Is Austin Ready for TOD?

"Transit-oriented development promises to radically reshape our skyline. Is Austin ready?

...The logic behind the [TOD] ordinance is simple: If the city wants Capital Metro's mass transit – especially the commuter rail line approved by voters last November – to be efficiently used, then the "mass" needs to be near the "transit." The TOD Ordinance, if it fulfills its intentions, will through zoning standards promote much higher development densities than ever before seen in seven different areas of Austin, clustered around six proposed rail stations and one park-and-ride bus line. The explicit desire is to put as many potential mass transit users within quick walking or bicycling distance of the rail stations as possible."

Thanks to transport-policy listserv