TOD News Briefs

The Week in TOD News January 4-10, 2025

Congestion toll begins (right); NJUMA opposes Montvale lawsuit; South Coast Rail & eTOD; Mass. Court upholds MBTA Communities Act; Syria’s transit path forward (left top-to-bottom) 

Article of the Week

A congested street in Manhattan. 
deberarr | Adobe Stock

NEW YORK—New York’s Congestion Pricing Program Starts Without Hiccups 
Winnie Hu and Ana Ley, The New York Times | January 6, 2025 
New York’s congestion pricing program launched in Manhattan on January 5, after months of delays and multiple legal challenges. The New York Times provided live coverage of the program’s implementation, reporting its effects in the congestion zone and surrounding areas, including New Jersey. While the long-term impacts remain unclear, reporters noted fewer cars on the road and higher average travel speeds compared to the same time last year. 


NJ TOD News

Streetview of the Mercer County Superior Courthouse
Mercer County Courthouse. Google Streetview

Urban Mayors Group Joins Opposition to Montvale’s 28-Town Affordable Lawsuit 
Michael Olohan, Pasack Press | January 10, 2025 
A Superior Court judge has allowed the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) to intervene in a lawsuit involving 28 NJ suburban towns that challenges the state’s new affordable housing law. NJUMA, which represents over 30 urban municipalities, supports the law’s focus on rehabilitation and fair housing distribution, and can file a brief by January 27 ahead of a dismissal motion hearing scheduled for January 31. NJUMA’s attorney has declined to comment on the ruling. 

Streetview of Ora during the late stages of construction 
Ora.  Google Streetview

HACKENSACK—Hackensack’s Newest Addition, the 270-Unit Mixed-Use Ora Building, Will Begin Leasing 
Megan Burrow, NorthJersey.com | January 9, 2025 
Ora, a new multifamily development in Hackensack’s downtown, will soon open for lease. The seven-story building features 270 residential units and 9,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space along Main Street. It sits less than half a mile from the Hackensack Bus Terminal and just over half a mile from the Anderson Street Rail Station on the Pascack Valley Line. 

Rendering of Morgan Street Development. The lower floors feature a brick facade with vegetation and outdoor space.
Rendering of Morgan Street Development. Courtesy of SLCE Architects

JERSEY CITY—New Images Revealed as Jersey City Approves 34-Story Tower on Morgan Street 
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | January 7, 2025 
The Jersey City Planning Board approved LCOR’s proposal to transform a downtown parking lot at 107 Morgan Street into a 34-story mixed-use high-rise. The project will feature 633 residential units, over 19,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor commercial space, and an outdoor plaza with seating areas and a public art exhibit. The site is within a quarter mile of the Harsimus Cove Station and less than three-quarters of a mile from the Exchange Place Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line. LCOR has not yet announced a construction timeline. 

People waiting for an NJ TRANSIT train.
Phil Murphy | Flickr

New Jersey Transit Commuters Report Crowded Trains with Congestion Pricing 
Katie Corrado, Yahoo News | January 6, 2025 
NJ TRANSIT commuters reported busier trains Monday morning as congestion pricing took effect, with many opting for rail travel to avoid higher costs. Fort Lee and Leonia officials are preparing for increased traffic near the George Washington Bridge, as drivers seek to bypass the congestion zone. However, the long-term impacts of the congestion toll are still to be determined.

Rendering of the approved North Brunswick Train Station design.
Rendering of the approved North Brunswick Train Station design. Courtesy of MCIA

NORTH BRUNSWICK—New North Brunswick Train Station Is on the Right Track 
Susan Loyer, MyCentralJersey | January 5, 2025 
The North Brunswick Train Station project has reached a major milestone with a 30 percent design approval and a funding agreement with NJ TRANSIT for its final design phase. Managed by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA), the project is approaching 60 percent design completion, including structural elements like platforms, pedestrian bridges, and foundation work. Once completed, the station is expected to help alleviate congestion along Route 1 and contribute to Middlesex County’s Destination 2040 strategic economic plan. 


