ABSTRACT
Planners and urban designers are promoting transit-oriented development (TOD) to encourage sustainable urban development around public transport nodes. TODs are compact, mixed-use developments that facilitate walking, bicycling and the use of public transport through urban design (see Plate 6). TODs include both greenfield and redevelopment projects, typically around rail stations, although there are several examples at bus and ferry terminals. This style of development was most prevalent before the proliferation of the automobile during the twentieth century. As cities are trying to find solutions to urban problems, such as traffic congestion and sprawl, this old concept is promising to offer a new opportunity to solve complex issues. This chapter summarizes a new tool – TOD outcome analysis – to determine if TODs are, in fact, leading to sustainable outcomes.
