How To Measure TOD Outcomes

A new report offers indicators to measure the outcomes of transit-oriented development.

1 minute read

May 15, 2005, 8:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


This research report by John L. Renne and Jan S. Wells offers a strategy to systematically evaluate the potential success of transit-oriented development. The digest identifies and evaluates various indicators of the impacts of transit-oriented development, provides the results of asurvey of transit-oriented developmentindicators, and identifies ten indicators that can be used to systematically monitor and measure impacts.

Based on this research, the most usefulindicators are transit ridership, density, quality of streetscape, quantity of mixed-use structures, pedestrian activity and safety, increase in property value and tax revenue, public perception, number of mode connections at the transit station, and parking. While data collection is relatively easy forsome of these indicators, it is more difficult for some of the others; a strategy suggested in the last sectionof this digest is setting aside government funds to monitor TOD progress. For virtually every indicator, with a few exceptions, data collection needs to occur only yearly or less frequently.

[Editor's note: The link below is to a 2MB PDF document.]

Thanks to John Renne

Friday, May 13, 2005 in Transportation Research Board

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight