TOD communities offer various advantages. People living near transit tend to rely more heavily on it, reducing car usage on local roadways and ultimately saving energy costs by cutting emissions.
TOD communities consist of high-density mixed use areas within 1/4 to 1/2 miles of a transit stop on public or private land, which promote walking and bicycling.
1. Increased Transit Access
TOD involves clustering homes, jobs, shops, and schools closer to public transit stations on both private and public property, creating walkable neighborhoods while decreasing commute times and dependence on cars, increasing local economies and ridership of public transit services.
Public transport that serves sparsely populated areas over long distances is costly for both operators and passengers, whereas TOD maximizes residential development near transit stations and lines while remaining eco-friendly and providing agencies without federal funding with fare revenue an economic advantage.
TOD assisted the Town of Babylon in developing a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to LIRR’s Westbury Station that transformed an underutilized surface lot into homes, retail shops and cultural institutions anchored by a ground lease that generates recurring revenues to fund future investments at LIRR Westbury Station.
2. Reduced Traffic
TODs aim to alleviate congestion and pollution by creating walkable communities containing housing, jobs, businesses, services and public spaces within walking distance of transit stations. This creates livable neighborhoods while supporting economic development and improving local quality of life.
TOD encourages compact city development that reduces sprawl, lessening the need for cars while making living without one possible. Furthermore, TOD reduces exposure to toxic fumes and traffic hazards as well as using less energy and resources than traditional development patterns.
TOD can be found across the nation, from urban neighborhoods near subways to suburban communities built along streetcar and rail lines. The relationship between transit and land use has helped revitalize cities by raising home values, attracting employers, decreasing travel costs and opening up economic opportunities.
3. Better Air Quality
Residents living in TOD neighborhoods benefit greatly when amenities are within walking distance, reducing carbon emissions and providing more opportunities for physical activity as well as providing greater options to low-income residents, older adults and individuals with disabilities.
TOD laws can include requirements or incentives designed to make TOD developments more affordable, such as streamlining review processes and property tax exemptions. They may also establish density guidelines such as Washington’s requirement that TOD areas permit buildings with a floor area ratio of at least 3.5:lot size near transit stations.
TOD laws often feature flexibility to allow local governments to tailor these guidelines according to the circumstances in their area. Colorado allows a range of multifamily developments near transit stations; Washington requires that all TOD developments contain a certain percentage of affordable units in their development plans.
4. Reduced Noise
Development of mixed-use spaces enables residents to access community amenities without their cars, thus reducing traffic and noise pollution. A variety of residential housing options also allows families to find something suitable to their lifestyle including cost-efficient living solutions.
Research has demonstrated that residents living in TODs tend to own fewer cars, drive less frequently and walk or use public transit for work trips more. This helps significantly lower energy costs for households.
TODs can create an environment that is more eco-friendly by including green space and using Silva Cells to grow large shady trees in their development. Furthermore, using more natural materials such as wood and brick makes these developments more resistant to climate change impacts.
5. Increased Property Value
Development and transit have an interdependent relationship in our region, and neighborhoods that combine dense living, walkability and access to high-quality transit have seen their property values soar.
TOD areas typically center around bus, light rail, or train stations and feature mixed-use residential and commercial development that has grown up around them. These communities are commonly known as transit villages or “urban villages.”
Rosslyn and Ballston neighborhoods located along the Washington Metro rapid transit system in Arlington County exhibit dense, mixed use development within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of Rosslyn, Clarendon and Court House stations; with lower density outside this zone. This strategy has resulted in higher property tax bases for cities, more jobs created, reduced car traffic pollution levels and enabled healthy, active lifestyles to flourish.