Our favorite short videos on transit-oriented development and related topics.
6 Ways Transit-Oriented Development Creates Value
This short video by the engineering and planning firm, WSP, highlights several ways that transit-oriented development promotes economic vitality, supports environmental stewardship, and addresses social needs.
An Introduction to Zoning
In most of the U.S. zoning forms the basis of what can and can't be built. This video goes through the elements of the zoning code (aka zoning ordinance), describes its pros and cons, and explains how to influence changes in a community's zoning code.
Blueprint Denver
Blueprint Denver is a citywide land use and transportation plan for the next 20 years that calls for growing an inclusive city through: complete neighborhoods and complete transportation networks; a measured, common-sense approach to new growth; and for the first time, land-use decisions through the lens of social equity.
Greater Boston's Bus Transformation
Buses… Greater Boston’s bus system is getting a makeover! Network redesign, electrification, street upgrades to promote better service, as well as new bus lanes and BRT improvements are all designed to help improve bus service and the ride for those who rely on buses.
Jersey City's Quick Build Bike Network
Learn about Jersey City’s ambitious Bicycle Master Plan. When complete, the network will offer 46 miles of protected bike lanes, which serve riders of all ages and abilities.
L.A. Finally Lets People Eat In Parking Lots
Los Angeles temporarily eased parking requirements during the pandemic, offering a glimpse of how much a less restrictive zoning code improves urban life.
More lanes ≠ Less traffic
Big, expensive highway expansion projects require a lot of US transportation funding—but often they do not solve the issue of congestion. In communities built for cars, solving traffic problems requires more holistic problem-solving approaches, including transit.
NYC Continues to Return Broadway to People
Over the last decade or so, NYC has been remaking Broadway in a way that prioritizes pedestrians. Linked nodes at the city’s “Squares”—Times, Union, Madison and Herald—now serve as plazas with seating, programming, and safer walking and biking. These are connected by pedestrian streets, epitomized by this stretch between Times Square (34th St) and Herald Square (40th St).
Parking and High Rents
TikTok might not be the first place where you'd look for planning information, but consider checking out TalkingCities, led by Paul Stout.
This video discusses the costs of parking and its impacts on urban spaces.
@talkingcities#greenscreen Parking minimums are incredibly destructive for affordable housing #urbanplanning #urbandesign #cities #architecture♬ original sound - TalkingCities
Reinvestment Fund Profile: Neighborhood Restorations LP (NRLP)
For two decades, The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) has partnered with Neighborhood Restorations to revitalize and strengthen West Philadelphia by helping to finance 850 of the more than 1,150 homes and nearly 64,000 sq. ft. of commercial space developed by Neighborhood Restorations. TRF has also worked in partnership with the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and Interfaith Community Organization to develop Jackson Green, a project comprising 22 owner-occupied townhomes, and with Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM), Jonathan Rose Companies, and other partners to complete construction of a $48 million transit-oriented development adjacent to SEPTA's Temple University Regional Rail Station. The project contains 120 affordable homes and 30,000 sq. ft. of commercial and community space.
Tecnológico de Monterrey
In Monterrey, Mexico, DistritoTec has knit together a community formerly plagued by congestion and drug violence. From more compact and accessible neighborhoods that encourage walking, cycling, and new economic opportunities to increased community involvement and cohesion, the project by the university Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec) has piloted new design, policy, and finance standards leading to a district-scale transformation.