Cities, residents, and developers have a renewed interest in building more housing near transit stations—when they actually provide safe, reliable transit.
An article by Yvonne Abraham in the Boston Globe questions whether the beleaguered Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) can fix the region’s transit system before developers and residents lose interest in transit-oriented development (TOD), which ostensibly puts people closer to reliable transportation, jobs, and urban amenities, even as developers around the country embrace TOD (often nudged by government incentives to do so).
“In the 1920s, 91 percent of apartment and condo development in Greater Boston took place within a 10-minute walk of a subway, streetcar, or commuter rail stop, according to data from real estate and transportation consulting firm Respoke LLC.” After falling to 16 percent at the height of autocentric development, today, close to 60 percent of multifamily development in the Boston area is now within a 10-minute walk of transit. But do the MBTA’s consistent service disruptions and shutdowns threaten to devalue transit-oriented development?
Not likely, the article concludes. Abraham points out that much of Boston’s growing economy relies on life sciences and other industries dependent on in-person work. Housing and transit advocates are hopeful that the long-delayed repairs will make the T more effective and safe, and developers continue to invest in properties near transit stations. “It may be annoying today, but the Orange Line shutdown might make Boston a better place to live after decades of neglected repair.” But if that doesn't happen quickly, more residents will be forced back into personal vehicles.
FULL STORY: Could it be the end of the line for transit-based development?
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Some lawmakers and residents think the management of Boston transit should shift to the state’s department of transportation, but would that solve the troubled system’s problems?
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The Hyperloop’s Prospects Dim
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Where Housing Costs Are Falling Fastest
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The Great American Exodus: A Conservative's Perspective
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The Resilience of Bikeshare
The inherent simplicity of bikes makes shared mobility systems a crucial transportation option during natural disasters.
Cities Plan to Sue Over Oregon’s Parking Reforms
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Winners of the 2022 American Society of Landscape Architects
The Society’s annual awards highlight projects focused on reconnecting communities to the landscape and creating healthy community spaces.
University of Florida
Town of Mills River
City of Modesto
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Smart City Expo World Congress
California High Speed Rail Authority
City of Fargo, North Dakota
City of Crystal River
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
