Transit-oriented development (TOD) refers to the process of locating new homes and businesses near public transport nodes, to increase use of transit while creating an environment which encourages walking safely.
TOD areas encourage compact city growth and reduce dependence on motor vehicles, leading to shorter commutes and healthier environments as well as supporting economic and community development.
Walkability
Walkability is at the core of transit-oriented development (TOD), which promotes people living, working, and playing near efficient public transport systems. TOD neighborhoods feature pedestrian-friendly streets as well as residential and commercial spaces within walking distance.
TOD communities often center around train or bus stations with high-density mixed-use areas surrounding it and lower density developments further from it. This layout aims to reduce congestion by making public transit easier to access while making the area more inviting for walkers and people who like being active outdoors.
Studies demonstrate the many advantages associated with walkable communities, including improved health outcomes, greater social interactions, and greater environmental sustainability. Urban planners must ensure all residents have access to safe and well-maintained pedestrian infrastructure.
Accessibility
Accessibility refers to the design of products, services and environments that are accessible for people of all abilities regardless of disability – such as blindness and low vision, hearing loss, learning disabilities, neurodiversity, limited movement, speech disabilities or photosensitivity – including blind people or those with low vision, learning disabilities or neurodiversity, limited movement limitations as well as photosensitivity or limited movement impairments.
TODs typically center around public transit stations with dense, mixed use development located close by – this promotes transit use, reduces congestion and air pollution levels and creates vibrant communities.
TOD features designed to increase accessibility for disabled residents and visitors include wide sidewalks, wheelchair accessibility, lower parking ratios and narrow streets. Some of these features can also benefit other groups such as people using mobile devices or slower network connections – for more information regarding this topic see Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline.
Convenience
Convenience refers to procedures, products or services which make access easier or save resources such as time and effort. Examples include electricity, indoor plumbing systems and microwaveable meals.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is an urban planning approach which prioritizes designing new residential and commercial properties around public transportation stations in order to improve commuters’ quality of life by creating walkable neighborhoods that feature vibrant communities with walkable streets.
Many cities have grown along transportation corridors throughout history, such as New York City’s streetcar and railroad systems and Westchester County towns centered on train stations. TOD can create more housing near work centers while decreasing car traffic and pollution and supporting economic activity – an approach used in urban as well as suburban communities.
Sense of Community
TOD communities are designed with amenities within walking distance for residents’ use and enjoyment, creating a sense of place and community pride for its inhabitants.
TOD also assists small businesses owned by people of color to revive urban neighborhoods, while strengthening local economies and creating jobs. Furthermore, TOD addresses low-income household needs while mitigating gentrification and displacement near transit lines.
TODs present new challenges for equitable sustainable development. Planners must strike a delicate balance between encouraging TOD development and safeguarding affordability while sharing its benefits equally across society. Gaining knowledge on planning approaches and principles at regional, station area and site levels to meet this objective can be helpful in reaching this goal.
Economic Development
As businesses and residents move closer to transit, new jobs and opportunities can arise. Dense walkable development creates vibrant communities that attract people while stimulating economic growth.
TOD increases livability and reduces household transportation costs for lower-income households, freeing them up to spend their income more on essentials like food, housing and healthcare needs.
TOD can generate value for cities by increasing land and property prices around transit stations, creating value through rising land and property values that in turn finance transit projects and community investments that foster inclusive growth. Strategic Economics has developed a framework to capture this “value capture”, taking into account three values when assessing TOD: transit connectivity, urban environment quality and market potential. Using this approach helps communities identify a mix of land uses that will maximize its benefits.