Transit homes save $ (right) • 401 NJ towns adopt housing plans • CO transit bill pass • MD TOD bill signed • S. Korea boosts density near transit (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
Building Homes Near Jobs, Stores, and Transit Saves Public Dollars
Staff, Pew Charitable Trusts | May 27, 2026
New research from the World Resources Institute and ECOnorthwest found that building homes near jobs, stores, and transit reduces public costs. Each home costs $21,000 less in up-front public spending, requires 50 percent less ongoing maintenance spending, and generates 13 percent more property tax revenue per acre than homes built on the outer edges of towns.
NJ TOD News
Historic Milestone: 401 NJ Towns Adopt Final Implementing Ordinances for Affordable Housing Plans
Press Release, Fair Share Housing Center | May 27, 2026
A record 401 municipalities adopted affordable housing ordinances under A4/S50, the 2024 law that streamlined compliance with the Mount Laurel Doctrine. Municipalities advanced plans for senior housing, supportive housing for people with disabilities, mixed-use development near transit, and more.
NEWARK—New Apartment Building Coming to Newark Neighborhood: Central Pointe
Eric Kiefer, Patch.com | May 27, 2026
A proposed 77-unit development in University Heights will move forward after securing $16.25 million in financing. The project includes 16 affordable units and sits within walking distance of multiple Newark Light Rail stations. Construction is expected to finish in late 2027.
EAST ORANGE—East Orange Project Lands Burlington, Five Below Amid 75,000 Sq. Ft. of New Retail Leasing
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | May 26, 2026
Multiple retailers, including Newark Community Health Center, signed leases at The Crossings at Brick Church. Earlier this year, the development opened its first phase with 400 housing units and 75,000 sq. ft. of commercial space next to Brick Church Station. The full project will add more than 1,000 homes and 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
New Jersey Bill Would Combine NJ Transit, Turnpike Authority
Alexis Tarrazi, Patch.com | May 22, 2026
Assembly bill A4146 would bring the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and NJ TRANSIT under one central authority. The proposed “Transportation Authority of New Jersey” would consolidate mass transit and toll highways under a single structure and formalize the decision to appoint Kris Kolluri to lead both entities.
Transit and Equity News
COLORADO—Joint Release: Signed! Bill to Reduce Housing Costs, Save Coloradans Money
Press Release, Colorado Senate Dems | May 28, 2026
Colorado Gov. Polis signed the Transit Investment Area Act, HB26-1065, into law to fund transit infrastructure and expand transit-oriented housing. The law allows municipalities to create Transit Investment Zones that use tax-increment financing to support transit infrastructure and housing projects. It also provides $350 million in housing tax credits for affordable TOD.
OREGON—Wilsonville Leaders Celebrate New Affordable Housing Development At Transit Center
Mac Larsen, Your Oregon News | May 27, 2026
Wilsonville officials celebrated the opening of Vuela, a 121-unit affordable housing complex at the Wilsonville Transit Center. The development includes units affordable for those earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) and will house South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) offices on the ground floor.
NEW YORK—Mayor Mamdani Releases “Block by Block: The Housing Plan for A New Era”
Press Release, NYC Office of the Mayor | May 26, 2026
The Mamdani administration released “Block by Block,” a $22 billion housing strategy to build 200,000 affordable homes and preserve another 200,000 over the next decade. The plan includes zoning updates for transit-accessible housing, a renewed role for NYCHA as a public developer, efforts to reduce homelessness, and expanded community land trusts.
CALIFORNIA—Plan for Housing Near Trolley Transit Center on Track
Debbie Sklar, The Star News | May 23, 2026
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) approved a deal with Eden Housing to build a 110-unit affordable housing project next to Chula Vista’s E Street Transit Center. The project is part of a broader proposed redevelopment plan that would add housing, commercial space, and public parks around the UC San Diego Blue Line. Construction could begin in 2028.
Regional and National TOD News
WASHINGTON—Ballard Light Rail Rejected While Sound Transit OKs Other Lines
Mike Lindblom, Seattle Times | May 29, 2026
The Sound Transit board voted to keep plans for a downtown tunnel to Seattle Center while rejecting a light rail extension to Ballard. The board prioritized active projects as it manages a projected $35 billion budget gap. Sound Transit also approved an increase in its car rental tax to help close the gap.
MARYLAND—Moore’s Housing Package Among More Than 270 New Laws Approved at Final Bill Signing
Danielle Brown, Maryland Matters | May 26, 2026
Maryland Gov. Moore signed 270 bills into law, including the Maryland Housing Certainty Act and the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act. The first ensures projects follow regulations in place when applications are completed. The second restricts parking minimums, defers county tax payments, and expands transit agency authority to develop housing near transit hubs.
NEW YORK—New York City’s Hottest Transit Mode Is a Boat
Julia Press and Sarah Holder, Bloomberg | May 22, 2026
NYC Ferry has increased ridership, lowered per-rider subsidies, and expanded service by using waterfront developments and social media to attract passengers. Despite continued criticism over costs, city officials view the ferry system as an increasingly important part of the transit network.
Public Transit’s Pandemic Woes Persist
Jared Brey, Governing | May 22, 2026
Public transit agencies continue to struggle with ridership declines tied to remote work, rising costs, and budget shortfalls. Agencies have responded with service cuts, fare increases, and schedule changes. Still, some transit advocates remain optimistic as younger generations continue moving to cities.
International TOD News
CANADA—CVU and UrbanToronto 2026 Walking Tours Begin Thursday
Staff, UrbanToronto | May 26, 2026
UrbanToronto and the Council on Vertical Urbanism will launch a 2026 walking tour series exploring how transit-oriented development shaped growth along Toronto’s Yonge Street Corridor. The tours will run from May to October and examine the relationship between transit investment, density, and urban design.
SOUTH KOREA—Korea Eases Rules to Allow 700-Unit Urban Living Homes Near Subway Stations
Woo Young-tak, Seoul Economic Daily | May 26, 2026
South Korea will ease regulations on urban living homes near subway stations as part of a plan to add 110,000 units by 2030. The proposal reduces restrictions on density, parking minimums, and right-to-light regulations while expanding financial support and advancing delayed housing projects in the Seoul metropolitan area.