Student Corner: Transit-Oriented Development? Or Development-Oriented Transit?

<p>Mixed-use, higher density, walkable neighborhoods serviced by rapid transit are models of good city planning today. Bringing people, different building uses, and public spaces closer together and providing transit access between those activity hubs and other parts of the city improves equity, sustainability, and resilience. But, a little like asking yourself, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” you might wonder if building development should follow (or partner with) transit development, or take the lead and allow transit to follow at a proven, fitting scale. Well, one can make the case for either. Below is a discussion of some pluses and minuses of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and development-oriented transit.</p> <p>Transit-Oriented Development</p> <p>Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is development designed to create walkable, compact urban spaces that include a mix of commercial and residential uses built around or incorporating transit, like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or rail lines, making it easy to get around without a car. This type of planning is seen as way to provide better access to jobs, housing, and amenities for people of all ages and incomes.</p> <p>The shift from more conventional development to TOD has a number of benefits including some opportunities for federal and local support. In 2018, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), through their Pilot Program for TOD Planning, granted over $16 million to TOD projects, including two projects in North Carolina. TOD planning also lends itself to the opportunity for local public-private partnerships and regional funding. For example, in the Bay Area, the Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing (TOAH) Fund came out of the [...]</p>