MD TOD legislation (left) • South Orange streetscape grant • TriMet affordable housing • FTA TOD grants • Quebec REM station plan (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
MARYLAND—Maryland Legislature Passes Transit-Oriented Development Preemption
Nick Finio and Natalie Roach, Greater Greater Washington | May 14, 2026
Maryland passed the Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, overriding some local zoning and parking requirements near rail stations to encourage more transit-oriented, mixed-use development. The law also exempts some state- and WMATA-owned land near transit from local zoning controls, including land use classifications and density restrictions.
NJ TOD News
BURLINGTON—Burlington City’s New Economic Driver: The Arts on Second Saturdays
Suzette Parmley, The Sun Newspapers | May 15, 2026
Burlington City and Arts Guild New Jersey received a $500,000 NJEDA grant to launch Second Saturdays, an art initiative aimed at supporting local businesses downtown. The city will host free public arts events in its Transit Village area on the second Saturday of each month through October 10.
HOBOKEN—Renderings Revealed for First Phase of Hoboken Housing Authority Redevelopment
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | May 15, 2026
The Hoboken Housing Authority unveiled plans for the first phase of a redevelopment project that will replace all 1,354 public housing units with modern buildings, starting with a 165-unit project. Officials plan to begin construction in 2027 and complete the first phase by 2029 while guaranteeing no displacement during construction.
HOBOKEN—Community Investment Strategies, Officials Kick Off Hoboken Senior Housing Project, City’s First Fully Affordable Development in 30 Years
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | May 14, 2026
Community Investment Strategies broke ground on The Willow, a 36-unit affordable senior housing project in Hoboken. The project will redevelop a former city-owned parking lot within walking distance of the Ninth Street –Congress Street Station on the HBLR. Completion is slated for fall 2027.
Sherrill Releases NJ TRANSIT Rapid Action Plan to Improve the Customer Experience
Staff, ABC 7 | May 12, 2026
Governor Mikie Sherrill and NJ TRANSIT released a Rapid Action Plan to improve the customer experience for transit users after Sherrill authorized the effort two months ago. The plan includes cleaner vehicles, upgraded stations, and an enhanced mobile app. NJ TRANSIT will fund the improvements through its existing budget.
SOUTH ORANGE—South Orange Village Secures More Than $2 Million for Downtown and Recreation Improvements
Office of Administration, TAPinto SOMA | May 12, 2026
South Orange secured more than $2 million in federal and state grants to support downtown improvements tied to its 2021 Master Plan. The project will modernize streetscapes and sidewalks around South Orange Station with new lighting, landscaping, and multimodal transportation upgrades.
Transit and Equity News
CALIFORNIA—SDSU, Chelsea Investment Break Ground on the First Affordable Housing at SDSU Mission Valley
Ryan Brothers, SDSU News | May 13, 2026
San Diego State University and Chelsea Investment broke ground on Addison, a 126-unit affordable development at SDSU Mission Valley. The project will redevelop a former city-owned parking lot and near a San Diego Trolley station that provides direct service to the SDSU campus. Occupancy is expected by 2028.
OREGON—hollywoodHUB
Press Release, Oregon Metro | May 13, 2026
BRIDGE Housing and TriMet are building hollywoodHUB, a 12-story affordable housing development at Hollywood Transit Center. Designed to address neighborhood displacement, the project will offer 222 affordable homes, including deeply affordable family housing, with direct access to light rail service. Completion is expected by January 2027.
NORTH CAROLINA—Charlotte Invests $26.4M in Affordable Housing Across the City
Press Release, City of Charlotte, NC | May 12, 2026
The Charlotte City Council approved $26.4 million in affordable housing funding to support 816 affordable homes across the city. Projects include senior housing, mixed-use developments, and transit-oriented developments with homeownership opportunities near light rail service.
Regional and National TOD News
Transit Title Policy Speculations
Rebecca Higgins, Eno Center for Transportation | May 15, 2026
Lawmakers are considering a range of transit bills focused on funding, affordability, housing production, and safety. Proposals include streamlining property acquisition for transit projects, incentivizing housing near transit, and restoring federal operating subsidies for large metro areas.
To Improve Transit Service, We Need Better Transit-Oriented Development
Elisa Ramirez, Transportation for America | May 13, 2026
Elisa Ramirez argues that high-quality transit service depends on supportive land uses such as transit-oriented development. The Build HUBS Act would reform federal transportation financing programs to support housing and mixed-use development near transit. Supporters say the bill would help increase ridership and address housing affordability.
Urban Areas Can Expand Housing Supply Through Transit-Oriented Development
Eliza Terziev, Reason Foundation | May 12, 2026
Housing analyst Eliza Terziev argues that transit-oriented development can help address affordability and expand housing supply in urban areas with strong transit ridership. Terziev advocates for higher densities, reduced parking minimums, and by-right mixed-use development to maximize TOD potential.
Notice of Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for TOD Planning
Press Release, APTA Passenger Transport | May 11, 2026
The Federal Transit Administration announced $28.5 million in FY 2026 funding for the Pilot Program for TOD Planning. Priority areas include safety, innovation, and community benefits. Applications are due July 10.
International TOD News
CANADA—Québec’s First Industrial TOD in Saint-Laurent’s Hodge-Lebeau Sector
Press Release, City of Montreal | May 12, 2026
Saint-Laurent, Quebec, unveiled a long-term master plan to transform the Hodge-Lebeau industrial sector into a transit-oriented innovation hub centered on the new Côte-de-Liesse REM station. The redevelopment will add active transportation infrastructure, public spaces, and mixed-use development while improving accessibility.
AUSTRALIA—Can a Sprawling City Make Public Transit Work? Sydney May Be on the Right Track
Penry Buckley, The Guardian | May 7, 2026
Sydney has built a strong public transit system despite its sprawling development pattern by creating service that can compete with driving. The city operates a larger transit fleet per capita than Hong Kong, supporting high frequencies and broad coverage. Cars remain widely used, but at lower rates than comparable cities.
GERMANY—Here’s What Happens When Cities Kick Out Cars
Zeeshan Tirmizi, Deutsche Welle | May 6, 2026
Engineers and advocates in Berlin launched a campaign to restrict car access in the city center to reduce congestion and pollution. Other European cities, including Oslo and Paris, have adopted similar measures using strategies like congestion pricing and street pedestrianization to improve walkability and reduce car use.