Transit and Equity News

Rendering of the proposed mixed-use development and upgraded Hackensack Bus Terminal.
Rendering of the proposed mixed-use development and upgraded Hackensack Bus Terminal. Courtesy of Bergen County, NJ

HACKENSACK—Bergen County to Upgrade Bus Terminal, Build Affordable Housing in Hackensack 
Megan Burrow, NorthJersey.com | January 10, 2025 
Bergen County is advancing a mixed-use development in Hackensack, featuring 168 affordable units for public service workers and medical professionals, as well as retail and office space. The project will also upgrade the adjacent Hackensack Bus Terminal with a covered waiting area, improved traffic patterns, and electric bus accommodations. Construction is set to begin by year-end, with completion expected in 18 to 24 months. 

Train that will serve the South Coast Rail line, once it launches in Spring 2025.
South Coast Rail. Courtesy of the State of Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS—South Coast Rail Is Around the Corner. Some Worry It Will Make the Housing Crisis Worse. 
Akanksha Goyal, The Herald News | January 7, 2025 
The South Coast Rail, launching in spring 2025, will reconnect southeastern Massachusetts with Boston, improving job access and regional connectivity. However, housing advocates warn the project could displace low-income residents without proper intervention. While Fall River and New Bedford are pursuing transit-oriented development, advocates emphasize the need for equitable housing strategies to ensure affordability.

Rendering of Phase I of the Willets Point redevelopment. Adjacent to the development is empty space, which will be the site for Phase 2.
Rendering of Phase I of the Willets Point redevelopment. Courtesy of S9Architecture 

NEW YORK—Phase One of Willets Point Development Rises in Willets Point, Queens 
Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York Yimby | January 7, 2025 
Construction is underway on the first phase of the Willets Point redevelopment in Queens, featuring two 12-story residential buildings with 1,100 affordable units. Phase two will add 1,400 more affordable homes, retail space, a public school, and a stadium for New York City FC, the professional soccer team. The project, located near Mets-Willets Point Station, will bring 7 million sq. ft. of mixed-use space to the area, with a completion date yet to be announced. 

Rendering of Decatur East Phase 2
Rendering of Decatur East Phase II. Courtesy of Decatur Housing Authority

GEORGIA—At MARTA’s Doorstep, Affordable Housing Build in Construction Homestretch 
Josh Green, Urbanize Atlanta | January 6, 2025 
Decatur East Phase II has topped out in Atlanta, continuing the trend of transit-oriented development near MARTA transit hubs in the city and its inner suburbs. The project will deliver 80 affordable housing units for seniors with incomes below 80 percent AMI and offer direct access to the Avondale MARTA station. Set for completion in Summer 2025, it will join Decatur East Phase I, which opened in 2018 with 92 affordable units near Avondale Station. 


Regional and National TOD News

An electric M50 bus.
An electric M50 bus. Tdorante10 | Wikimedia Commons

NEW YORK—MTA Drivers: Slowest Bus in Manhattan is Faster Since Congestion Pricing 
Sophia Lebowitz, StreetsblogNYC | January 10, 2025 
Congestion pricing in Manhattan is improving bus speeds, with passengers and drivers on the M50, the borough’s slowest bus, which travels crosstown from 12th Avenue and West 42nd Street to 1st Avenue and East 49th Street, noticing faster travel times, especially during rush hours. The M50’s average speed increased from 4.1 mph in December 2023 to 5.1 mph in recent trips. However, double-parked cars and violations in bus lanes remain significant issues. While some riders remain skeptical of the program, many report that reduced traffic is making their commutes faster and smoother. 

A podium that says ”MBTA Communities. All Aboard.”
Courtesy of the Government of Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS—Massachusetts Highest Court Has Ruled in Favor of Multifamily Housing Law. What Was Said 
Hannah Morse, The Patriot Ledger| January 8, 2025 
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the MBTA Communities Act, affirming the state’s authority to enforce it. However, the court ruled that the state’s zoning compliance guidelines must undergo a public process before enforcement. The decision effects municipalities that have not yet made the required zoning changes, which must now zone for higher density near MBTA stations. 

