Health & wellness center opens at Metropark (right) • Sherrill accelerates housing • LA Metro opens affordable TOD • USDOT proposes TOD loan updates • Hong Kong unifies transit (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
WOODBRIDGE—Hackensack Meridian Health Opens First-of-Its-Kind Wellness Center at NJ TRANSIT Metropark Station
Neill Borowski, Jersey Digs | April 27, 2026
Hackensack Meridian Health opened a new Health & Wellness Center on a former parking lot at Metropark Station on April 29. Developed in partnership with DOR and NJ TRANSIT, the project advances efforts to use underutilized agency property to improve access and generate non-farebox revenue.
NJ TOD News
One System, One Decision-Maker: Inside the Move to Overhaul Transportation in New Jersey
Tom Bergeron, BINJE | April 30, 2026
Governor Sherrill unified NJ TRANSIT and NJ Turnpike Authority under one leader—Kris Kolluri—to streamline decisions and treat transportation in New Jersey as a single system. BINJE spoke with Kolluri to learn more about how this unified system will function in practice.
Rutgers Study Says New Jersey Housing Construction Surged in Early 2020s
Staff, ROI NJ | April 29, 2026
A new Rutgers study found that New Jersey is on track to build 45 percent more homes in the 2020s than in the 2010s. From 2020–2024, the state produced nearly 180,000 units—the highest five-year period since the 1980s. The report also highlights a shift from suburban growth toward urban redevelopment.
CAMDEN—Rutgers-Camden Marks Topping-Off of $60 Million Cooper Street Gateway Project
Caroline Brobeil, Rutgers–Camden | April 28, 2026
Rutgers–Camden topped off a $60 million development that will expand its campus with new gathering spaces, academic program areas, and visiting faculty housing. Located next to the Cooper Street/Rutgers Station on the River LINE, the project is expected to open in 2027.
JERSEY CITY—Jersey City Approves 55-Story Tower With Whole Foods Market
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | April 28, 2026
The Jersey City Planning Board approved an 840-unit mixed-use tower in the Journal Square neighborhood, including 84 affordable units and a ground-floor Whole Foods. The project leverages NJ TRANSIT and PATH access at the Journal Square Transportation Center and will include no car parking.
Sherrill Signs Order to Speed Housing Production, Eyeing Cross-Agency Council With Key Deadlines
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | April 28, 2026
Governor Sherrill signed an executive order to accelerate housing production by identifying developable state property, coordinating funding and financing, and tracking progress. The order also creates a Housing Governing Council co-chaired by DCA, NJHMFA, EDA, and NJ TRANSIT.
Transit and Equity News
WASHINGTON—Bellevue Commits More Than $37M to Affordable Housing in Record Funding Round
Kara, Downtown Bellevue | May 1, 2026
The Bellevue City Council approved $37 million for affordable housing to advance the City’s goal of creating or preserving 5,700 units over the next decade. The funding will support four transit-accessible developments, delivering 505 new affordable homes.
CALIFORNIA—Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Mixed-Use Affordable Housing at Vermont/Santa Monica Metro Station
Joe Linton, Streetsblog LA | April 30, 2026
Leaders celebrated the opening of Santa Monica & Vermont, a 185-unit all-affordable development with 20,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail at Vermont/Santa Monica Boulevard Station. Property co-owners LA Metro and Little Tokyo Service Center partnered on the project, with half the units reserved for people who have experienced homelessness.
TENNESSEE—Nashville Mayor Highlights Affordable Housing, Transportation in State of Metro Address
Sydney Keller, