ABSTRACT
In developing its first transit-oriented 'village' at Wellard in the burgeoning southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, Peet Limited has tried to implement a classic definition of transit oriented development (TOD):
The transit village or TOD is a compact, mixed-use, walkable community, centred around the transit station that, by design, invites residents, workers, visitors, and shoppers to drive their cars less and ride mass transit more. 1
Cervero (2004) describes the typical TOD in the following terms. The transit village extends roughly 400 metres from a transit station, a distance that can be covered in about 5 minutes by foot; the centrepiece of the transit village is the transit station itself and the civic and public spaces that surround it; the transit station is what connects 'village' residents and workers to the rest of the region, providing convenient and ready access to downtown, major activity centres like a sports stadium, and other popular destinations; and, the surrounding public spaces or open grounds serve the important function of being a community gathering spot, a site for special events, and a place for celebrations.