Port Authority Study Calls For More Equitable TOD in Pittsburgh

The Port Authority of Allegheny County's "33-page self-evaluation of its five-year-old program to encourage transit-oriented development" concluded that "the agency should do more to make sure that development reaches those who need public transit the most," reports Ed Blazina.

"One of the main goals [of the program] is to increase population density around transportation stations with affordable housing so that those most likely to use transit have easy access, which would improve the quality of life for residents and ridership on public transit." Yet "the study shows that this type of development may be causing gentrification, drawing higher-income residents who don’t necessarily use public transit." 

The study urges the agency to prioritize equity. "It is not simply enough to build housing units adjacent to transit: We must ensure that those who are most dependent on public transit can live and work in these developments and are not displaced as a result of them," the study says. It also "encouraged Port Authority to work more closely with local communities to set zoning requirements and encourage affordable housing to be included in projects close to transit" and reduce parking requirements to make construction more affordable and encourage transit use.

"The agency is in the process of finalizing plans to refurbish three stations over the next few years that could have development benefits on its property and the surrounding neighborhood."