NJ TRANSIT’s Interactive Sites Map (left); Somerville Station TOD; Affordable housing in MA; Rethinking suburban malls; Tashkent Metro expansion (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
America’s 250th: NJ TRANSIT Launches ‘Jersey Journeys,’ an Interactive Map Showcasing Historic Sites Accessible by Bus and Trains
P. Kenneth Burns, WHYY | August 29, 2025
NJ TRANSIT has launched Jersey Journeys: Every Stop Tells a Story, an interactive map linking over 150 historic sites across New Jersey via trains, buses, and light rail. The initiative highlights Revolutionary War landmarks and other historically significant sites, supporting NJ TRANSIT’s broader effort to promote transit-accessible attractions.
NJ TOD News
SOMERVILLE—Garden State City Gets Mixed-Use Transit Plaza
Robert Steuteville, Public Square | August 27, 2025
Avalon and Pulte Homes have developed a nationally recognized mixed-use project adjacent to Somerville Station, replacing a former park-and-ride site with 530 residential units, 4,000 sq. ft. of retail, and a civic building. At its center, a large public plaza serves as a community hub for events and daily gatherings. The final phase, now underway, will add 171 units and a public park.
NJ: SEPTA Starts Service Cuts That Will Eventually Kill N.J. Rail Line
Larry Higgs, Mass Transit | August 26, 2025
SEPTA, facing a $213 million budget deficit, will begin systemwide service cuts on September 2, starting with regional rail reductions on the Trenton and West Trenton lines. The Trenton Line and four others are scheduled for elimination by 2026, a move projected to save $65 million annually as legislators continue budget negotiations.
NJEDA Board OKs $10M in Gap Financing to Back N.J. Real Estate Projects
John Harrington, ROI-NJ | August 26, 2025
The NJEDA has approved $10 million in grant funding to support five real estate developments, including mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. Approved projects include: 500 High Street in Perth Amboy, with 23 units and 1,100 sq. ft. of retail space, and 21 North Park St in East Orange, which will include affordable units and healthcare space.
PRINCETON—On the Agenda, Princeton Begins a $305,000 Overhaul of Its Zoning Code
Richard K Rein, TAPinto Princeton | August 25, 2025
Princeton will begin an overhaul of its outdated zoning code, led by Planning Director Justin Lesko. The two-year project aims to unify regulations and simplify permitting. Current rules—such as requiring more parking for apartments than single-family homes—have created unnecessary costs and delays for new construction.
Transit and Equity News
NEW YORK—Prices, Stalled Growth Fuel Housing Crisis
Ainsley Martinez, Charles Shaw & Alyssa R. Griffin, Herland Community Newspapers | August 28, 2025
Governor Hochul’s push for statewide zoning reforms to allow denser development near transit has met strong resistance from Long Island leaders concerned about losing local control and suburban character. Land use expert Richard Murdocco recommends more targeted strategies—such as legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and basement apartments—to expand affordability without fueling overdevelopment.
GEORGIA—Transit Focused, Mixed-Use Project ‘The Fifty-Five’ Queues Up
John Green, Urbanize Atlanta | August 26, 2025
Gorman & Company is planning The Fifty-Five, a transit-oriented development one block from the East Point MARTA station. The project will include 60 income-restricted apartments and ground-floor retail. The firm developed Hamilton Hills near the Hamilton E. Holmes Station and Sweet Auburn, an adaptive reuse project converting vacant buildings into a mixed-use corridor.
MASSACHUSETTS—Governor Healey Awards $15 Million in Housing Development Funds to Build 829 Homes in Gateway Cities
Press Release, Commonwealth of Massachusetts | August 25, 2025
Governor Maura Healey has awarded $15 million to support the construction of 829 units across six Gateway Cities. The Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) funding will help communities expand affordable housing options, improve access to homeownership, and support downtown revitalization efforts.
