The Green Line: a Boon to Washington, D.C.

How has the Green Line benefitted the economy of Washington, D.C.? A new report counts the ways.

1 minute read

January 13, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Green Line

The exterior of the Shaw - Howard University station on the WMATA's Green Line. | Elvert Barnes / Flickr

Susan Balding shares news of a new report into the economic effects of the Green Line where it passes through Washington, D.C. The Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District commissioned the "GreenPrint of Growth 2.0" [pdf] report, five years after an initial report found surprising levels of population and economic growth along the Green Line corridor between the Petworth to Navy Yard stations.

As for the findings on economic growth from the most recent report, Balding writes:

To sum things up: it’s a lot —enough to generate $3.66 billion in tax revenues for the District over the next 20 years. Thanks to the increase in housing and retail near transit, the Green Line corridor has become an increasingly attractive place to live.

Balding breaks down the findings of the report with regard to the housing and retail developments that have arrived on the corridor, along with the resulting job growth in construction and other sectors of the economy. Balding also concludes the article with an appeal for equitable mobility: "As we add more mixed-use development near transit, it’s important to make sure that a diverse group of people are able to access and use it (and yes, this means afford it)."

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