Economic Development and Employment

A Station Area Typology of Economic Opportunity: A Guide to Better Connecting Transit, Jobs and Workforce Development in the Denver Region

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The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the benefits to employers and workforce training providers of locating near transit, as well address the barriers that often prevent them from choosing a transit-oriented location. It includes academic research, applied research from think tanks and advocacy groups and case studies from several regions … Continued

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

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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

Core Values: Why American Companies are Moving Downtown

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This report examines the characteristics, motives, and preferences of companies that have either relocated, opened new offices, or expanded in walkable downtowns between 2010 and 2015. Smart Growth America partnered with global real estate advisors Cushman & Wakefield to identify nearly 500 companies that have made such a move in the past five years. Of … Continued

Destinations Matter: Building Transit Success

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This paper analyzes the performance of 19 transit lines to better understand the factors contributing to high ridership. Of the 19 lines examined, seven exceeded projections, eight are on track to beat projections, and two did not meet projections, while data for three was unavailable. The conclusion: that connecting destinations is key, and that the … Continued

Economic Value of Walkability

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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

Fiscal Impacts of Transit-Oriented Development Projects

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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