MAINE—WNC JV Starts Construction on $88 M Maine Housing Development
Gail Kalinoski, MHN | August 21, 2025
WNC & Associates, Avesta Housing, and Reveler Development have begun construction on 89 Elm Apartments, an $87.8 million affordable housing community on a former parking lot in downtown Portland. Located near transit and services, the 201-unit project will serve households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and is set to open in 2027.
Regional and National TOD News
CALIFORNIA—MTS Ridership Data Reveal High Cost of Banning Apartments Near Trolley Stations
Andrew Bowen, KPBS | August 27, 2025
MTS data shows that the new Clairemont Drive Station has the system’s third-lowest ridership, largely due to surrounding vacant lots and low-density housing. UC Berkeley’s Ethan Elkind argues the case demonstrates that rail alone isn’t enough—denser housing must be legalized. Grantville Station supports this view, with ridership up 65 percent after two apartment projects replaced its parking lot.
Repositioning U.S. Retail: More Malls as Mixed-Use Town Centers
Patricia Kirk and Ron Nyren, Urban Land | August 26, 2025
Aging malls nationwide are being redeveloped into mixed-use town centers with housing, retail, offices, and public spaces. These projects—from New Jersey to California—are revitalizing neighborhoods, creating jobs, and meeting demand for walkable and transit-connected communities. Mall conversions are emerging as a key strategy in addressing the housing crisis.
HAWAII—City Takes Next Steps to Bring Transit-Oriented Housing and Community Renewal to Dillingham Boulevard
Press Release, City of Honolulu | August 25, 2025
The City of Honolulu is seeking a developer to help transform a 2.25-acre municipally owned site—across from the planned Mokauea (Kalihi) Station—into an affordable housing community. The project reflects a citywide commitment to building homes for local families near jobs, transit, and services, while honoring the neighborhood’s cultural identity.
OHIO—Cuyahoga County Announces Loans to Boost Transit-Oriented Development
Steven Litt, Ideastream Public Media | August 25, 2025
Cuyahoga County has launched a loan program offering $150,000 to $2.5 million to support transit-oriented development on underutilized land along high-frequency transit routes. The initiative aims to expand housing supply, reduce car dependence, and lower the cost of living. Applications are open on a rolling basis through September 29.
IDAHO—Commuter Rail in Boise? Really? Treasure Valley Transit Leaders Keep Dreaming
Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman | August 22, 2025
Southwest Idaho’s regional planning agency, Compass, has named a 25-mile Boise-to-Nampa commuter rail line its top priority. A federally funded study found the line could serve 24,000 daily riders—more than double projections for bus rapid transit. The $2.5 billion plan, however, is expected to face strong opposition from state legislators.
International TOD News
AUSTRALIA—Woollahra Needs to Do Its Share on Housing: Spender
Paul Karp & Lucy Slade, Financial Review | August 29, 2025
MP Allegra Spender conditionally supports a plan allowing up to 21-story developments within 800 meters of the new Woollahra train station. The plan could nearly triple local housing but has drawn criticism from residents for excluding affordable housing in one of the world’s least affordable markets.
UZBEKISTAN—Turkish Firm to Build Tashkent Metro Extension
Mark Simmons, Rail Journal | August 27, 2025
Turkish firm Xvav Tapi will lead construction of an $110 million, 8-kilometer extension of the Tashkent Metro, adding three new stations by 2026. Expected to serve 85,000 daily passengers, the line supports Uzbekistan’s TOD plan to develop 6,000 hectares of residential districts alongside metro expansions.
GULF STATES—Transit-Oriented Development Should Be an Integral Part of GCC Urban Growth
Staff, Consultancy-me | August 22, 2025
A Roland Berger report urges Gulf cities to adopt TOD, warning that unchecked sprawl and car dependence will worsen congestion. With over 85 percent of the population urbanized, the report calls for expanded transit to shorten commutes, cut emissions, and support walkable communities.