Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Does Transit-Oriented Development Work Even Without Transit?

Yes, says urban planner Neil Payton. From his guest column today on Reconnecting America's blog:

20081029__20081030_B05_BZ30TRANSIT_p2.JPGDenver's light rail, in the background, ended up increasing the value of nearby homes. (Photo: Denver Post)

Either [local planners] view [transit access] as too distant a possibility to factor in or,
ironically, they view rail transit as a means to get employees to
sprawling office parks built with ample municipal tax breaks or as a
park-and-ride commuting option for residents. And so even if transit is
being considered as part of a larger regional plan, sites are sought
that can provide highway visibility and acres of surface parking.  

The reality is that planning for rail transit in these communities as
part of a larger strategy of transit-oriented development [TOD] makes sense,
whether or not the train ever arrives. Such planning ultimately
promotes the long-term economic viability and environmental
sustainability of these downtowns.

Payton's assessment tracks with on-the-ground data from cities such as Denver, where property near the first local light-rail line grew more valuable even as the broader housing market declined last year. Even now, as Denver's rail expansion slows down, the New York Times found nonprofit groups snapping up land near future transit sites to ensure working-class access to the lines.

Still, localities' fondness for pairing transit with park-and-ride structures (often aided by federal funding) is unlikely to abate in the short term, particularly without Washington raising its voice in promoting best practices for TOD.

But it's easier to envision the Obama administration, perhaps through a much-needed reform to the New Starts grant program, deciding to award transit money to cities and towns that pursue mixed-use development very early on in the process.

When local officials decide to pursue the downtown revitalization that Payton discusses, their priorities often begin and end with economic growth -- those often-misguided municipal tax breaks, are often used to lure new employers to a particular area. A federal system that rewards localities for promoting density even in the absence of transit would provide a powerful incentive to look beyond businesses promising that, say, 1,000 new parking spaces are a prerequisite for job creation.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Monday’s Headlines Pick Up Where They Left Off

Auto designers will have to rethink their approach to pickup trucks in the electric age, according to the BBC.

October 7, 2024

Is Amtrak’s Big Dig Harming West Baltimore’s Black Neighborhoods?

And how should sustainable transportation advocates get involved in the conversation?

October 7, 2024

Friday Video: Why Are America’s Roads and Bridges ‘Crumbling’?

Americas dangerous, crumbling roads are bridges didn't happen by accident — and it's not too late to fix them, the latest Streetcraft video says.

October 4, 2024

Friday’s Headlines Are For Local Control

It's playing out all over the country: A city wants to make a street safer for everyone, only for the state DOT to step in and say no. Learn more about the trend + more stories in today's headlines.

October 4, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Transit Themed Rock Music

Meet a band that writes exclusively about the car-free life on public transit. And it rocks!

October 3, 2024
See all posts