Transit Oriented Development, Explained

Take a look at transit-oriented developments (TODs) from Portland, Oregon to Arlington, Virginia to learn why they may be one of the best ways to curb traffic and GHG emissions.

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Produced by Dave Amos and the fine folks at Standard Studios.
Select images and video from Getty Images.
Black Lives Matter.

[CityBeautiful]

About the thumbnail: I'm not ACTUALLY proposing housing in Portland's park blocks. It was just a nice thumbnail. :)

[Revelwoodie]

The most important thing you need for neighborhoods like this? Staple businesses in the walkable area. Especially food oriented businesses - bakeries, grocers, etc. If someone MUST drive every time they need a tomato, they're going to own (and park) a car. If food stores, a post office, medical/dental offices, beauty salons, restaurants/cafes, liquor stores, convenience stores, etc are all within a few blocks, people will walk. And it's not just an emissions issue. It's a quality of life issue. People want to live in neighborhoods, not just a parking lot for housing units.

[Bluecho]

Another thing that makes TODs more effective is good, separated bike infrastructure, within the half-mile of the station and reaching _outside_ of it. People might be most willing to walk a half mile to a station, but they might be willing to cycle for longer, if it's made easy and safe to do so.

[squelchedotter]

Regarding the question of "Does TOD work", it's worth noting that in much of the world, "Transit Oriented Development" is just called "Development" :)
The same principles apply though, of course

[yester]

If you have a good bus network supplementing the rail, you don't need as much parking at stations.

[AaronSmith-sxez]

TOD's (or bulls eyes or density islands) are key to successful transit networks. A lot of American metro stations are oblivious to this...they put their rail stations in low neighbors hoods and are shocked they don't get much traffic. City planners should zone areas around train stations for density and walkability. Space is very valuable but wasted in a lot of cities...density could be improved with more one way roads, less street parking, and fewer low density businesses (like car lots). American campuses are actually one of the few accidental success stories for TOD style developments and we could learn a lot from why so many find college campuses so appealing (might be a good video topic). Another tangential video topic might be to explore the relationship between parking and transit. eg I don't take transit to downtown DC to save time...I do it because there is nowhere else to park. Understanding the trilateral relationship between density > parking > transit > ... is key to city planning.

[dre.supreme]

TOD is what honestly brings people together. Living in Downtown Miami, I love living next to a light rail station because I have OPTIONS on getting from place to place vs being dependent on a vehicle. Let’s get out of the vehicles and get back to being a COMMUNITY.

Disclaimer: Cities know you will be saving money by not necessarily NEEDING a vehicle so usually they jack the rents ASTRONOMICALLY in theses “TOD” zones.

[domesticcat]

Fun fact: outside of North America, a common term for "transit-oriented development" is "a normal city"

[davidty]

In london good chunk of the places on the Metropolitan line were housing development built by the station and sold off back pre WW2.
They adverted it as Metroland and mainly was for people who wanted to get out of the busy city but still have an easy commute in by chance increasing ridership.
The Green countryside that was advertised didn't last long since every station started looking like edgeware.

[zahnorgel]

Isn't another reason for lower car-use in TODs the walkability itself? If I live in a neighborhood with easy walkable access to amenities, I might not even need a car - or at least not a second one.

[karllagerfeld]

Also it is interesting to watch this from the view of american city planning. I study urban planning in germany. Basicly all european cities have mixed used areas and more and more towns are trying to not separate work and residential areas anymore. While american cities do still separate those uses and cause the need of more traffic.

[henrivanbemmel]

Years ago my cousin lived in a community in South Western Holland. The subdivision was encircled by a train in such a way that 90% of the homes were within 200m of a transit stop. This train then went to the main station in Den Haag and from there the world. I was told that less than 70% of the homes did not own a car, because they did not need one. So it was not just ONE stop but rather a loop through the entire subdivision (mixed use) including all of it.
Also, while this is very cool, one of the obstacles is the car culture of North America regardless. I expect users will take a walkable community and somehow jam their cars into it.

[Patrick_from_Youtube]

As a car-free person with some disabilities, my dream is to live in a dense, walkable area built around accessible transit

[amac]

love when i get the notification that you have a new video out. Only realised and became interested in all of this a few months ago, I lived in a regional area of Australia where it is just urban sprawl, no real town centre, stroads and about 4 bus lines that at peak hour ran every hour. I just thought that is just how everyone i moved to Cologne Germany. What an eye opener. 90% of what i need on a day to day basis is within 7 minutes walk.

[p-san]

the greater salt lake area that i live in seems to be slowly making these changes. more mid rise condo's are popping up near our light rail line. which i read that draper county (where i live) has a bill in place that allows for "unlimited density" within a certain radious around a transit hub, as you mentioned. watching these videos always makes me realize that utah is suprisingly good on public transit compared to other places

[sircalvin]

i live about a mile from orenco, its so surreal to see you standing there

[Josukegaming]

Living in Portland, I can tell you that we desperately need more of this. The bus system is okay at best, and the MAX is useless unless you live way out in the suburbs like Hillsboro. Most of Portland is still car dependant as hell and it sucks to live here because of that.

[FPOAK]

If you want to see an example of a TOD that still manages to feel completely unwalkable I nominate the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station

[yakota]

This reminds me of the city I live near called Ebina in Japan. Ever since they added rapid express from Ebina station to Shinjuku, the area has seen a massive increase in apartments and stores.

[jacobyent]

This is my hometown! There's a burger place native to Oregon, and a late night coffee shop right in that plaza. Lots of young people hang out there as it's about the only place open past 9pm.