What's it all about
What is Transit Oriented Development?
Historically, neighbourhoods and towns were arranged around combined walkable centres. That is, each town or neighbourhood had its own centre of shops, services such as banks, doctors, hospitals, schools, cafes, cinemas and so on within walkable distance of most homes in the town.
Larger towns and cities had several hubs to ensure these services were still within walking distance, and were a mix of homes, businesses, professional services and leisure activities (otherwise called mixed use).
With the explosive post war popularity of the automobile, urban and suburban development became designed around the reach and the needs of the car. Suburbs were designed without shops or services and often without public transport making cars a necessity.
Catering to the car meant that suburbs often didn’t include good footpaths, parks, shared neighbourhood areas or schools, discouraging social interaction and a sense of community. Designing for the car also led to the rise of the single family suburban home pushing the boundaries of cities ever outwards in urban sprawl.
Transit oriented developments (often called TOD’s) aim to overcome many of the disadvantages of urban sprawl and create flourishing and sustainable communities through the intelligent and integrated planning of urban neighbourhoods.
Transit oriented developments are urban hubs that encourage the use of public transport by having easy access to transport points integrated into the design. Typically there is a centre with a train, light rail or tram station or an interchange point from one mode of transport to another within walkable distance. Excellent pedestrian facilities and limited car parking encourage walking and alternative transport use such as cycling.
The integrated design of TOD’s generates broad benefits in health, sustainability and economic growth:
- Combining residential and commercial uses around the transport point with higher density housing supports business and jobs locally, transport is used at all times of the day, and residents have convenient access to necessary shops, services and leisure.
- Encouraging walking, cycling and public transport use improves health and decreases pollution.
- Mixing residential and commercial uses means that when business shuts down, leisure takes over, creating lively neighbourhoods.
- Locating schools within residential districts and close to services builds connected, stronger communities and has flow-on benefits in educational results.
TOD’s make it possible for people to live, work and play in their own vibrant neighbourhoods, and are an increasingly important part of urban renewal projects around the world.