Transit-Oriented Development Typology Stratedgy for Allegheny County
February 8, 2013|Center for Transit-Oriented Development
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Cities and regions from coast to coast are pursuing transit-oriented development (TOD) strategies as a way to achieve many goals, including increased economic competitiveness through improved quality of life, reduced congestion, lower transportation costs for households, improved air quality, reduced costs for providing city services, and growth management. The concept of TOD is becoming more popular as the number of regions planning light rail, bus rapid transit, and other fixed-guideway transit investments expands.
Transit Revitalization Investment Districts: Opportunities and Challenges for Implementation
July 1, 2011
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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…
Reinvesting in Pittsburgh's Neighborhoods: The Case for Transit-Oriented Development
June 9, 2011
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Introduction
As more and more cities join the transit space race and see the benefits of walkability, places like Pittsburgh – which already have well established systems and walkable street patterns– need to revisit and reinforce their existing transit networks in order to stay competitive. Long thought of as a planning concept for managing growth in fast growing regions, transit-oriented development actually has great applicability when it comes to reinforcing the neighborhoods that make mature cities great. We have the opportunity to reinforce and invest in our transit network in a way that captures higher ridership, generates lasting value for our neighborhoods, enhances the economic strength of our job centers, provides enduring benefits for all of our residents, from young working families to retirees.
This report comes at a time when our region is at an ironic crossroads. The time has never been better to think about how we can improve the integration of our transit system…
Case Studies on Transit and Livable Communities in Rural and Small Town America
March 18, 2010
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Livability in Small Towns and Rural Areas
What does “livability” mean in a smaller town or city? Some would have us believe that livability is a foreign concept for our small towns and rural areas. The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth.
This collection of 12 case studies provides examples of how small cities, towns and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities. While some of these communities face formidable threats – from job losses and shrinking populations to disappearing farmland and strained resources – their leaders have forged collaborations and created plans that are growing economies, bene.ting people and protecting the land and lifestyles treasured by residents and non-residents alike.
The exact de.nition may di.er place to place, but these case studies reveal some core values and needs that exist in these communities across America. It is about providing people, including seniors and those who cannot…
Bus Rapid Transit and Development: Policies and Practices that Affect Development Around Transit
December 1, 2009|National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, Center for Urban Transportation Research
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Foreword
The development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems is relatively recent in the United States, but several systems are in operation and more are advancing. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between land use and BRT system development, particularly in comparison to other fixed-guideway modes such as heavy and light rail. While recognizing that existing land uses have an important and complex influence on the development costs and benefits of fixed-guideway projects, this research focuses primarily on the impact such projects have had on existing and future land uses and economic development, as well as the policies and practices that have been used by local governments that have the potential to affect development. Finally, additional note has been taken as to whether the benefits and incentives offered along transit corridors between Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) are equitable in cities where both modes…
Land Use Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit: Effects of BRT Station Proximity on Property Values along the Pittsburgh Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
December 1, 2009|Federal Transit Administration
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The development of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems is relatively recent in the United States; however, several systems are operating and many more are being planned. A more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between land use and BRT is needed, particularly in comparison to other fixed-guideway modes. This report documents an effort to quantify the impacts of BRT stations on the values of surrounding single-family homes.
Preserving Affordability and Access in Livable Communities: Subsidized Housing Opportunities Near Transit and the 50+ Population
September 30, 2009
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Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION
A livable community has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive features and services, and adequate mobility options for people, regardless of age or ability. As communities address the general shortage of affordable housing, preserving affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) is one of the challenges that communities can address to increase their livability.
TODs are compact, walkable, mixed-use communities that are developed around high-quality public transportation. Residents often prize these places for the advantages created by the proximity to transportation and other amenities. One consequence of this desirability is that it can increase land and property values, exacerbating housing affordability challenges.
As policymakers try to extend the benefits of TODs to affordable housing locations, they must ensure that those benefits are available to people of low and moderate incomes and to those with different mobility…
National Award For Smart Growth Achievement
January 1, 2009|EPA Development, Community and Environment Division
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Honorees represent the best in smart growth development in 2009
Demographics of Transit Zones
March 1, 2008|Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
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Introduction
The Delaware Valley has a diverse and extensive transit system, serving over one million riders per day. As fuel prices rise and road congestion in the region worsens, the value of that system becomes even more evident. Mass transit takes thousands of cars off the roads; provides affordable, comfortable, and efficient transportation; reduces the fossil fuel dependency of the region; and permits a denser, more walkable development pattern that enables us to curb suburban sprawl.
Mass transit usage has increased significantly in the Delaware Valley over the past few years. If the current trends of rising gas prices and increased reliance on alternative modes of transportation continue, it will be critical to embrace a transit-oriented growth pattern (i.e., to promote housing, retail, services, and jobs within close proximity of transit stations).
For these reasons, transit-oriented development (TOD) is one of DVRPC’s core priorities for the region. TOD refers to a…
