BACKGROUND
Transit’s success depends on land use, but transit is often not adequately considered in the land development planning and implementation processes. Local governments make land use and development decisions to advance community goals or in response to developer proposals. These decisions can have a significant influence on existing transit services or the prospects of new services and yet are often reached without full consideration of their potential to impact or benefit from transit connections. Local governments and transit agencies sometimes integrate transit and land use planning in comprehensive plans.
The relationships between transit and land use are becoming better understood. Some transit agencies have developed standards for land use in areas that want new rail services. Some transit agencies have land use standards for proposed corridor expansions. Many transit agencies have guidelines for adding bus stops, increasing transit services, and improving access to their services. Research is needed to assess the state of the practice of transit and land use decisionmaking and create a guidebook of approaches, techniques, and tools for transit agencies.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research project is to develop a guidebook about the connections among transit, land use planning, and development decision-making processes. The guidebook should (1) enable transit agencies to effectively engage local governments, MPOs, state DOTs, and the development community; (2) present effective tools for transit agency participation in short- and long-range planning and development decisions; and (3) serve a wide spectrum of large, medium, and small communities and transit agencies that provide a range of transit services.
STATUS: Final Report has been published in the regular TCRP series as TCRP Report 182.
