The Benefits of Transit-oriented Development
April 08, 2011 | by: Stuart Toraason, PE, LEED AP
At this point in time, there are several factors pushing a surge in public transportation. They include growing traffic congestion, a desire for urban lifestyles and a new focus for federal policy.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is higher density, mixed-use development centered on some sort of public transport. It features walkable design with an emphasis on multi-modal access and reduced parking.
The benefits of TOD include better mobility, reduced car traffic, reduced household spending on transportation, healthier lifestyles, lower pollution, higher foot-traffic for commercial businesses and decreased suburban sprawl.
High-speed rail factors into the trend as well. Historically, travel between cities was dominated by the automobile, but growing gas prices, pollution and highway congestion might point towards rail as the future of cross-country travel.
TOD will come with high-speed rail. Densely developed urban areas will be retrofitted around transit stops, spurring re-development and re-investment in infrastructure. Many view this model as more sustainable, but there are challenges with high-speed rail. The federal government has committed $8 billion towards the development of high-speed rail, but the Northeast Corridor alone may cost over $100 billion to build. Even more confusing is the required right-of-way and corridor development.
High-speed rail is one way to bring TOD, but other forms of transit, such as commuter trains, buses, taxis, rental cars, zip cars, Segways, bicycles, boats and pedestrian traffic, can help to increase development as well. High-speed rail is not the only answer.
As close as downtown Richmond, there are plans in the works for a multi-modal transportation hub to incorporate bus rapid transit (BPT), car, taxi, commuter bus, rental car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and more. The prospects for continued improvements surrounding such a hub are endless, and this translates to higher tax revenues for the municipality. Even as far away as Ohio, the City of Cincinnati is primed to invest $100 million into a permanent streetcar system in the hopes of boosting re-development through its downtown and urban areas.
TOD is as old as time. In today’s era, we need to stay focused on bringing quality development and infrastructure improvements where permanent transit access spurs the demand. In the meantime, supporting multi-modal transportation in your community can help to encourage the improvements that we all value.