Evolving Connection of Transit,Agglomeration,and Growth of High-Technology Business Clusters

Although much literature on spatial agglomeration, public transit, and the economy has focused on broad analyses and generalized relationships, this study focuses on one specific element of the economy: the development of high-technology, knowledge-based industries that account for a disproportionate share of the national economic growth. The study examines how these industries are clustering in large metropolitan areas and specific suburban and urban locations within those metropolitan areas. This research shows how the growing levels of employment in these industries are challenging the capacity constraints of local road networks and how leading businesses in these industrial clusters are turning to private and public transit to enable their continued growth. The evidence indicates that (a) the advantages of concentration in metropolitan areas and highly localized clustering for these specific business sectors continue to exist and (b) although public transportation is not the cause of clustering, most high-technology business clusters are evolving so that bus and rail solutions are supporting the clusters’ continuing growth and will support their future growth.