Transit Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development (TOD) aspires to re-imagine how we grow our communities. This form of development shifts away from the traditional low-density, auto-centric exurban/suburban growth model to instead focuses on building economic hubs (with housing, retail, office, and recreational options) along corridors that offer more transit and multimodal travel options for residents. By building these more dense, walkable, mixed-use districts, residents can work, play, and move throughout the region more efficiently and enjoy enhanced quality of life.

Why Transit-Oriented Development?

By shifting development to a more transit-oriented design, residents attain better access to more multimodal transportation options beyond using personal vehicles. This can help alleviate roadway congestion, improve traffic safety, bolster transit ridership, increase recreational opportunities, and provide residents higher quality of life with better, more connected communities to live, work, and play.

Where Can Transit-Oriented Development Work?

Although the Houston Region does not possess the typical formula for transit-oriented development as other major urban centers like Los Angeles or Chicago, TOD still has plenty of potential to succeed in many areas of the region. We can create more effective, alternative types of TOD that fit around the park and ride facilities, light rail stations, bus-rapid transit stops, and high use local routes.

Why Transit-Oriented Development in the Houston Region?

Historically, the region’s growth pattern has relied on costly highway expansions to handle increasing suburban development. While this has helped to facilitate rapid growth, it has also led to uneven growth. Much of our region’s growth in recent years has been concentrated along the outskirts of the city. It has also created a strain on resources, which has furthered the economic divide between more affluent neighborhoods and historically neglected communities.

Transit-oriented development can help alleviate the strain on auto dependence by shifting community patterns toward healthier, less costly alternative transportation options. Proximity of these developments to local and regional transit facilities can connect residents to better job opportunities, recreation and entertainment services, and health and wellness services. New TOD areas can also serve disadvantaged neighborhoods by stimulating new economic growth and community development while also preserving the unique culture of the area.

What Will Transit-Oriented Development in the Houston Region Look Like?

Execution of transit-oriented development in the Houston Region would focus on areas of high pedestrian and transit use while also exploring other options around employment and regional centers. While it will not completely eliminate cars from Houston area roadways, this type of strategic implementation can significantly reduce personal vehicle dependency, decrease roadway congestion, and steadily encourage residents to adopt less car-centric travel habits.

Making Transit-Oriented Development Successful in the Houston Region

H-GAC recognizes the importance of incorporating transit-oriented development within the region and believes through hard work and thoughtful cooperation, we can implement TOD successfully. Identifying areas ideal for TOD will require the cooperation and partnership of many local agencies, organizations, and private entities. Advancing TOD principles and ideas will make our region safer and more connected, and it will further enhance its economic competitiveness.