TODs (Transit-Oriented Developments) are an emerging trend in urban planning that creates walkable neighborhoods centered on high quality public transit systems. Such developments reduce reliance on cars while providing healthier lifestyle options that connect residents to jobs and city services with less driving required for accessing them.
DVRPC maintains an Active TOD Database which tracks any potential, ongoing or completed development near our region’s rail stations.
1. Reducing Automobile Dependency
TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) is a growing trend in urban planning, city revitalization, suburban renewal and neighborhood transformation. This approach involves creating dense mixed-use neighborhoods around high quality public transit stations allowing residents to accomplish daily tasks without relying on cars for transportation.
TOD requires an integrated approach to urban design that encompasses land use, transportation and public infrastructure planning, community engagement efforts and economic development. TOD goes beyond being just another physical definition of density near transit; rather, it is a philosophy and set of policies designed to foster sustainable and equitable communities.
TOD strategies have long been employed to decrease automobile dependency in cities and regions throughout the U.S. and beyond. TOD strategies have proven their worth as essential elements in reducing VMT, promoting sustainable mobility and creating livable communities. Most importantly, TOD increases access for people to housing, jobs and services while simultaneously decreasing dependence on private automobiles – thus decreasing traffic congestion, air pollution emissions and energy usage while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Creating Livable Neighborhoods
Establishing neighborhoods around transit stations allows people to lead more livable lives by decreasing car dependence, increasing economic activity in local communities, encouraging sustainable lifestyles and creating vibrant cities.
TOD strategies promote compact mixed use development within walking distance of high quality public transportation services, enabling communities to expand more quickly while having less of an effect on both their environment and traffic congestion.
Communities can take advantage of their proximity to transit by encouraging residents to utilize it as much as possible for all or most trips, significantly decreasing personal vehicle ownership and saving households an average of $10K annually in car-related expenses and air pollution reduction costs.
TOD planning and design that prioritizes local community needs early and throughout project implementation is integral to creating equitable communities that flourish. Implementing flexible parking requirements may help communities meet their own needs while also reducing surface temperatures and disincentivizing car dependence; avoiding street widenings that increase congestion; and designing for zero lot line setbacks can all work towards making for more pedestrian-friendly streets and communities.
3. Increasing Economic Activity
TODs offer an alternative to sprawling development which drives long commutes: TOD communities bring residents and businesses closer together while emphasizing public transit usage. As a result, compact neighborhoods, high-quality community spaces, and shorter travel distances result in economic activity while sustainable mobility becomes reality.
TOD can also reduce harmful air pollution and traffic congestion while making it easy to connect people with jobs, shopping, and recreation. When TOD involves low-carbon transport options like buses and trains it can even help lower toxic emissions from light-duty vehicles.
TOD (transit-oriented development) is an emerging trend for creating vibrant and livable communities nationwide. TOD typically centers around a transit station with lower density developments spreading out from there; pedestrian-oriented features can include narrow streets. Such neighborhoods are known as transit villages; new construction or redevelopment of an existing area may fall within this category. TOD often occurs as the result of collaboration between transit agencies and developers who jointly develop real estate to support public transport services.
4. Creating Sustainable Communities
TODs encourage compact city growth by integrating land development and transit services, countering sprawl by concentrating growth near transit stations and offering more affordable housing options that make living without a car achievable and enjoyable.
TODs along current and future transit corridors will help the Buffalo-Niagara region remain sustainable over time. By clustering housing, jobs, amenities near frequently traveled routes, TODs will reduce travel times and congestion on local roads while protecting natural areas while creating self-reinforcing communities that will strengthen over time.
TOD also facilitates communities that are inclusive and equitable, as evidenced by recent studies showing households near LRT/streetcar transit station areas experienced an increase in diversity, including an increased proportion of non-white residents than regionally overall. Such diversity allows neighborhoods to adapt more readily to changing demographics while also decreasing segregation and increasing social equity – two tenets central to smart growth.