"A transportation desert is defined as an area greater than ½ mile from a subway station."

https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170913/OPINION/17091...

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/201...

Is that quote your definition? I did not find the quote mentioned in either linked article when I used ctrl+f "transportation desert"

Well, as someone who use to live in that area. It sucked, I think “transportation desert” is very applicable. There are buses, but you only take them to transfer for trains into the city.

Page 15 of the embedded PDF in the first link. Some other definitions say 1/3rd of a mile:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/nyregion/new-york-subway-...