The Spatial Relationship Between Rail Transit Network and Population and Employment Density in Tianjin, China

The development of rail transit is expected to gather housing and jobs around the station, so as to improve the urban spatial structure for sustainable development. Based on mobile phone signaling data in 2019, this study analyzes the coupling relationship between metro station areas and urban population intensity in Tianjin. Regression models are established to quantitatively evaluate the effects of metro stations on the residential population density and employment density around the station. The study shows that the residential population and employment are significantly concentrated along the rail transit area. The employment density, the proportion of residential land and commercial land are the most influencing factors in residential population density within the station surrounding areas. Whereas, the residential population density, average and house price and the proportion of industrial land are in employment density within the station surrounding areas. Based on the research results, policy implications are proposed to better guide the coordinated development of rail transit and urban spatial structure.