TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) encourages compact urban development by clustering housing, services and jobs near public transit stations. This strategy has proven highly successful in cities like Copenhagen and Singapore in making urban life more livable, productive, and sustainable.
WSP has extensive experience supporting equity TOD (eTOD) projects nationwide, including many in Washington State. We offer this support by way of community engagement and inclusion initiatives within planning and implementation phases for eTOD projects.
Creating Livable Communities
Transit-oriented development (TOD), more commonly referred to by its acronym TOD, refers to the practice of creating vibrant and livable neighborhoods near high quality transit systems. TOD neighborhoods tend to be compact and walkable with multiple uses being accommodated simultaneously as well as providing attention to civic use, active living opportunities, and affordable housing solutions.
Successful TOD communities provide residents and visitors with a new way of life. When households of all income levels can live near transit stations, their options for employment and housing increase while vehicle usage drops significantly – freeing up money for childcare, education, health care costs and savings accounts.
TOD planning and implementation require a holistic approach that integrates transportation and land use. This is especially essential when communities seek equitable outcomes; engaging local leaders early in the project process ensures that TOD projects align with community goals while offering maximum benefits to everyone involved.
Creating Jobs
TODs generate robust economic development by clustering jobs, housing, and services in areas served by transit. Furthermore, TODs create vibrant walkable neighborhoods that draw in shoppers and visitors – helping communities expand economically while supporting local businesses.
TOD is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting economic development through compact mixed-use development that is pedestrian friendly and fully integrated with public transport systems. TOD has also proven itself as an effective solution against climate change and energy security issues; studies show it can cut vehicle travel by up to 85%.
TOD can be applied to various transportation modes, such as light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) and hybrid buses. Furthermore, TOD can also help support affordable or workforce housing near transit using policies such as inclusionary zoning and incentives for developers; coupled with strategies like public-private partnerships or community land trusts it helps keep housing costs affordable while simultaneously protecting wildlife habitats from environmental degradation and further expanding sprawl.
Creating Economic Growth
Development of neighborhoods near transit enables denser, more compact communities with high-quality walking environments that offer reduced commuting distances, congestion and emissions while simultaneously increasing productivity and livability.
Recent research indicates that TOD areas experienced significantly higher household income growth, decreased vehicle ownership rates and lower monthly rental costs than non-TOD areas. TODs also bring together households of diverse socio-economic backgrounds thereby supporting economic diversity; core components of smart growth policies.
Economic prosperity is not reaching all communities equally. Additionally, dense TODs in urban and suburban regions are seeing displacement of lower-income residents due to rising housing costs and gentrification; this can be mitigated with effective policy interventions like inclusionary zoning or affordable housing funds requiring developers to include affordable units into new TOD developments. Community organizations play a vital role in making sure these initiatives are carried out fairly; early engagement with community members throughout TOD planning processes as well as including tenant protection provisions in project designs are vital parts of successful implementation.
Creating Community
Clustering housing, retail, community facilities and services near transit stations enables residents to easily walk between work, errands, meetings with friends and recreational pursuits without using cars – expanding choices and opportunities, increasing economic mobility, decreasing greenhouse gases pollution emissions while making neighborhoods more livable and equitable.
TODs typically involve light and heavy rail transit systems; however, communities can also build equitable TODs around bus rapid transit (BRT). When considering TOD planning and design decisions that prioritise affordability, accessibility, and equitable placemaking, everyone benefits.
TOD communities require high densities of density, which can pose environmental challenges such as heat islands and stormwater runoff. But careful site selection and sustainable design techniques, such as planting shade trees with Silva Cells, can lessen their impacts. TOD planners, architects and developers can incorporate sustainability into overall neighborhood designs so as to ensure an attractive yet resilient community design.