Comparing Transit Oriented Development in the D.C. Regional Rail System

Tracey Hadden Loh evaluates the transit oriented development efforts of the region surrounding Washington, D.C., specifically in locations surrounding Metrorail stations. 

According to Loh, "there is still a lot of room for improvement—and I've found that some stations and jurisdictions are doing much better than others."

According to Loh's regional assessment, "international TOD prodigy Arlington County comes in last at first glance; why the urban core at the heart of the Metrorail system, the District of Columbia, had seven out of the top 15 most restricted stations; and why Montgomery County can and must do better at stations like Forest Glen."

To reach these conclusions, Loh examines zoning designations around the region's rail lines, and drills down into specifics on the case studies provided by Arlington and Montgomery counties. Also, Loh declares the Takoma Metrorail station as the Metrorail station surrounded by the most single-family zoning in the entire system.