Well-planned high density housing and business development near frequent transit is key to sustainable growth, revitalizes communities and increases regional economic competitiveness.

Develop vibrant communities where both residents and non-residents have access to work, stores, cultural institutions, and entertainment without depending on personal automobiles for transportation. It promotes an interdependent relationship between compact urban development and public transit systems.

Benefits

TOD works to reduce private automobile use in urban environments by encouraging compact residential and commercial development near transit hubs, leading to less dependence on private cars for transporting people and goods. Communities may utilize zoning laws or other strategies that support TOD initiatives – for example prioritizing mixed-use buildings near transit hubs for approvals processes to be simplified or providing financial incentives such as funding agreements or tax arrangements to those developers who adhere to TOD principles.

TOD can create greener, healthier built environments that appeal to new generations of renters like millennials and Gen Z who eschew car culture and prefer living close to work or leisure activities. Furthermore, TOD may increase resilience against natural hazards by providing homes and services in less vulnerable areas.

TOD can help reduce inequality by guaranteeing access to affordable housing near transit stations. Without equity measures in place, however, TOD could push lower-income households away from urban core and increase travel costs and vehicle miles traveled.

Locations

TOD (Transit-oriented development, though some planners prefer “transit-proximate development”) involves clustering jobs, housing and services near high quality public transportation nodes to help reduce automobile dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.

TOD projects can be found across the nation – from small towns like Port Angeles and Petersburg in Washington state and Petersburg Virginia in Virginia, to urban centers like Charlotte North Carolina and California’s Bay Area. Common characteristics among all TOD projects include higher density mixed use development centered around walking or other non-automotive forms of transport such as busses or trains.

TOD is often touted as a solution for urban sprawl, congestion, and climate change impacts of automobile use. But for it to be equitable, TOD should be implemented using fair and transparent processes that engage local residents and community-based organizations effectively; furthermore policies must be in place to avoid displacement or gentrification along new TOD corridors; it must also be undertaken within a framework of strong affordable housing policies.

Types

TODs organize residential, commercial and recreational spaces around public transit stations in order to create walkable neighborhoods that rely less on cars for transportation, thus offering people more choice in terms of how they navigate their environment – providing sustainable lifestyle options with reduced stress levels.

TOD can refer to either an entirely new urban neighborhood designed around public transit and stations or incremental modifications made to existing ones with public transit. TOD differs from “transit-proximate development”, which refers to narrow streets with pedestrian facilities offering high quality walking environments but without having a large ratio of buildings to open space.

TOD projects benefit both communities and transit agencies by increasing sustainable transit ridership, revitalizing neighborhoods, and strengthening regional economic competitiveness. TOD projects also play an increasing role in younger generations’ efforts to avoid car ownership and maintenance costs; as a result they seek healthier built environments and higher property values. A TOD approach may involve zoning to encourage compact residential buildings with larger unit counts near public transit stops or stations.

Implementation

TOD can boost productivity while reducing carbon footprint, while providing greater resilience against natural disasters.

Demand for TOD will only increase as demographics evolve and more people seek healthy communities that are walkable with easy access to jobs and amenities; however, obstacles must still be overcome for TOD to come into existence.

This report equips decision-makers with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to facilitate TOD implementation. It includes an assessment toolkit for TOD assessments as well as communications/advocacy materials and case studies as well as template terms of reference that can guide their process.

This toolkit is a valuable resource to decision-makers navigating the complexities associated with planning for equitable TODs, offering many financing mechanisms and strategies, as well as tips for developing plans that account for construction phasing and market growth over time. Created jointly by South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and the EPA, this comprehensive toolkit features how-to guides, analytical tools, communication tools, resource lists and templates – and much more!