2013 Session: 417

• Satisfaction with Transit-Oriented Development: Perspectives from Focus Groups and Interviews
  Abstract: Transit-oriented development (TOD) is often thought to provide significant benefits for its residents. Using a qualitative approach, this research examines benefits of and concerns about TOD. Data were collected through 14 elite interviews of professionals most involved in the process of creating TOD, as well as four focus groups populated with residents living in or very near train stations in New Jersey. An assessment of the congruence of the attitudes and expectations of elite development, financial, and municipal professionals involved directly or indirectly with TOD, and the attitudes and preferences of TOD residents provides insight into the benefits and shortcomings of TOD that are perceived by both groups. Results suggest a relatively well-fitting correspondence between the perspectives of professionals and those who reside in these neighborhoods. There was broad agreement on the value of transit and TOD for increased accessibility. Retail development, however, was found lacking, in particular for stores that could provide for local needs within the community; developers recognized that this type of commercial enterprise is difficult to attract and that much of the development will be entertainment-oriented, creating destinations within the TOD for visitors. Professionals were concerned with traffic congestion that might be generated while residents expressed traffic problems in terms of pedestrian safety. There was agreement that walkability leads to more social connections.
  Authors: Noland, Robert B.; Tulach, Nicholas K; Weiner, Marc; DiPetrillo, Stephanie; Kay, Andrew I.
  Authors: Noland, Robert B.; Tulach, Nicholas K; Weiner, Marc; DiPetrillo, Stephanie; Kay, Andrew I.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-1234
• From Research to Practice: Overview of Transit-Oriented Development in China
  Abstract: Chinese scholars began to introduce Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to China in the late 1990s. Although the levels of urbanization of North America and China are different, TOD received wide acceptance and recognition in China, as it is regarded as a sustainable urban development strategy in land-use and transportation. This paper introduces the theoretical research on TOD in Chinese literature, as well as the typical TOD urban planning practice in China. Through summarizing the lessons and experiences, this paper concludes that the barriers to bring TOD from research and planning proposals to reality on the ground in China lay on the lack of institutional coordination and effective implementation mechanism. In order to facilitate a better implementation of TOD in China, this paper offers the suggestions on TOD in China as follows: apply TOD at different scales in the context of China; the construction timing of the rapid transit should be in progress together with the overall urban development; a solid cooperation between different agencies and stakeholders is a crucial element to secure a smooth implementation of TOD. An integrated hierarchical public transit system is needed to encourage sustainable transit trips and reduce auto-dependency.
  Authors: Zheng, Ruishan; Liu, Wei; Liu, Hong
  Authors: Zheng, Ruishan; Liu, Wei; Liu, Hong
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-4005
• New Rail Hubs Along High-Speed Rail Corridor in California: Urban Design Challenge
  Abstract: High-Speed Rail (HSR) will link California’s first-tier cities to one another and to second-tier cities, potentially increasing both mobility and accessibility in an unprecedented way. The system is also expected to have important physical impacts on station-adjacent neighborhoods and station-cities, but to date, limited research exists to guide public policy efforts directing development around HSR stations. The urban design variables that may influence urban change in the context of HSR remain largely understudied. A state agency, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CaSHRA), is charged with designing and managing the implementation of the HSR network, while local station-cities will be responsible for development around their stations. While the Authority has issued general urban design guidelines for cities, more urban design guidance is necessary to address the specificities of local contexts. Most Southern California cities have not yet started station area planning, and the few that have are focusing their attention on their stations as isolated entities in the system and in the city, often ignoring the possible complement that adjacent stations on the HSR corridor may provide, and how the station may integrate into the city and region. Drawing from a review and content analysis of the documents and guidelines issued by the CaHSRA and its consultants to guide design in station areas, and from sixteen extensive interviews with planners, urban designers, and public officials in Southern California’s Phase One station-cities, the paper discusses the challenges of urban design in HSR station areas and offers a set of policy recommendations.
  Authors: Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia
  Authors: Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-1626
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Impacts of Boston’s Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit on Sale Prices of Condominiums Along Washington Street
  Abstract: As Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) continues to grow in popularity in the United States, a better understanding of the mode’s impacts on land uses and property values continues to be needed. This paper describes an effort to quantify the impacts of access to BRT stations on the sale prices of surrounding condominiums located along Boston’s Washington Street where Phase I of the Silver Line BRT began operating in 2002. To test the hypothesis that the BRT stations have an impact on market value that is similar to light rail transit projects (considering the level and permanence of the investment) a hedonic regression methodology was used to estimate the impact of access to BRT stations on sale prices of condo units. A key result is that, for condo sales that occurred in 2007 or 2009, the BRT premium is approximately 7.6 percent. For condo sales in 2000 and 2001, prior to the opening of the Silver Line, no sales premium exists for proximity to the corridor. These results suggest that it is access to high quality transit service, not necessarily the mode itself, that induces this premium. While this study is specific to the Boston Silver Line Washington Street corridor, further research into the impacts of BRT is encouraged to provide policymakers and the transit industry with the best information possible to make optimal transit investment decisions in their communities.
  Authors: Perk, Victoria A.; Catala, Martin; Bovino, Steven; Reader, Steven; Ulloa, Steven
  Authors: Perk, Victoria A.; Catala, Martin; Bovino, Steven; Reader, Steven; Ulloa, Steven
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-5246
• Satisfaction with Transit-Oriented Development: Perspectives from Focus Groups and Interviews
  Authors: Noland, Robert
  Authors: Noland, Robert
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-1234
• New Rail Hubs Along High-Speed Rail Corridor in California: Urban Design Challenge
  Authors: Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia
  Authors: Loukaitou-Sideris, Anastasia
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-1626
• From Research to Practice: Overview of Transit-Oriented Development in China
  Authors: Zheng, Ruishan
  Authors: Zheng, Ruishan
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-4005
• Comparing Transit-Oriented Development with Non-TODs Along Los Angeles Metro's Light-Rail System
  Authors: Flores, Roberto
  Authors: Flores, Roberto
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-4442
• Comparing Transit-Oriented Development with Non-TODs Along Los Angeles Metro's Light-Rail System
  Abstract:

  Transit-oriented developments (TOD) have been theorized for decades; however, implementation of TODs has been increasing due to an effort to stop sprawl and promote smart growth by means of higher densities, improved designs and better land use. In TODs this theory applies to the area that is walking distance from a transit station. Consequently, TOD theory has been established; however, the proper implementation of these developments needs to be scrutinized in order for TODs to be effective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to figure out if TODs and non-TOD differ. Los Angeles County was chosen as a study area because of the current TOD initiative. In order to conduct this comparison, this study defined, through literature, and summarized, with GIS, the variables that characterize a TOD. However, the main method used to compare the groups of stations was the t-test. The test performed identified two out of nine variables that were significantly different between the two groups: Land use dissimilarity and surface parking, but the additional variables had no significant difference. Therefore, TODs could not be differentiated from non-TODs, and the results of this analysis conclude that the land use and development were the easier variables to control, but the built environment was the most difficult to manipulate. Hence, a recommendation to use land use and development variables to promote density variables was offered, and another effective idea presented was the proper selection of TOD locations, in order to use the current built environment to support transit-oriented developments.

  Authors: Flores, Roberto Carlos
  Authors: Flores, Roberto Carlos
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 417
  Paper Number: 13-4442