3/8/2006
Benefits of Transit Oriented Design (TOD)

I have just returned from the NACo Conference. Potential economic development subsidies to spur private investment should be linked to TOD (transit oriented design). See “Transit-Oriented Development Property Tax Exemption” in Portland, Oregon. With “location-specific job incentives”, many benefits will accrue: low income families will gain more access to economic opportunity, helping to reduce poverty and dependence; more commuters will gain a choice about how to get to work, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality; and taxpayers will realize better returns on their infrastructure investments through more efficient land use. Environmental benefits and healthy lifestyles will also save enormous amount of taxpayer financed healthcare costs. Sixteen to 40 du’s/acre are suggested for TOD districts. TOD’s along Route 1, the projected Route 301 alignment, and along what would some day be our light rail line will enable New Castle County to reduce anticipated investments in sewer and other infrastructure. It will enable the State Department of Transportation to more effectively accommodate anticipated growth. The Federal Highway Administration projects a 100% increase in traffic in only 20 years given current growth trends in population. Former Governor Parris Glendening of Maryland has urged New Castle County to take the lead in creating critical mass of population centers along transit stops in order to enable the State of Delaware to meet federal prerequisites for light rail funding in the long term future. Short term, these TOD’s will be served by buses.
Bob Weiner

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