Towards a conceptual framework for understanding the attractiveness of rail transit-oriented shopping mall developments (TOSMDs)

Transit-oriented development (TOD) links residential, retail, commercial, and community service developments to frequent, accessible rail transit services to stimulate sustainable development in the form of decreased land use and transport integration. A mixed-use shopping mall can be developed as a TOD with moderate to high density with diverse land use patterns and well-connected street networks centred around and integrated with a rail transit station. Shopping mall developments are now considered as the retail, social, and community centres of their communities. Therefore, understanding their services’ mixed impact on nearby transit stations will provide further insight into the success of the TOD approach. As a result, this study aims to review and link the recent literature on attractiveness factors of shopping malls and the design factors of TOD and report the researchers’ analytic observations (themes) clarifying transit-oriented shopping mall developments’ (TOSMDs) attractiveness factors. The review systematically synthesises 208 guiding articles. It uses the elements of the extended service marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion, people, physical evidence, and process) and the five factors related to TODs (density, diversity, urban design, destination accessibility, and distance) as an indicator system for the factors determining the attractiveness of TOSMD. The review outcome is utilised to establish a conceptual framework for the attractiveness of rail TOSMDs. The study revealed fragmented causes of attractiveness factors of rail TOSMDs. It contributes to further understanding of TOD as it cross-reviews retail and urban design literature findings. The resultant conceptual framework will also inform and potentially enhance the existing rail transit station passenger forecasting models and increase the economic sustainability of rail transit networks.