TOD News Briefs

The Week in TOD News March 28-April 3, 2026

Seattle accelerates housing plan (right)  NJT launches microtransit pilot • Chicago invests $300M in affordable housing • West Allis, WI stages comeback • TOD in Metro Manila (left top-to-bottom)

Article of the Week

Mayor Wilson marks the completion of a project.
Mayor Wilson marks the completion of a project. Courtesy of mayorofseattle on Instagram

WASHINGTON—Wilson Pledges ‘Taller, Denser, Faster’ Housing Growth Plan 
Doug Trumm, The Urbanist | April 2, 2026 
Mayor Katie Wilson announced that Seattle will accelerate and expand its housing plan to allow denser development near transit before the 2029 deadline. The proposal expands rezones, advances timelines, and increases housing options in walkable neighborhoods to address the city’s housing shortage.


NJ TOD News

Rendering of the South Cove development.
Rendering of the South Cove development. Courtesy of MHS Architects

BAYONNE—Bayonne Advances Two Tower Plus Hotel Plan at South Cove 
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | April 2, 2026 
The Bayonne Planning Board approved plans for a three-building complex with two residential towers and a hotel at South Cove near two HBLR stations. The residential buildings will include 696 units, and the hotel will add 125 rooms and 18,920 sq. ft. of retail space.

Rendering of The Greyson at 25 Cottage Street. Courtesy of Nasser Freres

JERSEY CITY—Nasser Freres Launches Leasing at 622-Unit Journal Square Rental Tower 
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | April 2, 2026 
Nasser Freres has begun leasing units at The Greyson, a 29-story glass tower in Jersey City’s Journal Square neighborhood. The project includes 622 residential units, a new pedestrian plaza, and sits two blocks from the Journal Square Transportation Center—one of New Jersey’s busiest transit hubs.

Courtesy of NJ TRANSIT
Courtesy of NJ TRANSIT 

NJ TRANSIT and Via Partner to Provide Microtransit. Here’s Where 
Colleen Wilson, New Jersey Herald | April 2, 2026 
NJ TRANSIT will launch a new microtransit shuttle in Bergen and Monmouth counties on April 6, with operations run by Via. The two-year pilot program, called MicroLink, will help address first mile/last mile gaps by providing ADA-compliant trips to and from bus stops and park-and-rides.

Centurion Sleepy Hollow in October 2025.
Centurion Sleepy Hollow in October 2025. Google Street View

PLAINFIELD—Landmark Debuts 100-Unit Plainfield Rental Property As Latest ‘Centurion’ Project 
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | March 29, 2026 
Landmark is leasing units at Centurion Sleepy Hollow, a mixed-use apartment building within walking distance of the NJ TRANSIT Netherwood Station. The development includes 100 market-rate units and ground-floor retail along the South Avenue commercial corridor.

Developers and Long Branch officials celebrating groundbreaking.
Developers and Long Branch officials celebrating groundbreaking. Courtesy of TANTUM Real Estate 

LONG BRANCH—Construction Begins on 78-Unit Broadway Development in Long Branch 
Reed Becker, TAPinto Long Branch | March 26, 2026 
Downeaster Development and TANTUM Real Estate have begun construction on The Elbie, a mixed-use development in Long Branch. The project will include 78 units and 4,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail, within walking distance of Long Branch Station on the North Jersey Coast Line.


Transit and Equity News

Mayor Brandon Johnson
Courtesy of chicagosmayor on Instagram

ILLINOIS—Chicago to Invest $300 Million in 15 Affordable Housing Projects 
Todd Feurer, CBS News | April 1, 2026 
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a $300 million investment across 15 affordable housing projects to help create or preserve 1,164 units. Thirteen projects sit within a half mile of a rail station or high-frequency bus route. The City will also sell more than 600 vacant lots for affordable housing or urban agriculture.

Rendering of NoBE II.
Rendering of NoBE II. Courtesy of SCG Development 

MARYLAND—Construction Begins on 268-Unit Affordable Apartment Building in North Bethesda 
Elia Griffin, Bethesda Magazine | March 30, 2026 
SCG Development has broken ground on NoBE II, a $130 million affordable housing project one block from the North Bethesda Metro station. The development will add 268 residential units near several TOD projects, including the North Bethesda Market II mixed-use development.

