Executive Summary
The sustainability of our cities—as measured by both the quality of life they provide today, and the long-term environmental protection they promise to future generations—will determine the future of our planet. Considering the host of social and environmental challenges we currently face—including global warming, air quality concerns, water scarcity, food and energy security, poverty and declining social equity—the global trend toward urbanization demands that cities will need to be a part of the solution.
New transit investments offer more than a means of moving people from one point to another; they can also be an opportunity to support, and in some cases, create communities by opening up new opportunities for people to gain access to, from, and within the neighborhood. By integrating land use, transportation, and housing policies to foster vibrant and safe mixed-use communities where residents, employees, and visitors can walk, bicycle, or take transit to reach their destinations, cities can continue to grow in a manner that is healthy for both people and the planet. And perhaps most importantly, if done well, this growth is an opportunity not a sacrifice, because the end result will be great urban places for people. Such is the vision of transit-oriented communities (TOC).
There is an extensive and growing body of published research providing evidence that well-designed TOC can lead to a range of substantial social and environmental benefits. In brief, TOC have the potential to:
- Promote health by encouraging walking and bicycling, cutting air pollution, and reducing motor vehicle accidents;
- Lower household expenses for both transportation and housing;
- Reduce municipal infrastructure costs;
- Provide a high return on public investment in transit infrastructure;
- Help meet the growing demand for walkable neighborhoods;
- Curb land consumption and thereby help conserve working farms and forests, and protect natural ecosystems and water quality; and
- Cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with both transportation and the built environment.
