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Livable Communities and Transit Oriented Development
Livable Communities and Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
Public transportation represents the essence of livable, sustainable communities and is a key ingredient to the Complete Streets policies and standards being adopted by numerous municipalities, counties and states across the Country. Adding the Complete Trip component from a public transit perspective strongly supports a Complete Streets approach. We further believe this significantly enhances the quality of life for people in the communities where it is implemented. That is why sustainable principles are at the core of all of our public transportation projects, whether they are LEED certified or not, and we are committed to providing clients with market-driven strategies that are environmentally, socially and financially responsible.
The practical value of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), or Transit Oriented Design as some preferred to call it, has been advocated proven for many years. Creating communities around fully integrated transit centers that allow people to affordably live, work, shop and play within a safe, walkable environment not only makes wise use of our natural resources, it enhances the quality of life for people in the community by saving them time, energy and money that can be spent in more high-value activities.
It has been exciting to see that the foundation provided by Transit Oriented Development / Design has dynamically evolved into a national “Livable Communities” initiative. This is emphatically demonstrated by the “Livable Communities” initiative being championed and promoted by the Federal Transit Administration in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This initiative recognizes the significant contribution transit center facilities contribute to the quality of life within communities and regions when combined with affordable housing, town and city centers that have retail and commercial components, college and university campuses, and environmental stewardship. These three Federal agencies are leveraging each other’s staff, resources, programs and funding to create a unique synergy and influence that can fuel joint development projects and public private partnerships. FTA, HUD and EPA are providing funding for public transit projects through a series of ongoing competitive grant application notices. Wendel is expert in helping clients prepare the grant applications and in demonstrating their project’s benefit to the quality of life in the entire community.
