Defining TOD
The term “transit-oriented development” (TOD) refers to an area with a mix of residential, commercial, and institutional uses that is designed to maximize transit options, including walking, biking, public transit, and automobiles. It can consist of new development or existing neighborhoods, usually with a focus on the area within a half mile of a transit facility (about a ten minute walk).
TOD can occur at a wide range of scales and types of uses –- from dense residential and office skyscrapers to multi-family homes -– but must include a well-connected street network, safe accessibility by pedestrians and bicyclists, and a balanced mix of uses that can satisfy the daily retail and service needs of residents and workers.
Successful TOD includes transit that connects major destinations for employment, education, shopping, and entertainment, thus providing alternatives to commuting by automobile. Concentrated development patterns, reduction of automobile use, and increases in walking and bicycling create numerous other benefits for households, businesses, governments, and other institutions.
Potential benefits to the public include:
Convenient location of child care, elder care services, shopping, restaurants, fresh locally grown foods and Hawaii-made products and services, affordable housing, cultural and ethnic experience, recreational and sports activities, community parks, entertainment venues, and much more.
Potential benefits to State agencies include:
- Revenue generation through land sales/leases and joint development
- Affordable housing through higher density mixed use redevelopment of properties
- Improved access to State services for customers, employees, and public
- Reduced capital and operating costs – less parking needed for customers and employees