Transit value (left) • Rahway Station TOD • Vermont middle housing • Highway costs • New South Wales growth trends (right, top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
New APTA Report Highlights Economic Benefits of Public Transit Ahead of Surface Transportation Reauthorization Process
Noah Kolenda & Brandon Lewis, Mass Transit | March 4, 2026
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) finds that every $1 billion invested in public transit generates roughly 41,400 jobs, $251 million in tax revenue, and $3.6 billion in economic value. It urges Congress to expand federal transit funding over the next five years to boost ridership and economic growth.
NJ TOD News
BELMAR—C&W Arranges Construction Loan for Russo Development’s Mara by Vermella
Staff, New Jersey Business Magazine | March 5, 2026
Russo Development received a loan to finance the construction of Mara by Vermella, a 198-unit multifamily housing development next to Belmar Station. The project will also include 20 affordable units and 5,480 sq. ft. of amenity space.
RAHWAY—Vermella Rahway Construction Begins Near NJ TRANSIT Train Station
Suzanne Russell, MyCentralJersey | March 4, 2026
Russo Development has started construction on Vermella Rahway, a 211-unit project connected to Rahway Station via an existing pedestrian bridge. Completion is expected by spring 2027.
Op-Ed: Messing With Gateway Endangers the Post-Pandemic Boom
Dan Kennedy and Mark Jackson, NJ Spotlight News | March 3, 2026
Dan Kennedy and Mark Jackson of New Jersey’s NAIOP chapter warn that threats to Gateway funding could stall the region’s post-pandemic real estate recovery. Many transit-oriented developments in North Jersey rely on the project. Halting it would risk construction jobs, constrain housing supply, and weaken the broader real estate market.
JERSEY CITY—Au Revoir, Pompidou: Jersey City Eyes Affordable Housing at Scrapped Museum Project Site
Michael Sol Warren, Gothamist | March 2, 2026
Jersey City plans to add affordable housing and community space to a Journal Square site formerly slated for a Centre Pompidou museum branch. The City will partner with Kushner to build a yet-to-be-determined number of affordable units in the transit-rich neighborhood.
NEW BRUNSWICK—45-Unit High-Rise Proposed for Former New Millennium Bank Site in Downtown New Brunswick
Mario Marroquin, Jersey Digs | March 2, 2026
The New Brunswick City Council voted to support a proposed 450-unit development at 57 Livingston Ave, near New Brunswick Station. The letter of support aims to help the project secure state funding through an Aspire grant. The developer must still acquire the site before construction can begin.
Transit and Equity News
CALIFORNIA—County, City, Housing Leaders Open SkyLINE Apartments at Rancho Bernardo
Staff, Times of San Diego | March 6, 2026
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and Affirmed Housing opened SkyLINE Apartments, a 99-unit affordable housing development constructed on the former parking lot of Rancho Bernardo Transit Station. The units are reserved for households earning between 30 and 55 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
VERMONT—A Statewide, Build-Ready Catalog for Missing-Middle Housing
Chris Cochran, CNU | March 5, 2026
Vermont launched 802 Homes, a publicly accessible database of missing middle housing plans. Developers can select from ten designs aligned with statewide code, reducing construction costs and streamlining approval timelines that often delay projects.
What Would a City Designed for Blind Commuters Look Like?
John Surico, Bloomberg | March 5, 2026
Design flaws and inconsistent accessibility features put visually impaired commuters—who rely on transit for mobility—at risk. Advocates urge the use of tactile cues, audible signals, and other accessible infrastructure to make cities safer and more accommodating for people with visual impairments.
How Zoning Fits into a National Affordability Strategy
Yonah Freemark, Urban Institute | March 3, 2026
Restrictive zoning and large lot-size minimums limit housing production, worsening the affordable housing crisis. Federal legislation, including the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and Housing for the 21st Century Act, supports housing production through permitting and planning assistance and grants.
CALIFORNIA—S.B. 79: Moving Towards Transit-Oriented Development
Staff, NJTOD | March 3, 2026
In this NJTOD feature, California’s new Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act (S.B. 79) illustrates statewide TOD zoning standards could expand housing near transit through revised density rules and streamlined approvals. Lessons from S.B. 79 could inform potential TOD policy and legislation in New Jersey.
Regional and National TOD News
Adding Up What Urban Highways Really Cost
Benjamin Schneider, Bloomberg | March 3, 2026
Researcher Patrick Kennedy reports that U.S. urban highways occupy 66,000 acres within 3 miles of downtowns, displacing over $500 billion in development potential and $5.2 billion in annual property taxes. Newark contains the most urban highway land—1,121 acres. Kennedy recommends removing highways to unlock urban growth potential.
The New Urban Order: Putting Pedestrians First
Diana Lind, The Philadelphia Citizen | March 2, 2026
Atlanta’s Beltline demonstrates that investing in pedestrian infrastructure can drive development, attract residents and businesses, and reshape cities along transit corridors. Urbanists encourage cities to pursue “pedestrian-oriented development” to create high-quality public spaces that enhance both economic activity and quality of life.
CALIFORNIA—BART Board Approves Doomsday Service Cuts as Fiscal Cliff Looms
Alex Baker, KRON 4 | February 27, 2026
BART will implement drastic service cuts next fiscal year if a $376 million budget gap isn’t resolved. Planned reductions include a 63 percent reduction in train hours, system closure at 9 pm, and a 30 percent fare increase. Voters could prevent these cuts by approving Senate Bill 63 in the November 2026 election.
International TOD News
CANADA—Vancouver Lists Transit-Oriented Development Site on Open Market
Howard Chai, BIV | March 5, 2026
Vancouver will sell a vacant lot near the Great Northern Way–Emily Carr Station, currently under construction as part of the Broadway Subway Project. The City has not issued land use guidelines for the potential transit-oriented development. Critics argue the sale lacks transparency and fails to advance city objectives.
PORTUGAL—Portugal Debuts First Hydrogen Bus Rapid Transit Corridor
Staff, Mobility Plaza | March 5, 2026
CaetanoBus launched Portugal’s first hydrogen-powered bus rapid transit service in Porto. The system demonstrates how municipalities can decarbonize mass transit affordably and reliably.
AUSTRALIA—Quality over Quantity: Solving Sydney’s Unit Density Dilemma
Staff, The Urban Developer | March 2, 2026
New South Wales planning reforms allow higher densities through TOD and Housing Diversity Areas (HDA) initiatives. PBA Architects stress that success will rely on strong design principles, site selection, and proximity to amenities such as transit.