Transit-oriented development creates vibrant people places with easy access to high-capacity, reliable public transit. It plays a pivotal role in regional planning, city revitalization and suburban renewal efforts.
Studies show that TOD increases life satisfaction, with people who live near high-quality transit more satisfied with their commute experience.
Walkable Communities
Many people value walkability, preferring communities in which they can easily reach all their necessary locations without needing a car. When walking is made easy and convenient, more opportunities arise for regular physical activity participation that improves overall health while simultaneously decreasing healthcare costs.
Transit-oriented development (TOD), is an exciting and rising trend in urban planning that creates dense mixed-use neighborhoods within walking distance from transit stations. TOD promotes smarter growth while encouraging pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and design features.
For equitable communities to exist, walkable communities must offer a diverse selection of housing options to accommodate low-income residents and non-traditional families – this may include non-favored duplexes and townhomes such as duplexes. Furthermore, TOD should be pursued using inclusive processes that engage local residents and community-based organizations early in its planning processes.
Jobs
Jobs and businesses flourish in neighborhoods that provide multiple pathways to work. Transit-oriented development (TOD), by connecting housing to employment, increases economic mobility while decreasing automobile use; as households spend less money on transportation they can allocate it towards childcare expenses, education fees, healthcare bills, conventional down payments and savings accounts.
TODs create liveable, accessible communities by clustering moderate- to high-density housing and commercial areas around public transport hubs like light rail or bus stations, as well as walkable neighborhoods with shops and civic spaces.
TOD works best when it provides equal access to opportunity for all. We work with advocates in the environmental, transportation, housing, and equity fields to advocate for equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD). These efforts include lobbying for changes to zoning codes to prioritize higher density development near transit stations as well as for value capture from new developments to support affordable and improved transit service.
Economic Development
TODs focus development around transit stations to form compact, walkable neighborhoods featuring high-density residential and mixed uses. This strategy increases ridership on transit services while decreasing car traffic pollution levels and pollution emissions while creating affordable housing units and increasing local economic activity.
TOD can also aid economic development by expanding a city’s tax base, funding infrastructure investments and creating jobs. However, TOD should be balanced with equitable measures addressing issues of gentrification and affordability to avoid pricing people with lower and moderate incomes out of an area and further marginalizing them from opportunities available there.
Equitable TOD (eTOD) strategies may include affordable housing goals and requirements, preserving existing affordability or building new units near transit stations, encouraging land discounts for affordable community-oriented business space and celebrating cultural assets as part of TOD development strategies to create inclusive community spaces that celebrate neighborhood history, diversity and culture.
Health
Studies have shown that TOD provides healthier living through greater access to public transportation, community amenities, affordable housing and social interaction. Furthermore, it can address root causes of poor health such as social and economic inequities in ways which produce long-term benefits.
TOD communities focus on housing and neighborhood services that align with high quality transit systems, creating walkable environments where people can get where they need to go without needing their cars. They’re typically built within walking distance (1/4 mile or 10 minutes) from transit stations.
People living closer to transit tend to be more physically active, leading to improved physical health. Furthermore, their reduced reliance on cars reduces air and street pollution levels.
Environment
Building compact mixed-use communities around transit stations encourages a more sustainable lifestyle, with reduced energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Concentrating development near public transportation also makes it more financially feasible to provide high-quality mass transit services that attract businesses and residents.
TODs emphasize dense development patterns that enable walking as an enjoyable and convenient form of transportation, decreasing dependence on cars while shortening commute times, decreasing exposure to harmful fumes, and strengthening social connections.
TOD should be pursued through equitable processes that include engaging local residents and community-based organizations in its planning process. Where TOD projects redevelop existing affordable housing units, tenant protection policies must be included as a part of TOD plans to ensure it benefits everyone equally without leaving out those most at risk of exclusion.