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LIVABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES – TAKING ACTION FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
Reconnecting America Participates in White House briefing

FTA LIVABLE COMMUNITIES WEBSITE
Federal site links to many Reconnecting America resources for the development of sustainable communities, affordable housing and transit-oriented development

TIGER GRANTS FUND WAVE OF TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION
TIGER program demonstrates Administration’s continued commitment to livability, says Reconnecting America CEO John Robert Smith

Best Practices 
Designing Roads That Guide Drivers To Choose Safer Speeds
This report describes an investigation into whether or not physical characteristics of the roadway and the roadside environment are associated with actual vehicle running speeds, · PDF

Legal Handbook For The New Starts Process
Overview of the FTA’s New Starts project development process and the legal issues associated with it · PDF

Moving Toward Implementation: An Examination Of The Organizational And Political Structures Of Transit-Oriented Development
Explores the costs and impacts of Transit Oriented Development and addresses the rationale for designing transit-oriented neighborhoods · PDF

Projects  Feed-icon-12x12
MAKING THE TWIN CITIES MORE WALKABLE
New CTOD report provides methodology for assessing and boosting the walkability of a place

CAPTURING THE VALUE OF TRANSIT
New report by Center for Transit-Oriented Development released

FINANCING TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
Policy Options and Strategies in the San Francisco Bay Area

Here you'll find charts, graphs, and various factoids that make the case for transit and transit-oriented development.

Population & Transportation Change 1990-2005

Here is a chart that shows population versus Total VMT, Urban VMT, and Transit PMT.

(May 12, 2008)

Transportation Energy (BTUs Per Passenger Mile)

This chart shows transportation energy data from the Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory and specific APTA data which separates out modes.

(May 12, 2008)

Transit-Oriented Development at Different Scales

Here is a link to a graphic that shows the different scales of TOD. One size does not fit all TOD planning.

(November 13, 2007)

Transit System Sizes

System Size determines a transit system's effectiveness. Click the link to see 12 Systems at different stages of development.

(November 13, 2007)

APTA Ridership Trends 1990-2005

APTA Ridership Trends 1990-2005

Did you know? Since 1990, trips taken by transit have increased 11.5%. 75% of that increase has come from rail modes including, commuter, light and heavy rail. Light rail has made big gains at 117% over 1990 levels and Heavy Rail has increased ridership by 462 million trips which is roughly 1.3 million trips per day.

(July 16, 2007)

Survey Says: Transit & Land Use Reduce VMT

Survey Says: Transit & Land Use Reduce VMT

A study for Metro Portland found that VMT per capita was reduced by 12 miles per day when citizens lived in areas with good transit and mixed use living versus suburban areas. Auto ownership was also reduced. In both cases household costs can be drastically reduced.

(July 16, 2007)

Where You Live Impacts Affordability

Where You Live Impacts Affordability

Families in areas with good transit and walkable neighborhoods can pay less than 10% of their income for transportation while families in areas where they need to drive a car everywhere might pay upwards of 25%. For a family making $35,000 a year, this can be a difference of over $5000 dollars. Recent CTOD work on the Affordability Index and Realizing the Potential: Expanding Housing Opportunities Near Transit discusses the trade offs in more detail. Click on reports below to find out more.

(July 13, 2007)

Transit technology comparison sheet

This one-page cheat sheet compares transit types from heavy rail to express bus on cost per mile, operating speeds, power source, and more. Real-world examples and photos make this an easy illustration for comparison purposes.

(June 19, 2007)

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