RPA report on CT housing & transit (right); Sayreville redevelopment area; Housing and upgrades for Naugatuck Station; Eau Claire Transit Center nears completion; Affordable housing in Indonesia (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
CONNECTICUT—Homes on Track: Connecticut
Staff, RPA | September 15, 2025
A new RPA report finds that nearly half of all Connecticut households are within a half mile of a train station or a quarter mile of a bus stop yet still lack access to reliable or efficient transportation. The report attributes the gap to single-family zoning, which limits development around stations and results in underused transit investments and limited service options.
NJ TOD News
SAYREVILLE—Sayreville Declares Redevelopment for 17 Properties Along Old Bridge Border
Suzanne Russell, My Central Jersey | September 17, 2025
Sayreville officials declared 17 properties on its Old Bridge border as a redevelopment area. Planners cite poor access and long-term vacancies at the commercially zoned site, which sits within walking distance of the Old Bridge Park-and-Ride. Old Bridge Township is currently seeking designation as a NJ Transit Village.
SOMERVILLE—Legal Battle Over Bell Avenue Redevelopment in Somerville Intensifies
Mike Deak, My Central Jersey | September 16, 2025
Bell Avenue Holdings is suing Somerville’s Zoning Board for rejecting its plan to build 38 townhomes situated between the Somerville and Raritan stations and adjacent to the NJ TRANSIT tracks. The developer argues the board acted illegally by blocking revisions and using the Borough’s affordable housing plan to pressure the project.
EAST ORANGE—East Orange Project with 420 Rentals, Commercial Space Lands $298 Million Aspire Award
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | September 15, 2025
The Crossings at Brick Church Station will launch its second phase after securing a $298 million Aspire tax credit. The project includes 420 apartments—84 affordable—and 112,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. NJEDA highlighted its transit-oriented design, which will place residents just 25 minutes from Midtown Manhattan via NJ TRANSIT.
HOBOKEN—1,300-Unit Development in the Works for Hoboken’s Madison Street
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | September 15, 2025
A 3.5-acre site at 1200 Madison Street is set to become Hoboken’s largest redevelopment project since the 1990s. Owner Pegasus Properties secured a major density increase through a settlement with the City tied to its 1300 Jefferson Street property dispute. The revised plan spans three phases and calls for 1,301 residential units and 51,860 sq. ft. of retail space near the Hudson Bergen Light Rail.
Toll of Commuting: NJ Light Rail Expansion Projects Hitting Roadblocks
Tom Krosnowski, News12 New Jersey | September 15, 2025
Major NJ TRANSIT light rail expansions face delays from environmental reviews, funding issues, and local opposition. Bergen County leaders demand Hudson Bergen Light Rail service to cut congestion and improve cross-county connections, while the Glassboro-Camden Line faces mixed voter support despite promises of jobs and better access to Philadelphia.
Transit and Equity News
CONNECTICUT—CT Municipal Development Authority Opens Doors to New Housing
Ginny Monk, CT Mirror | September 18, 2025
The Connecticut Municipal Development Authority will sign its first local contract this month with Naugatuck, where it plans to fund affordable housing near a planned train station. Backed by $90 million in bonding, CMDA offers loans and technical support to help towns increase density around transit hubs and downtowns. Since launching in 2024, the agency has partnered with 26 towns.
COLORADO—Land Use Reform Gains Traction as Housing Solution for Older Adults
Marissa Ventrelli, Colorado Politics | September 16, 2025
An AARP study found strong support among older adults for housing reforms that allow them to age in place. In Colorado, the nation’s second-fastest-aging state, Gov. Jared Polis cited recent bills loosening ADU restrictions and expanding transit-oriented housing as key measures.
OREGON—Affordable Housing Planned at Willow Creek Transit Hub
Hilary Dorsey, DJC Oregon | September 16, 2025
A $66.5 million affordable housing project is planned next to TriMet’s Willow Creek Transit Center. Mercy Housing and the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization propose a five-story building with 118 residential units and a 3,500 sq. ft. learning center that includes two preschool classrooms.
WASHINGTON—Bellevue Selects Developers for Transit-Oriented Projects in BelRed Arts District
Press Release, City of Bellevue | September 16, 2025
Bellevue selected BRIDGE Housing and Su Development to build multifamily affordable housing on underutilized city-owned land near the BelRed light-rail station. The projects will expand housing options and provide amenities for local artists to create artwork within their living spaces.
Regional and National TOD News
PENNSYLVANIA—’Best Bad Solution:’ Pittsburgh Regional Transit Moves Ahead With Plan to Use Capital Funds to Avoid Service Cuts
Ed Blazina, Pittsburgh Union Progress | September 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Regional Transit will use $106.7 million in state capital funds, along with federal dollars and reserves, to cover operating costs and avoid 35 percent service cuts and mass layoffs over the next two years. PRT CEO Katharine Eagan Kelleman called the plan “the best bad solution,” warning it delays critical projects such as new buses, railcars, and maintenance facilities.
TEXAS—In Dallas, Transit Cuts Reflect Long Simmering Suburban Tension
Benton Graham, Bloomberg | September 17, 2025
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) approved service cuts and fare increases starting in 2026 after months of pressure from suburban cities seeking more control over their tax contributions. While Dallas suburbs argue they subsidize transit for others, advocates warn cuts will harm low-income riders who rely on buses, trains, and paratransit.
WISCONSIN—Eau Claire Transit Center (Finally) Nears Finish Line
Mckenna Scherer, Volume One | September 15, 2025
Construction of Eau Claire’s Transfer Center Project is nearing completion, marking the end of a four-year effort to build the city’s first transit hub. The six-story complex will provide transit services and office space on the lower three floors, while the upper levels—owned by Merge Urban Development—will contain 80 residential units.
VIRGINIA—Expert: Improving Arlington’s Transportation Means Facing Deep-Rooted Challenges
Scott McCaffrey, ARL Now | September 11, 2025
Arlington is testing a program that raises or lowers meter rates based on demand; however, county data shows only minor shifts in driver behavior so far. Officials say the pilot, combined with new apps and community feedback, is part of a broader effort to encourage transit use and rethink car-centric planning.
International TOD News
INDONESIA—Indonesia’s Social Housing Offers Gen Z an Affordable Urban Living Solution
Staff, Tempo English | September 18, 2025
Indonesia has launched the first phase of its 3 million House Construction Program, with 50,000 social housing units in Jakarta’s Kampung Bandan. Officials say the project will provide Gen Z and millennials with affordable, well-located homes near transit, reducing long commutes and improving quality of life.
UNITED KINGDOM—1st Phase of Massive Manchester Redevelopment Project Hits New Milestone with Families Soon to Move In
George Lythgoe, Manchester World | September 15, 2025
The first ten townhomes in a major North Manchester redevelopment are set to welcome families later this month. The project will ultimately include 274 homes, 130 of which are affordable, as part of the Victoria North Regeneration Program—a long-term plan to build up to 15,000 homes with green space between Victoria Station and Queen’s Park in Collyhurst.