NJT seeks Hoboken Terminal tenant (right); NJ ferry towns; Senate OKs TOD bill; $1B TOD in Hollywood, FL; Turkey’s subway model (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
HOBOKEN—NJ TRANSIT Plans RFP for ‘Destination’ Anchor for Restored Hoboken Ferry Terminal
Joshua Bird, Real Estate NJ | October 28, 2025
NJ TRANSIT issued an RFP seeking an anchor tenant for the recently restored Lackawanna Ferry Terminal, part of the agency’s Hoboken Connect project. The facility offers 50,000 sq. ft. of space across two stories. NJ TRANSIT aims to secure a tenant that generates consistent revenue and provides community amenities for commuters and Hoboken residents.
NJ TOD News
A Cruisin’ Commute: New Jersey’s Top Ferry Towns
Staff, TAPinto Hoboken | October 30, 2025
Ferry commuting offers New Jersey residents a faster alternative to driving into Manhattan. Eight cities now provide service, with South Amboy in Middlesex County launching its first route in 2023, joining established terminals in Hudson, Bergen, and Monmouth counties. South Amboy’s recent ferry-oriented development highlights how terminals can drive local growth.
SOUTH ORANGE & MAPLEWOOD—South Orange, Maplewood Face Affordable Housing Challenges With Commitment, Creativity
Laura Griffin, The Village Green | October 29, 2025
Maplewood and South Orange remain committed to expanding affordable housing despite limited available land. Both municipalities plan to prioritize multi-family infill through creative redevelopment and zoning strategies. Initiatives include legalizing ADUs, adopting inclusionary zoning ordinances, and redeveloping surface parking lots near transit.
Transit and Equity News
Affordable Housing Crisis: How Can We Redesign Cities to Tackle the Real Cost of Living?
Antonio Gomez-Palacio, World Economic Forum | October 31, 2025
Addressing the housing affordability crisis means tackling the broader cost of living—transportation, energy, food, and healthcare. Drawing on examples from Toronto, Mexico City and Barcelona, Gomez-Palacio calls for cities to prioritize access and shared amenities such as transit, parks, and mixed-use development rather than car-dependent suburban expansion.
ILLINOIS—Illinois Lawmakers Pass Public Transit Bill to Address RTA Budget Gap
Ben Szalinksi, ABC Chicago | October 31, 2025
Illinois lawmakers approved the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, a major funding bill that closes a $200 million budget gap for Chicago-area transit agencies, projected to reach $937 million by 2028. The plan will raise up to $1.5 billion by redirecting gas tax revenue, increasing the regional sales tax, and raising tolls to stabilize operations for CTA, Metra, and Pace.
NEW YORK—City Council OKs Sweeping Rezoning for Jamaica, Queens
Arun Venugopal, Gothamist | October 30, 2025
The New York City Council unanimously approved the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, rezoning large sections of the neighborhood and funding upgrades to local infrastructure. The plan enables up to 12,000 new homes—including 4,000 affordable units—and 2 million sq. ft. of commercial space. The City will add new parks and playgrounds and upgrade sewer and street infrastructure.
This Bill Would Help America Build More Housing Near Transit
Jack Guan, Streetsblog USA | October 27, 2025
The Senate has passed a major bill that would make building homes near public transit a national priority by tying federal transit funding to local pro-housing plans. The proposal, part of the ROAD to Housing Act, encourages cities to remove zoning barriers near transit while maintaining local flexibility. The bipartisan bill now moves to the House for final approval.
Regional and National TOD News
FLORIDA—Hollywood, Florida Sees More Than $1 Billion in New Development as Regional Growth Accelerates
Oscar Nunez, Florida YIMBY | October 31, 2025
Hollywood is emerging as a development hub as investment expands north of Miami, driven by strong housing demand and improved transit access. Major projects—including the $670 million Memorial Regional Hospital expansion and new multifamily and mixed-use developments near transit—highlight the city’s growing role in South Florida’s development corridor.
MARYLAND—Blue Line Corridor Coalition Aims to Keep Revitalization Alive in This Part of Maryland
John Domen, Maryland Matters | October 31, 2025
Prince George’s County leaders and developers have formed the Blue Line Corridor Coalition to advance community-led revitalization around four Metro stations in the D.C. suburbs. Despite economic headwinds, new housing and mixed-use projects continue to move forward, reinforcing efforts to create walkable, transit-oriented developments that support local growth.
NEW YORK—Construction Wraps Up on The Alary at 33 Westchester Place in New Rochelle, New York
Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York YIMBY | October 28, 2025
Construction finished on The Alary, a 28-story residential tower in New Rochelle, marking the final phase of the Westchester Place Arts and Cultural District’s three-building development. The project delivers 315 rental units, 7,500 sq. ft. of retail, and additional amenities near the New Rochelle Metro-North station.
CALIFORNIA—Caltrain Ridership Up 47% After Electrification
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | October 27, 2025
Caltrain ridership rose 47 percent year over year after the agency completed its $2.72 billion electrification project in September 2024. The switch from diesel to electric trains has shortened travel times, increased service frequency, and improved environmental performance while restoring ridership following post-COVID declines.
CALIFORNIA—Why California’s Historic Housing Battle Gave Activists a New Reason to Battle the Bus
Ben Christopher, Cal Matters | October 22, 2025
California’s new housing law, Senate Bill 79, has ignited backlash in Burbank, where residents fear a planned bus rapid transit line from North Hollywood to Pasadena will lead to rezoning for apartments along its corridor. Intended to promote transit-oriented housing, the law links upzoning to major transit projects, potentially intensifying local opposition to LA Metro’s expansion plans.
International TOD News
KENYA & INDIA—Why Nairobi Should Look to New Delhi for Its Transit Transformation
Srujan Palkar and Sibi Nyaoga, Atlantic Council | October 29, 2025
Built at just $38 million per mile, Delhi Metro’s efficient service, innovative procurement strategies, and focus on transit-oriented development have reduced congestion and emissions while moving millions daily. Rapidly growing African cities like Nairobi could use this approach as a model for developing inclusive, low-cost metro systems that support equitable growth and sustainable urbanization.
TURKEY—Vision Zero Cities: How Istanbul Builds Subways Cheap – And What U.S. Cities Can Learn
Elif Ensari, Streetsblog NYC | October 28, 2025
Despite political and geological challenges, Istanbul has expanded its subway network by more than 200 miles over the past three decades at costs roughly 70 percent below the U.S. average. As construction expenses rise across the U.S., Istanbul offers a model for efficient transit development through standardized station designs, strong public-private collaboration, and institutional learning.