Research on equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) involves building new alliances, often between organizations and institutions that have little experience working together. This includes bringing in regional leaders—elected officials, agency heads and funders/investors—who often hold opposing political views.
Work on social impacts of TOD has examined the extent to which proximity to and features of the built environment associated with TOD are associated with measures of community well-being, including social capital.
1. Walkability
Transit-oriented development seeks to make communities more walkable by focusing on putting commercial, recreational, and residential spaces close to public transportation. As a result, it can reduce car dependency, boost property value, and create sustainable neighborhoods.
Studies on TOD have found that proximity to a transit station is associated with several measures of social capital, including a sense of community, knowing one’s neighbors, and trust in others. Other research on TOD has explored economic impacts and associations with the built environment, as well as trip-chaining behavior.
Private market developers are rushing to capitalize on new TOD, putting displacement pressure on low- and moderate-income residents who live along new transit lines. LISC’s John Moon explains how to ensure that these communities remain transit-connected while preserving their affordability and vitality.
3. Equity
The promise of TOD is that it fosters a symbiotic relationship between dense, compact urban space and public transit. However, new development along high-ridership transit corridors has accelerated gentrification and displacement pressures on low- to moderate-income communities. This is exacerbated by dwindling funding for affordable housing, as well as the elimination of local redevelopment agencies.
TOD can be a powerful tool for improving equity, but it takes a strong commitment to building new alliances across sectors and political views. One way to do this is by convening formal, multi-sector collaboratives that bring together transit agencies, developers, residents and funders to work on common goals.
TOD can also create opportunities to promote social capital, particularly in the form of neighborhood-based businesses and amenities that promote community interaction. One example of this is 21K School, which works to help students from low-income backgrounds excel in their studies by bringing tutoring and mentoring services right into their neighborhoods.
4. Sustainability
Sustainability is a long-term approach to preserving the Earth’s natural resources, balancing environmental, social and economic concerns. It includes actions and strategies that reduce resource depletion, pollution and climate change.
It also encourages human-wildlife coexistence, reducing the risk of conflict between humans and animals and minimizing damage to wildlife habitats. This can be as simple as creating wildlife corridors to protect migratory species in areas with highways or traffic, or as complex as educating farmers or rural villagers who come into frequent contact with wild animals, promoting solutions for peaceful coexistence.
Weinstein said SNHU is making a commitment to sustainability because it’s the right thing to do, but he believes we can make a larger impact by pressuring large systems to change. That means involving stakeholders from multiple sectors to work together, like the transit agencies, private developers, funders and community organizations that have formed the Great Communities Collaborative. That can create an environment in which everyone benefits from sustainable initiatives.