Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Transit-Oriented Development: Beyond the Big City

10:33 AM EDT on March 23, 2009

We're taking it out of the city and into the suburbs and small towns today on the Streetsblog Network. Member blog Urban City Architecture takes a look at Moving Communities Forward, a recently released report on transit-oriented development (TOD) from the American Institute of Architects and the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota (it was funded by the Federal Highway Administration):

1321716227_29873caf6b.jpgOutside the Fruitvale BART station, one of the projects cited in the "Moving Communities Forward" study. Photo by Payton Chung via Flickr.

What this study ultimately says is that Americans who live in small towns do not have to be afraid of environmental and transportation development initiatives. Small town/city life is an ideal fit with principles that encourage walkable pedestrian environment and connected communities with urban centers.  It was not many decades ago that small-town life resembled the transit-oriented developments that we are now attempting to recreate -- small towns throughout America were dependent on connected and sustainable centers. One could even argue that many of the small towns and cities in America were in and of themselves transit-oriented developments -- before the wide acceptance of the automobile, railroads and walkable developments where the lifeline of many of these towns.

Urban Review STL is on a road trip, visiting a mall outside Seattle to see what walkability might mean in a suburban retail environment. Bike PGH reports on Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell's Sunday-talk show appearance, in which he said that merely reauthorizing the current transportation bill would be "a disaster for future generations. We have to change. We have to
do something like the infrastructure bank; creative, innovative,
visionary." And at the Fast Lane, DOT secretary Ray LaHood continues to lay out an explanation of what "livable communities" mean to this administration.

Speaking of which, we really like a lot of what we're reading on the DOT blog, but we kind of stumble on the name every time we have to type it. We'd like your suggestions for a new name that would reflect the shift in policy we seem to be seeing. Hit us with your ideas in the comments.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now

It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.

September 29, 2023

Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’

"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."

September 29, 2023

City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct

Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.

September 28, 2023
See all posts