The Best Laid Plans for TOD, Stalled

Planners in New Jersey developed ambitious plans for transit-oriented development along their rail corridors, but with the struggling housing market and poor economy, developers aren't showing up or have halted projects in the works.

1 minute read

June 22, 2009, 9:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

The state's Transit Village program is responsible for a number of brand-new neighborhoods along the rail system, including developments in Jersey City, Morristown, New Brunswick and Rahway. But even with state-funded upgrades to the rail system, progress has stalled.

"[I]n Somerville, work continues on a $153 million upgrade to the Raritan Valley Line train station, but redevelopment of a huge former landfill beside it as a potential Transit Village is one of two stalled projects.

'In today's market, developers won't just show up,' said Colin Driver, Somerville's director of economic development. 'We made a two-year study, and involved the entire community in creating a great plan for a transit-oriented development - and then the bottom sort of fell out for any kind of development.'"

FULL STORY: ‘Transit Cities’ Face Roadblocks

Monday, June 22, 2009 in The New York Times

Community / Economic Development Housing Transportation New Jersey TOD Sommerville View More

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.

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