TOD refers to the development of compact, walkable communities centered on high quality public transit stations that make life possible without driving a car by providing housing, jobs and retail close by to transport options.
TODs depend on high capacity, reliable and frequent transit service to attract and retain residents, while offering active transportation opportunities like walking and cycling that provide healthy alternatives to driving.
Definition
Transit-Oriented Development, or TOD for short, is an emerging trend for creating vibrant and livable communities. It involves designing urban areas around high quality transit systems that incorporate people, activities, buildings and public spaces – making transit more accessible than car ownership, while simultaneously decreasing congestion and pollution while encouraging healthy lifestyles and providing economic opportunities.
TOD areas often consist of an eclectic mixture of residential, commercial and office buildings located within walking distance from a transit station – otherwise known as ‘transit villages’ – either new construction or redevelopment. Development density increases near transit stations while it decreases further away.
TODs offer the opportunity for vibrant centers of activity that can serve as catalysts for community revitalization and economic activity, meeting residents’ needs while taking into account any desired changes they might wish for their communities. Stay informed on development projects near rail stations by checking DVRPC’s new Smart Growth Project Database.
Examples
TODs (Transit Oriented Developments) have become popular worldwide. TOD communities typically feature mixed uses that meet residents and workers needs and offer convenient walkability to a transit station, helping reduce dependence on private vehicles, improve air quality and increase transit system efficiencies.
Arlington County, Virginia has seen the development of TODs around Rosslyn-Ballston and Clarendon Washington Metro stations and high volume bus routes, prioritizing new development within 1/4 to 1/2 miles (400 to 800 meters) radius from each center station in order to maximize densities near transit services.
TODs have also been implemented in Calgary, Canada along the CTrain light rail transit (LRT) network. Near the downtown stations have seen medium density condo developments constructed on surface lots leased to Gotham Organization for income-restricted housing, neighborhood-serving retail stores and public space improvements.
Impacts
Walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods centered on public transit can increase access to jobs, social services and other destinations; promote health; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and boost real estate values. However, it’s essential that TOD strategies be inclusive and equitable, or their high demand could lead to gentrification or displacement and compromise equity goals.
TODs offer affordable housing and reduced overall commuting costs, which is especially advantageous for households with children and elderly individuals. Furthermore, proximity to transit has been shown to have positive effects on a range of measures related to community life such as belonging, knowing neighbors, trust and social capital.
Understanding TOD interactions with other urban planning practices, such as land-use policies, is vital to realizing maximum value from federal transit investments. Recent studies have demonstrated that price effects of TOD do not solely correspond with accessibility benefits but could also reflect design features associated with different station contexts (Cervero 2004; Duncan 2010; Bartholomew and Ewing 2011; Higgins and Kanaroglou 2016), though this interaction remains understudied.
Policy
Communities around public transit stations can be vibrant hubs with attractive housing, shops, workplaces and entertainment venues. Transit-oriented development (TOD), an approach to land use planning that maximizes activity within walking distance of public transport stations by creating an ideal combination of density and public transport, can bring these areas to life.
Studies show that people living near reliable public transportation tend to experience better results in life; however, this doesn’t apply equally to low-skilled residents living in neighborhoods disconnected from economic opportunities and lacking basic civic infrastructure.
Equitable TOD policies can assist these communities by incentivizing mixed-income housing near transit and guaranteeing affordable access to jobs and services, though their efficacy remains contentious due to many communities of color experiencing gentrification due to TOD policies that has resulted in lower life expectancies and worse health outcomes than when remaining within their original communities.