to toggle between housing, income, and density data across time. Use the layer controls to compare changes from 2010 to 2024 along the rail corridor.