Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates how the expansion of Warsaw’s metro system—specifically the opening of the second underground line (M2)—affects urban vibrancy, defined as the diversity and intensity of social, economic, and cultural activities. Using a spatial panel Difference-in-Differences (DiD) model with two-way fixed effects, the analysis examines changes in local vibrancy, proxied by the density of small catering businesses (SCB), across four years (2019–2023). Our results show that while built environment features such as building footprint, parking area, and street furniture positively correlate with vibrancy, the short-term effect of new metro stations is negative: areas within a 15 min walking distance of new stations experienced a relative decline in local activity compared to control areas. This pattern likely reflects a behavioral shift, as residents and consumers increasingly use the metro to access amenities in central, already vibrant districts. However, the effect attenuates over time, suggesting that neighborhoods gradually adapt to new mobility conditions. The findings highlight that large-scale transport investments may generate temporary disruptions before fostering long-term equilibrium and renewed urban vitality, underscoring the need for adaptive urban policies that mitigate transitional impacts and support local socio-economic resilience.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su172210142
Institution: Lodz University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Funder: Politechnika Lódzka
OpenAlex ID: W4416192192