An aerial image showing a complex, overbuilt highway.
MyCreative | Adobe Stock

Can States Hit the Brakes on Runaway Roadbuilding? 
Benton Graham, Bloomberg | January 7, 2025 
A few states, including Minnesota, have recently passed policies to limit highway expansions and reduce transportation emissions by focusing on lowering vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Minnesota’s law, effective in 2025, mandates the state’s DOT to assess the climate impact of highway projects and offset increased emissions. These efforts aim to redirect transportation funding toward greener multimodal alternatives, with advocates calling for similar reforms in states like Illinois and New York. 

Rendering of Upland Park that depicts an active pedestrian sidewalk with surrounding buildings and green space.
Rendering of Upland Park. Courtesy of Terra

FLORIDA—Terra to Break Ground on Upland Park Mixed-Use Development in West Dade 
Staff, Miami’s Community News | January 7, 2025 
Terra is set to break ground on Upland Park, a $1 billion mixed-use development in West Miami-Dade, transforming the Dolphin Park-and-Ride Facility into a 47-acre transit hub. The first phase, funded by a $170 million construction loan from SCALE Lending, will include 578 multifamily apartments. Once completed, Upland Park will feature over 2,000 housing units and 282,000 sq. ft. of retail space. 

A train entering Danbury Station on the Danbury Branch Line.
Danbury Station on the Danbury Branch Line. AirportExpert | Wikimedia Commons

CONNECTICUT—Transit-Oriented Development Can Help Connecticut’s Struggling Branch Lines 
Angelo Bochanis, CT Mirror | January 6, 2025 
Connecticut’s branch rail lines are struggling to attract investment and new ridership, despite strong fiscal health and political support, due to resistance from smaller towns to embrace growth. While cities along the main New Haven Line are growing, many communities along the branch lines oppose transit-oriented development and new housing, limiting efforts to improve service. To attract investment and enhance rail service, Bochanis, an IPO Data & Index Associate at Renaissance Capital, argues these towns must embrace growth and development around rail stations. 


International TOD News

A train in Damascus.
A train in Damascus. Matthias-tf | Wikimedia Commons

SYRIA—Syria’s Road Ahead: How Transport Infrastructure Could Be the Key to Stability 
Sergio Cantone, Euronews | January 10, 2025 
Turkey plans to revitalize Syria’s transportation infrastructure, focusing on projects like the restoration of the historic Hejaz Railway and the development of high-speed rail connections. These efforts aim to link the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean, enhancing regional integration and trade. Syria’s path to redevelopment could come from serving as a crucial hub in a broader transportation corridor connecting the Middle East, India, and Europe. 

Map of Dakar BRT service. It will connect the periphery of the city into the city center. 
Map of Dakar BRT service. Courtesy of CETUD

SENEGAL—Dakar, Senegal Receives the 2025 Sustainable Transport Award; Mexico City Earns an Honorable Mention 
Alphonse Tam, EIN Presswire | January 7, 2025 
Dakar, Senegal, received the 2025 Sustainable Transport Award from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) for its commitment to electric public transit and transit-oriented development. In 2024, Dakar launched a new all-electric BRT system with plans for a fleet of 121 electric buses, 23 stations, and over 11 miles of corridors. Dakar officials estimate the BRT will serve 300,000 passengers daily and enable 69 percent of the city’s residents to reach the city center in less than an hour by public transit. 

Rendering of the proposed transit-oriented community around the Oakville GO Station. It features drawings of 11 towers.
Rendering of the proposed transit-oriented community. Courtesy of Distrikt Developments

CANADA—Province Unveils Proposal for 11 Tall Towers in Midtown Oakville 
Dana Fehir, Daily Commercial News | January 7, 2025 
The Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure has proposed a transit-oriented community (TOC) in Oakville’s Midtown area, featuring 11 towers with a total of 6,908 residential units. Developed in partnership with Distrikt Developments, the project aims to create a walkable community near the Oakville GO Station, offering residential, retail, and public amenities. While the proposal has received support for its focus on transit accessibility, some residents and council members have expressed concerns about its density and impact on the area’s development plans.