Transit Oriented Development, Explained

Summary

This video explores transit-oriented developments (TODs), exemplified by Orenco Station in Portland and Arlington County in Virginia. It delves into TODs' effectiveness in reducing car trips and boosting transit ridership. The video also discusses the importance of walkability, mixed land use, and station design in TOD success. It raises questions about whether TODs always achieve their goals and compares them with park and ride facilities, concluding with the significance of density and walkability in urban planning.

Takeaways

• 🚇 Orenco Station is an early example of a transit-oriented development (TOD) in the United States, designed along a modern light rail system.
• 🏡 It's a New Urbanist TOD, featuring walkable streets, front porches on houses, and mixed land uses including retail and services.
• 🤔 Initial studies showed that while transit ridership was higher than national averages, residents were more attracted to the walkable character than direct transit access.
• 🏢 The community is near a large Intel office park, but light rail doesn't provide access, indicating a limitation in TOD's ability to connect workers to jobs.
• 📈 A more recent study found Orenco Station generates half the car trips of a typical suburb and requires about half the parking spaces.
• 🌳 TODs like Orenco Station can reduce carbon emissions and traffic, aligning with laudable environmental and urban planning goals.
• 🚊 Other TODs, like those in Northern Virginia, are much denser and impressive, showing the variability in TOD models across the country.
• 🏘️ Effective TODs need to ensure quick access to stations, often by placing housing, offices, and retail close to transit.
• 🛣️ The design of the station area and the built environment should support active transportation and discourage surrounding the station with parking.
• 🏙️ A correct land use mix is crucial for TODs, with some focusing on office uses and others on residential, but all aiming to reduce car trips.
• 🅿️ Park and ride lots can also reduce vehicle miles traveled but may not foster the walkable environment that TODs aim for.

Q & A

What is a transit-oriented development (TOD)?

A transit-oriented development (TOD) is a high-quality, mixed-use development located near transit, designed to maximize access to public transportation and reduce reliance on personal vehicles.

Why is Orenco Station considered special among TODs?

Orenco Station is special because it is one of the earliest modern examples of a US community purposely designed as a TOD along a modern light rail system and follows the principles of the Congress for the New Urbanism, featuring walkable streets and a mix of land uses.

What was the initial purpose of developing Orenco Station?

The initial purpose of developing Orenco Station was to create a housing development in the 1980s, which later became a site for a station along the new west side light rail line.

How has Orenco Station performed in terms of transit ridership?

Initial studies showed that transit ridership for commuting at Orenco Station was higher than the national average but similar to the rest of the Portland area. People moved there more for its upscale, walkable character than direct transit access.

What is the 'bullseye concept' mentioned in the script?

The 'bullseye concept' refers to the zoning strategy used in Northern Virginia where parcels within a half-mile walking distance to new metro stations were upzoned to encourage high-density development and reduce traffic.

What are the key principles of TODs that contribute to their effectiveness?

Key principles of TODs include building housing, offices, and retail close to the station, designing the built environment to support active transportation, creating a complete sidewalk network, and ensuring a mix of land uses that align with the goals of reducing car trips.

How does the design of a TOD impact its success?

The design of a TOD impacts its success by ensuring quick access to the station, supporting active transportation, having a complete sidewalk network, and creating a public plaza instead of being surrounded by parking lots.

What is the role of park and ride facilities in relation to TODs?

Park and ride facilities allow commuters from distant suburbs to use transit for part of their journey. They can reduce vehicle miles traveled but may not foster the same walkable environment as TODs.

Why might a city choose to build park and ride lots instead of TODs?

A city might choose to build park and ride lots instead of TODs if the area is not conducive to dense development, if adding parking spaces generates more transit ridership than housing units, or if the transit agency can make more money from parking lots to fund transit operations.

What are the potential benefits of having fewer parking spaces in TOD areas?

Fewer parking spaces in TOD areas can lead to lower auto use and ownership, higher housing density, and more efficient use of land, which can contribute to achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets and reducing traffic congestion.

How can cities encourage TOD-style development without rail transit?

Cities can encourage TOD-style development without rail transit by zoning areas for dense development, providing solid bus access, reducing parking spaces, and promoting regional employment centers to reduce car use.