Research Question:
How does transit influence the landscape of gentrification in Portland?
Framing Questions:
- Descriptive: How do bus riders unions understand and interact with transit agencies? Which neighborhoods have gentrified/are gentrifying? What is the association between transit and gentrification? What is the association between municipal policies (urban renewal zones, urban village designations) and gentrification? How do marginalized communities interpret gentrification in relation to transit?
- Explanatory: Why have certain neighborhoods gentrified? How have cities decided where and how to invest in transit? Why does local resistance to new transportation investments and development emerge?
- Evaluative: To what extent does transit contribute to/shape the landscape of gentrification? How effective are bus riders unions in terms of changing municipal transit policy? What are costs and benefits of gentrification? Who bears these costs and benefits?
- Instrumental: What can be done to enhance transit mobility without displacing current residents? How should local constituencies be involved in the transportation planning and development processes? What role can bus riders unions play in fostering community engagement around transit and development issues?