TOD communities, which are designed around frequent transit service, feature high density with mixed uses in the areas surrounding transit stations. These areas aim to promote walkability and good street design.
TOD residents tend to rely on public transit and walking as modes of travel more than non-TOD residents; though this could reflect self-selection, this data also serves to highlight potential benefits associated with TODs.
Accessibility
the creation of neighborhoods focused on high quality transit systems allows people to live lower-stress lives that rely less on cars. TOD also encourages walking and cycling more, thus decreasing congestion and pollution levels.
TOD neighborhoods usually feature a central transit station with a mixed-use area surrounding it, offering comfort and security amenities such as venders selling food or periodicals, washrooms and wayfinding systems – and designed to be as accessible as possible to people with disabilities and senior citizens.
TOD zoning codes may encourage the creation of compact multifamily developments within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of rail or bus stations that offer mixed uses including retail and office space. Research shows that residents living within TODs own fewer cars, drive three to four times less, rely more heavily on public transit (walking and biking), use public transportation more than those outside, own less cars overall and utilize alternative forms of transport such as biking more. Although much of this difference can be explained by self-selection factors alone, TOD design plays an essential part in encouraging residents to opt for less automobile-reliant modes.
Economic Development
As TOD neighborhoods develop around transit stations, residents can take advantage of their location to walk or ride bikes for work and play – giving families more time together while still making it to where they need to be on time. Furthermore, residents will have easier access to local businesses that may otherwise require traveling by car.
TOD communities also reap the financial benefits from higher density development, often with less infrastructure costs per household than single family homes in similar areas. Furthermore, TODs present governments with an opportunity to reduce capital expenses associated with public infrastructure through innovative financing techniques.
TOD may be a relatively modern approach to urban planning, but its core principle has long been practiced: clustering land use and activity centers around high quality public transport networks has long been done so – and railway station surroundings serve as “shop windows” of towns by drawing people and businesses into its core.
Environmental Benefits
TOD can not only increase revenues but also help mitigate environmental impacts by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating new road construction needs. Furthermore, TOD provides greater access to jobs for low-income residents while creating vibrant community spaces.
TODs must include equity measures for low and moderate-income residents to prevent gentrification; otherwise, TOD can lead to displacement of low-income households from areas with excellent transit service.
TODs are defined by development patterns that encourage walkability and use of nonmotorized modes like walking, cycling, public transit, carsharing and taxis over automobile travel. This usually includes mixed land uses, high residential density housing types with differing prices and prices to match, street designs that encourage pedestrian movement as well as parking management to minimize car use; all which reduces road and parking infrastructure requirements while simultaneously creating benefits from being close together such as agglomeration benefits that arise due to having activities together in close proximity.
Health Benefits
TOD neighborhoods offer residents many advantages due to their density and mixed land use characteristics. Residents living within TOD neighborhoods are five times more likely to commute via public transit compared to households without cars; additionally they own less cars on average.
Studies show that TOD communities tend to experience more walking and cycling, reduced driving, lower energy use, higher productivity levels and shorter work trips – all contributing to improved workplace health.
TOD can take many forms: from new urban transit lines and stations, suburban neighborhoods designed around public transit, or incremental changes to existing suburban and urban neighborhood patterns. Cervero and Nelson/Nygaard (2002) and Dittmar and Ohland (2004) provide details about specific planning practices while TCRP (2012) details how Complete Streets policies encourage TOD development.
TOD may be a new innovation in urban and suburban planning, but people have long sought out areas close to activity centers like shops, schools, jobs and entertainment – something TOD helps facilitate. People have always looked for locations near shops, schools, jobs and entertainment to fulfill their daily needs.