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Introduction This report provides an evaluation of planning and implementation efforts undertaken based on the Pennsylvania Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Act. This innovative law, passed in 2004, has been cited nationally as a model for fostering transit-oriented development (TOD). TRID is intended to achieve a variety of goals including: Encouraging TOD and economic development; Fostering collaboration between multiple entities; Promoting the use of value capture mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and other innovative financing methods to spur infrastructure investment; Incorporating community involvement in planning; and Generating increased revenue and ridership for transit agencies. The TRID legislation enables the use of a district-based tax increment financing mechanism to capture increases in property values to pay for needed improvements. It is distinct from tax-increment financing (TIF) because unlike TIF, it does not require that there be a…

Preface More than $8 billion of new development has occurred in light rail station areas. A study of MAX Blue Line light rail station areas found that development occurring after light rail investment has an average development density or Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.65 more than the average FAR for development outside of station areas. This means that for every 1,000 square feet of land area developed, station area taxlots realized an additional 650 square feet of building area. The rate of development within Blue Line station areas was 69 percent higher than elsewhere within a one-mile corridor extending along the light rail alignment. Low and moderate value lots within Blue Line station areas redeveloped at twice the redevelopment rate reported for low value lots outside of station areas. Even as transit has become an amenity with value to a growing market segment, we continue to be mindful of the critical assistance transit can provide low income households. Through its joint…

This dissertation examines Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo as three transit-oriented global center models, wherein entrepreneurial city-states have largely integrated rail transit investments with urban regeneration projects to guide postindustrial agglomeration and spur economic development in target locations. For each of the three Asian cases, I classify types of joint development packages on the basis of built environment attributes and estimate the impacts of rail transit investments and joint development packages on market location shifts and land price changes over the last decade. The empirical findings suggest that mixed-use redevelopment projects and urban amenity improvements around terminal stations largely shift the competitive advantages of knowledge-based businesses and the lifestyle preferences of highly skilled professionals towards central locations. The hedonic price models, however, reveal that the synergetic effects of rail transit investments and urban…

Key Findings FRESC: Good Jobs, Strong Communities and Enterprise researched transit agency approaches to affordability in joint development in 24 cities in the U.S., and this report summarizes the best practices and outcomes among these agencies. Transit agencies’ primary mission is to provide transit service; however, most recognize that affordable housing can play a key role in supporting their mission. Many agencies have written policies or plans on affordability that guide their joint development activity while others do not have written policies but achieve joint development with affordable housing in practice based on strong agency and community expectations. Successful transit agen­cies do not substitute for the role of the local government in creating affordable housing but can play a critical complementary role, often initiating projects that include affordable housing that would not have otherwise been possible.   At least nine transit agencies have joint development…

This dissertation examines Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo as three transit-oriented global center models, wherein entrepreneurial city-states have largely integrated rail transit investments with urban regeneration projects to guide postindustrial agglomeration and spur economic development in target locations. For each of the three Asian cases, I classify types of joint development packages on the basis of built environment attributes and estimate the impacts of rail transit investments and joint development packages on market location shifts and land price changes over the last decade. The empirical findings suggest that mixed-use redevelopment projects and urban amenity improvements around terminal stations largely shift the competitive advantages of knowledge-based businesses and the lifestyle preferences of highly skilled professionals towards central locations. The hedonic price models, however, reveal that the synergetic effects of rail transit investments and urban…

Abstract: This Recommended Practice guides transit agencies in partnering with businesses and community entities to promote transit-oriented development (TOD) and joint development (JD).

PowerPoint slideshow summarizing the Bay Area Rapid Transit property development plans as of Oct. 15, 2009

Executive Summary Transportation systems play a pivotal role in enhancing the productivity and quality of life in the United States. Funding for streets, highways, and transit is provided by the joint efforts of federal, state, and local governments; taxation and user fees are the primary revenue sources, along with supplemental methods including loans, bonds, public-private partnerships, and concessions (Committee for the Study of the Long-Term Viability of Fuel Taxes for Transportation Finance, 2006). The Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, Transportation for Tomorrow, suggests that the country needs to invest at least $225 billion annually from all sources for the next 50 years to upgrade the existing system to a state of good repair and create a more advanced surface transportation system. The report also notes that present spending is only about 40 percent of this amount (National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study…