Measure Twice, Cut Once: TOD Corridor Planning at the Front End

Planning for transit-oriented development (TOD) alongside new transit investments is hardly a novel idea. But as the North American TOD and transit-oriented communities capability continues to mature, the benefits of planning early and effectively can’t be overstated. This is especially true when the planning area is not simply a station but a whole corridor or multi-corridor system – and when success involves not only the TOD project but also regional goals for equitable or sustainable growth. So, let’s dig in, focusing on collaboration between transit and land use authorities at different geographical scales. We’ll talk about a Skytrain extension in Vancouver, an entire light rail corridor in Edmonton, and Sydney, Australia’s approach to a four-line metro system. These collaborations showcase sophisticated community engagement, innovative policy agreements and recognition that places connected by transit can be very different. Take home lessons for your community.

Moderator: Jennifer Dougherty, AICP, Manager, Long-Range Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Charis Loong, Senior Planner, Transit-Oriented Communities Planning, TransLink, Vancouver, BC
Sandra Renihan, P.Eng, M.Eng, Associate – Transit Design Practice, DIALOG, Edmonton, AB
Mike Logan, Urban Planning & Mobility Lead, Canada, Mott MacDonald, Toronto, ON