Transit-oriented development (TOD) is an urban planning concept that emphasizes housing and commercial spaces located near public transportation stations, creating sustainable communities while decreasing dependence on automobiles.
Community organizations that aim to foster TOD must utilize equitable processes that ensure residents, particularly those from low-income households, reap the benefits of development.
Accessibility
TOD (Town on a Dime) is an innovative model of urban development which promotes compact city growth by connecting land development and transportation services in order to form close communities, thus eliminating dependence on cars for living and work purposes, thus decreasing pollution such as smog, traffic jams, noise pollution etc.
TOD areas offer high-quality walking environments that combine housing, office space and services within 10 minutes walking of quality public transit, which significantly decreases commute distance and time while improving productivity and health outcomes.
TOD can be found across the country, and is quickly becoming a trend in Westchester County with neighborhoods like Tuckahoe and Rye centered on local train stations. TOD represents the future of urban living by giving residents easy access to transportation without being dependent on cars for everyday life. When done successfully, TOD can also increase economic development, create jobs, increase housing options, promote social equity and enhance community spirit – but to be truly effective it must be executed correctly.
Economic Development
TOD promotes compact city growth that integrates public transportation. Housing, retail businesses and amenities near transit stations enable residents to easily commute, run errands and meet basic needs without needing their cars. TOD also creates higher density land uses near transit which bring economic benefits like increased productivity and local investment.
Urban TOD developments often cluster around light rail, heavy rail or rapid bus transit stations and offer dense residential, commercial and employment areas. Neighborhood TODs tend to be constructed on the outer rings of transit systems and feature lower density housing options than urban TODs.
TOD can have immense economic development potential, particularly in low-income neighborhoods that benefit from new jobs and opportunities. Equitable TOD strategies (eTOD) can preserve existing low-income and informal communities by avoiding displacement while simultaneously increasing affordable housing near transit – while at the same time increasing local business investment, strengthening community ties, creating vibrant neighborhoods full of opportunity, etc.
Environmental Impact
Communities with access to quality transit can enjoy reduced dependence on cars and healthier lifestyles. TOD can also serve as an important weapon against climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and curbing sprawl development.
TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) involves clustering residential, commercial, and civic uses around high-quality public transit stations or hubs. Communities who develop TOD should strive to make sure it’s equitable by employing strategies designed to preserve affordable housing units while protecting tenants from displacement, promote small business ownership opportunities within TOD areas, honor cultural history and foster strong ties between TODs and surrounding neighborhoods.
TOD guidelines can be included in local zoning ordinances to support compact city growth and integrate land development with transport service, while encouraging TOD through incentives like streamlining the approval process or financial support such as discounted parking or tax arrangements. Achieving TOD requires community visioning as well as strong partnerships among residents, businesses and planners.
Gentrification
TOD projects have proven their ability to bring more people into central city neighborhoods, though this also brings downsides. Gentrification often displaces lower income residents in favor of wealthier newcomers investing heavily in the neighborhood and revitalizing older buildings with cultural amenities, like coffee shops.
As more upper-middle class professionals move into an area, real estate prices typically increase sharply. Residents who can no longer afford these high prices are either forced out through non-renewal of leases or eviction. Not only is gentrification detrimental to traditional residents; it can also have adverse consequences for local businesses.
Gentrification can take place regardless of whether or not a neighborhood contains a transit station; however, such presence makes the neighborhood more appealing to gentrifiers. A study found that households with higher incomes living near a transit station had significantly fewer commuter vehicle miles compared with similar neighborhoods without one.