TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

 

What is Transit-Oriented Development?

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is development designed to help create attractive and sustainable communities.  It encourages the use of public transit, walking and bicycling instead of the auto for many trips.  It typically places higher density development within an easy walking distance of ¼ to ½ mile of a transit stop or station.  TOD is also displays the following characteristics:

·        The development is a mixture of uses

·        It is compact or more dense than typical development

·        It has a transit stop or station as a center of activity

·        It can be easily reached by all modes of transportation

·        It is pedestrian and bicycle friendly

·        It provides a center, a public place of celebration in the community

 

Why is Transit-Oriented Development Important?

In practically all of the United States since World War II, development has spread across the landscape at lower and lower densities - a pattern known as sprawl.  Sprawl development is a reflection of population growth, readily developable land and a number of public tax and investment policies.  This form of development has created low-density, unconnected single use areas that require people to drive to get to services and commercial and employment opportunities.  In virtually every community the area of land developed has greatly exceeded the rate of population growth over the last several decades.  This has led to a host of problems:

 ·        Transportation Problems

-         increased areas and duration of traffic congestion

-         decreased accessibility to employment and services

-         decreased mobility for the young and the elderly

-         decreased use of transit

   Environmental Problems

-         poor air quality

-         increased storm water run off and flooding with reduced water quality and quantity

-         consumption of irreplaceable agricultural land, open space and critical habitats 

·        Socio-Economic Problems

-         increased cost of transportation infrastructure

-         increased cost of extending pubic services ranging from water and sewer to schools and libraries

-         loss of sense and reality of community

-         isolation of the population in urban communities with declining tax bases
 

What Can Transit-Oriented Development Do To Help?

TOD can help communities accommodate growth and development with reduced negative impacts on the natural environment and quality of life while enhancing accessibility for all and providing stronger local economies.  TOD can help communities address the problems noted above by doing the following:

-         Provide a mix of land uses – complimentary land uses support higher levels of non-auto access (including transit, walking and biking) and activity. 

-         Provide medium to high-density development – higher density development creates more opportunities for auto-free movement among different destinations.

-         Create a clear, connected street system that supports and encourages access by multiple modes of travel.

-         Provide pedestrian and bicycle networks that connect the community and transit.

-         Provide a transit station or stop as a center of activity – appropriate design of these facilities can create a center of activity and increasing property values.

-         Concentrate new development - this helps reduce capital funds needed for extension of public infrastructure to new areas.

 

TOD can help a community address it’s local versions of the identified problems as well as contribute to regional improvements in the same areas of concern.