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COMMUNITY ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Transit Oriented Design
Decrease car dependence while promoting community revitalization by investing in local shops, services, parks and trails as attractive destinations for pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users
Focus community revitalization efforts towards Transit Oriented Development (TOD), also known as Transit Oriented Design, principles. TOD describes a means of designing communities to create a mixed-use environment that is walkable rather than auto dependent. It provides an alternative form of development that better integrates land use and transportation. Specifically, major activity centers (concentrations of employment and households, major public building and spaces, parks and open spaces, shopping areas, etc.) are designed close to transit stops. Pedestrian routes are planned to directly connect these destination points. In the case that a community's infrastructure is already in place, adopt policies that promote the growth of 'in-fill' rather than sprawl. The goal of implementing TOD principles is to restore vitality to the urban core of the community by investing in the city.
Characteristics of communities revitalized by Transit Oriented Development:
- Design block dimensions and perimeters at an urban, rather than suburban, scale.
- Provide clearly marked pedestrian crossings at streets, driveways, loading areas, surface parking lots, and other intersections.
- Protect environmental quality through preservation efforts and the encouragement of efficient development patterns.
- Create development that is pedestrian and transit friendly by allowing a mix of land uses and increased density where appropriate.
- Decrease automobile congestion by providing alternative modes of transportation such as bus, light rail, bicycle, and improved pedestrian facilities.
- Invest in the city's local shops, services, parks and trails as attractive destinations for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Create retail areas around transit stops.
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Quick Facts
The Local Government Commission
Fact sheets to help educate and motivate cities and communities to incorporate TOD concepts into city planning and development.
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Programs
The City of Raleigh, North Carolina Planning Department (PDF) provides a definition of Transit-Oriented Development and discusses how the city is incorporating these principles into the planning sector. Station Area Opportunities, a pdf document accessible from the home page, describes the city's TOD plans in detail and lists implementation tools that other cities and communities can adopt. See the section titled “Implementation Strategies“ beginning on page 34.
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Tools
Active Living by Design
Active Living by Design combines various disciplines with the goal of creating and supporting an Active Living environment. The following website provides tools and guides which incorporate urban planning and design, public health, community development, transportation, and parks and recreation to help you bring Active Living to your community.
Local Tools for Smart Growth - Practical Strategies and Techniques (PDF)
The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide and toolbox of planning practices, techniques and options available to local government officials considering growth strategies for their communities.
Pedestrian Facilities Reference Guide
This online reference from The National Center for Bicycling & Walking provides an extensive menu on various topics for community improvements pertaining to walkability and bikeability.
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Policies
Reedley Community Parkway
The City of Reedley took advantage of an abandoned rail line to design a pedestrian/ bike trail that encourages physical activity and connects residents to local destinations. The Rail Corridor Master Plan guides development and redevelopment around Reedley’s new Community Parkway.
City of Portland: Portland Pedestrian Design Guide (PDF)
The purpose of Portland's Pedestrian Design Guide is to integrate the wide range of design criteria and practices into a coherent set of new standards and guidelines that, over time, will promote an environment conducive to walking.
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Organizations and Coalitions
Local Government Commission
“The Local Government Commission (LGC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that provides inspiration, technical assistance, and networking to local elected officials and other dedicated community leaders who are working to create healthy, walkable, and resource-efficient communities.”
U.S. Department of Energy's Smart Communities Network
The Smart Communities Network offers education and resources to help communities make development decisions. The Network aims to “strengthen your local economy, improve and protect the quality of the environment, and enhance the quality of life and the well-being of all of the people in your community.” The website has a menu of information and tools on how your community can adopt sustainable development as a strategy for well being.
Smart Growth
“Smart Growth recognizes connections between development and quality of life... In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs. New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses.”
TALC (Transportation and Land Use Coalition)
“TALC is a partnership of over 90 groups working for a sustainable and socially just Bay Area. We envision a region with healthy, vibrant, walkable communities that provide all residents with transportation choices and affordable housing. TALC analyzes county and regional policies, works with community groups to develop alternatives, and coordinates grassroots campaigns.”
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Evidence Base
New Yorkers in Pedestrian-Friendly Areas Have Lower BMIs (PDF)**
This study found that New York City Residents who live in densely populated areas near public transportation and mixed-use developments have lower BMIs than other New Yorkers.
Rundle, A., et al. The Urban Built Environment and Obesity in New York City: A Multilevel Analysis. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2007 March/April; 21 (14), Supplement: 326.
Kids take walks, if parks, stores nearby (PDF)**
This study looked at data collected from a large study of land use and travel patterns called SMARTRAQ in the metro Atlanta area, and found that young people are more likely to walk if they live within a half-mile of a park or a store.
Frank, L., Kerr, J., Chapman, J. and Sallis, J. Urban Form Relationships with Walk Trip Frequency and Distance Among Youth. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2007 March/April; 21 (14), Supplement: 305.
** We can only provide links to the study abstracts and not the full text.
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