TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) is an approach to development focused on increasing walkability and encouraging public transit use. These developments are typically located within walking distance from transit stations, and include mixed-use buildings featuring residential, retail, office and entertainment space.
TOD areas typically feature reliable and frequent public transit services that enable residents to live, work, shop and play within compact neighborhoods.
Walkable Neighborhoods
If you’re seeking an accessible neighborhood that allows easy access to work, school, shopping and other amenities, walkable neighborhoods may be the way to go. These communities are designed specifically to be pedestrian-friendly while encouraging an active and social lifestyle and supporting local businesses.
Transit oriented development (TOD), often referred to by its acronym in shorthand, is one of the fastest growing trends in urban planning and suburban renewal. TOD centers around high-quality train systems that enable residents to live less stressful lifestyles without needing their car as much.
Research indicates that residential density and proximity to transit increase the share of households using nonmotorized transportation such as walking and cycling, while decreasing vehicle ownership, travel costs and expenditures (Litman 2008). Such changes also help meet transportation demand management objectives by decreasing distance-based travel costs and expanding transportation options for non-commute trips; further reducing regional GHG emissions from transport.
Convenient Transportation
people living in neighborhoods with access to public transit are more likely to utilize alternative forms of transport, reducing their reliance on cars. Cities can further decrease car usage through strategies like congestion pricing, adding bike lanes and bike-share docking stations, narrowing streets with pedestrian crossings, restricting parking spaces or setting up car free zones; among other strategies.
Equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) ensures that people of all income levels have equal opportunity to live and work near trains and buses. ETOD uses various tools to encourage development such as land sales/uses/sales contracts/lease agreements/air rights/ground lease agreements/accessibility easements/rails-to-trails projects etc.
Studies on TOD effectiveness have delved deep into its components. Researchers have classified TOD strategies into categories, with built environments influencing ridership substantially – meaning TOD station areas must provide pedestrian-friendly environments with seamless transfer systems for passengers.
Environmental Benefits
Cities that create neighborhoods around transit have many benefits of developing neighborhoods around transit: it allows more housing in less space, increases ridership on transit services, decreases car traffic and pollution levels, boosts local economic activity and can offset initial higher land costs; also the resultant increase in property values may help finance transit upgrades or affordable housing opportunities.
TOD offers an alternative to sprawling suburban development by creating compact neighborhoods of high density with varied land uses and public spaces, creating job opportunities while drawing businesses to local economies for economic expansion and supporting an effective local economy.
TOD fosters compact city growth that makes living without a car easier, as well as healthful living and working, by limiting exposure to harmful fumes and unsafe travel. Residents from all income levels benefit from TOD initiatives with equity measures built-in. It may lead to gentrification or displacement risks; these may be reduced by allocating part of new development for affordable housing needs.
Economic Benefits
TOD maximizes ridership on existing infrastructure by centralizing housing, jobs and services around public transit stations. Reducing car dependency and shortening commute times also decreases energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
As opposed to single-use neighborhoods, TOD neighborhoods provide residents and visitors with multiple choices for daily needs such as shopping, dining, working, socializing and relaxing – creating a lively and engaging environment which boosts community health, vitality and economic prosperity.
TOD provides multiple advantages to both the MBTA and local communities, including increased revenue, housing and commercial development, reduced transportation costs, economic expansion, equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD), equitable transit access for low and moderate income households and essential services that are easily reachable via transit. If your community would benefit from TOD visit DVRPC’s Smart Growth Project Database to discover projects proposed or underway near rail stations throughout our region.