Boise, ID.
Boise, ID. Rob Seibel | Adobe Stock

IDAHO—Make Room for Mother-In-Law: Boise’s Free ADU Plans Take Aim at Housing Crunch 
Mark Doe, Idaho Statesman | March 27, 2026 
The City of Boise released pre-approved ADU construction plans to lower costs and streamline approvals. ADUs—already permitted in most zoning districts—and multigenerational households are growing more common as rising costs push aging parents and adult children out of individual homeownership.


Regional and National TOD News

TRAX Light Rail in Salt Lake City, UT.
TRAX Light Rail in Salt Lake City, UT. Garrett | WIkimedia Commons

UTAH—What Utah Could Learn from Austin’s Housing Boom and Falling Rents
Sean Higgins, KUER | April 3, 2026
Utah faces a deficit of 235,000 homes. Experts point to Austin’s model of zoning and permitting reforms to help Utah boost housing supply and raise affordability. State policies would also be needed to remove regulatory barriers and build infrastructure such as transit to support new development.

Bus lane.
Bus lane. Courtesy of the City of Santa Monica, CA

CALIFORNIA—New Bike Lanes and Bus Lanes Underway in Culver City and Santa Monica 
Joe Linton, Streetsblog LA | April 1, 2026 
Culver City and Santa Monica have begun building new green mobility infrastructure, converting curbside parking into bus and bike lanes. The projects will add several miles of protected and shared bus/bike lanes and will connect previously discontinuous segments across both cities.

City of West Allis, WI
Courtesy of the City of West Allis, WI

WISCONSIN—West Allis: From Industrial Collapse to Strong Town Comeback
Tiffany Owns Reed, Strong Towns | April 1, 2026
West Allis has revitalized itself through smart growth after years of industrial decline. Since 2020, the city has added more than 2,000 housing units by legalizing ADUs and rezoning to allow for greater housing diversity. It also removed parking minimums and established parking caps, increasing residential and commercial density.

Rendering of an Austin Light Rail Station.
Rendering of an Austin Light Rail Station. Courtesy of the Austin Transit Partnership

TEXAS—Austin City Council Approves Parking Caps Near Future Light Rail Stations 
Staff, KLBJ News Radio | March 31, 2026 
The Austin City Council approved parking caps for developments near proposed light rail stations to reduce development costs, lower car dependency, and support the City’s long-term mobility goals. Some critics warn the policy may create parking shortages, but City officials say it will help reduce congestion.


International TOD News

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces the partnership.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces the partnership. Courtesy of the Prime Minister of Canada on Instagram

CANADA—Ontario and Canada Sign Historic Partnership to Build Homes, Transit and Communities 
Press Release, Office of Premier Doug Ford | March 30, 2026 
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an CAN$8.8 billion partnership to accelerate housing construction and fund transit projects. The agreement includes tax rebates for new homes and advances several multiple major transit initiatives across the province.

Construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project.
Construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project. Courtesy of the Philippines Presidential Communications Office

PHILIPPINES—The Rise of Transit-Oriented Developments: Reshaping Metro Manila’s Urban Landscape 
Kevin Jara, Kath Taburada, and Alexandra Navarez, Colliers | March 30, 2026 
Demand for TOD continues to rise in Metro Manila as leaders seek to reduce commute times and support growth in one of the world’s most congested cities. Real estate consultancy Colliers recommends accelerating transit construction, strengthening public-private partnerships, and improving first mile/last mile connections to unlock that growth.

London Skyline.
Chalabala | WIkimedia Commons

UNITED KINGDOM—London Urgently Needs New Homes. Why Can’t It Build Them? 
Damian Shepherd, Bloomberg | March 27, 2026 
Housing construction in London has sharply declined as rising costs, bankruptcies, labor shortages, and regulatory delays stall or cancel projects. Officials are exploring reforms and incentives to revive development, but high borrowing costs and thin margins continue to limit building activity.