This research explores the impact of a new light rail line on small businesses and small business owners' ability to stay in business. Employing a mixed-method approach including business turnover analysis, surveys, and in-depth interviews in a case study on Charlotte, North Carolina, this research offers insights on the economic development challenges faced by business owners during and beyond the construction phase, showing how the construction of a light rail can permanently alter accessibility and visibility of affected businesses. Contrary to the positive impacts and benefits of light rail transit often celebrated in literature, this study shows that the significant challenges faced by small businesses during and beyond the construction phase have caused commercial displacement and altered the commercial landscape in some neighborhoods along the line. This research highlights the importance of examining practices during the construction phase to assess light rail's impacts on commercial areas. It also offers a deeper understanding of displacement processes, and aims to identify effective strategies for business retention and mitigation programs to support small businesses.

这项研究探索了一条新的轻轨线对小型企业和小型企业所有者的经营能力的影响。在北卡罗来纳州夏洛特的案例研究中，采用了包括业务营业额分析，调查和深入访谈在内的混合方法，该研究提供了有关在施工阶段以及施工阶段之外企业主所面临的经济发展挑战的见解。轻轨的建设可以永久改变受影响企业的可达性和能见度。与文献中经常提到的轻轨交通的积极影响和好处相反，这项研究表明，小企业在施工阶段及以后所面临的重大挑战已导致商业流离失所，并改变了沿线某些社区的商业格局。这项研究强调了在施工阶段检查实践的重要性，以评估轻轨对商业区域的影响。它还提供了对流离失所过程的更深入了解，旨在确定有效的战略以保留和缓解计划以支持小型企业。