Economic Development and Employment

Communities Are Embracing Development Near Transit: A Snapshot of Transit-Oriented Development Support across the United States

By /

Across the country, more communities are looking for ways to enhance their livability. Transit-oriented development (TOD) is one means of creating sought after, economically vibrant neighborhoods.  Transit-oriented development—which includes a mixture of housing, office, retail, and/or other commercial development and amenities integrated into a walkable neighborhood and located within a half-mile of quality public transportation—can … Continued

Fiscal Impacts of Transit-Oriented Development Projects

By /

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a responsible fiscal choice for local governments and can actually save local governments money, as detailed in Fiscal Impacts of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Projects. This report, based on research undertaken by the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. TransitOriented Development (TOD) Product Council, was prepared by Dr. Dean Bellas, president of Urban Analytics and a … Continued

Striking a (Local) Grand Bargain

By /

Today, anchor institutions and government too often define their relationship through discrete transactions — an infrastructure improvement, appearance at a ribbon cutting, or support for a city project. This leads to a partnership of expediency. This report from the National Resource Network (and written by NYU Wagner and the Urban Institute) recommends something wholly different: … Continued

The TOD Standard

By /

The Institute for Transportation & Development Policy’s TOD Standard is an assessment, recognition and policy guidance tool uniquely focused on integrating sustainable transport and land use planning and design. It is aimed at a broad range of urban development stakeholders, including governments, developers and investors, planners and designers, sustainable development advocates and interested citizens.  

Station Area Planning for High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail

By /

This station area planning document is a reference tool for State transportation departments and local and regional jurisdictions working in partnership with transportation agencies implementing high-speed and intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) projects. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) encourages dialogue with Federal, State, regional, and local partners on ways to better integrate passenger transport and land … Continued

Transit-oriented development in the States

By /

Across the United States, in large cities such as Seattle and Miami and in smaller metropolitan areas such as Hartford, Conn., and Fort Collins, Colo., new transit systems are being built to aid mobility, reduce congestion and spark economic activity. Future transit riders may find themselves stepping onto a new light rail car in Houston, … Continued

TBARTA TOD Resource Guide

By /

This TOD Resource Guide by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) is intended to serve as a resource to planners, citizens, elected officials, government agencies, local businesses, the development community, nonprofit organizations, and outside investors. The goal is to provide information about a variety of tools and implementation strategies that will help local … Continued

Economic Value of Walkability

By /

This paper describes ways to evaluate the value of walking (the activity) and walkability (the quality of walking conditions, including safety, comfort and convenience). Walking and walkability provide a variety of benefits, including basic mobility, consumer cost savings, cost savings (reduced external costs), efficient land use, community livability, improved fitness and public health, economic development, … Continued