Could more TODs encourage residents to use transit?

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Could more TODs encourage residents to use transit?

Transit-oriented development is not a new concept. What is new, however, is the language and sources of funding for these kinds of developments.  But, as Professor Dill expressed in her study, TODs don’t necessarily lead to transit use by their residents (Dill, 2008). Often TOD’s are placed far from the inner city, with only a few transit options available for residents to use, with their placements most often directed toward the inner city.

Most TOD residents don’t use transit for recreational travel (Dill, 2008). One can assume that this is not because they wouldn’t use transit if it were available to them, but, that they cannot use it simply because it is not available. If we want people to use transit, it must go to the places people want to go.

So why not make transit go everywhere? Well, because of the cost. We already heavily subsidize transit, especially when it reaches less densely populated areas. If we want transit to get to everywhere, we need further subsidization, and we simply can’t afford that.

So what CAN we do?

I think we should build more TODs! Transit-Oriented developments focus on residential access to transit and emphasize a need for mixed use development (Espinoza, 2018).  If shopping and friends are located in TODs, people coming from them will likely be connected via transit. TODs are also density focused, meaning those riding to/from TODs will be less likely to have a subsidized ride. As a result, those subsides could be reallocated to providing more service to more parts of the city.

Let’s face it, we aren’t going to eliminate single-occupant vehicles any time soon. However, if we focus development on TODs, we might be able to change our culture in a way that points us in that direction and reduces the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road.

--Lisa Wheeler

Sources:

Espinoza, Ambar, et al. “Transit-Oriented Development Program.” Metro, 20 Nov. 2018, www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-partners/grants-and-resources/transit-oriented-development-program.

Dill, J. (2008). Transit use at transit-oriented developments in Portland, Oregon, area. Transportation Research Record, 2063(1), 159-167.

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 5, 2018 at 2:33 PM

    (Posting as a comment so I can read)

    Transit-oriented development is not a new concept. What is new, however, is the language and sources of funding for these kinds of developments. But, as Professor Dill expressed in her study, TODs don’t necessarily lead to transit use by their residents (Dill, 2008). Often TOD’s are placed far from the inner city, with only a few transit options available for residents to use, with their placements most often directed toward the inner city.
    Most TOD residents don’t use transit for recreational travel (Dill, 2008). One can assume that this is not because they wouldn’t use transit if it were available to them, but, that they cannot use it simply because it is not available. If we want people to use transit, it must go to the places people want to go.
    So why not make transit go everywhere? Well, because of the cost. We already heavily subsidize transit, especially when it reaches less densely populated areas. If we want transit to get to everywhere, we need further subsidization, and we simply can’t afford that.
    So what CAN we do?
    I think we should build more TODs! Transit-Oriented developments focus on residential access to transit and emphasize a need for mixed use development (Espinoza, 2018). If shopping and friends are located in TODs, people coming from them will likely be connected via transit. TODs are also density focused, meaning those riding to/from TODs will be less likely to have a subsidized ride. As a result, those subsides could be reallocated to providing more service to more parts of the city.
    Let’s face it, we aren’t going to eliminate single-occupant vehicles any time soon. However, if we focus development on TODs, we might be able to change our culture in a way that points us in that direction and reduces the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road.

    ReplyDelete

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