symbol indicates that a document is a planning or implementation tool with specific guidelines.
| The Twin Cities region has a tremendous opportunity to use existing and planned transit to create strong, livable neighborhoods with easily accessible connections to regional employment, educational, and recreational activities. Understanding the various elements, players and opportunities surrounding successful transit-oriented development (TOD) can be a challenge. The Twin Cities TOD Toolkit takes lessons learned from the Hiawatha Corridor and other transit projects around the country to provide technical assistance and information for people interested in the ways in which transit-oriented development can help the Twin Cities region shape growth. |
What is It?
| The TOD Toolkit is a collection of materials that can be used together to provide an overview of the central issues, definitions, and policy recommendations that encompass successful TOD from the regional to the neighborhood level. The TOD Toolkit includes such general resources as a map of proposed key transit corridors including light rail, commuter rail and express bus service; to a links to regional and national resources on TOD and detailed presentations focused on efforts to date in the Twin Cities to develop TOD projects. |
How to Use It?
| The TOD Toolkit is organized into four major categories: general TOD materials, regional opportunities and issues, corridor-scale overviews of Hiawatha, Central and Northstar corridors, and a spotlight on issues of importance at the neighborhood or station area scale. The materials are designed to be used individually or as a comprehensive basic TOD curriculum, with text included to help guide potential presenters. For most topic areas, the TOD Toolkit includes a powerpoint presentation and a 2-page summary that can be reprinted and used as handouts. Slides from any PowerPoint presentation can be copied and inserted into other presentations |
Toolkit Contents
| A symbol indicates that a document is a planning or implementation tool with specific guidelines.
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Part I - Overarching Resources |
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TOD 101
General introduction to Transit Oriented Development - what is it, how does it work, and how can communities benefit?
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TOD Glossary
Definitions of words, acronyms, and concepts commonly used in TOD planning and implementation.
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TOD Links & Resources
Clickable list of websites and other resources related to TOD in general, and specific information about transit and development in the Twin Cities.
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Four-Page Toolkit Summary
A general overview of the Toolkit for practioners, developers, community members and other stakeholders.
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A Citizen's Primer on the Federal Transit Funding Process
While transit planning begins at the local and regional levels, implementing those plans usually involves navigating through a complex federal funding process for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts and Small Starts money. |
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Part II - Thinking about TOD at the Regional Level |
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Shaping Regional Growth
Regions like the Twin Cities can use transit and TOD to guide predicted future housing demand along transit corridors and stops. How have other regions used this tool, and how can the Twin Cities balance the affordability and transit needs that accompany growth using TOD principles?
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The Importance of Building a Regional Transit Network
Studies have shown that comprehensive regional networks are more likely to have high ridership numbers, reduce traffic congestion, and stimulate economic development.
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Creating Mixed Income TOD in the Twin Cities Region
For the average family, transportation is an enormous household expense. By planning for mixed-income housing close to transit, the Twin Cities can maximize affordability for working families. Learn about other communities that have done the same, and the potential demand for affordable housing in the region. |
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Part III - Thinking about TOD at the Corridor Level |
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Development Potential in the Hiawatha Corridor
The Hiawatha Corridor has already served as a catalyst for TOD projects. How can the Twin Cities harness the additional development potential along the Corridor to ensure affordability, livability, and connectivity?
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Streetcars in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities region once had an extensive regional streetcar network. With the City of Minneapolis's Streetcar Feasability Study, there is great potential for streetcars to serve once again as a strong secondary transit network knitting the region together.
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Potential Transit corridors (Map)
Through the transit planning process, stakeholders developed a long-term vision map for a regional transit network in the Twin Cities. The corridors depicted in this map have been tenatively identified as potential future transit corridors. |
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Part IV - Corridor Case Studies |
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Northstar Corridor
Development potential, demographics, and general characteristics of this commuter rail corridor that will connect northern portions of the Twin Cities region to downtown Minneapolis and the Hiawatha Line.
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Hiawatha Corridor
Development potential and successes, demographics, and general characteristics of the Hiawatha Line, the first lightrail corridor in the Twin Cities.
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Central Corridor
Development potential, demographics, and general characteristics of this lighrail corridor that will connect downtown St. Paul with downtown Minneapolis and the Hiawatha Line. |
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Part V - Thinking about TOD at the Neighborhood & Station Area Scale |
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Station Area Planning
Station Area Plans help communities identify the appropriate scale and type of development that can support both local visions and the regional transit network. Nine principles are outlined to assist in guiding the development of future Station Area Plans.
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Three Key Concepts in Station Area Planning
Joint Development, Development Oriented Transit, and Transit Oriented Development can all come into play when creating plans for the area immediately surrounding a station, and the greater neighborhood served by the station.
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Value Capture: Making a Profit, Creating a Community
Value capture is strategy that can help pay for new transit infrastructure or station area improvements, which can then serve as the basis for new TOD. TOD can help bolster value appreciation, which in turn can generate increased public revenues that can help lower the overall tax burden for residents and be used to fund community investments.
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TOD Checklist
A comprehensive list of what to look for in good TOD projects and plans. |
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Development Potential at the Hi-Lake Station
The Hi-Lake Station along the Hiawatha Line was the subject of a yield analysis to evaulate the feasibility of different development scenarios for the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan. |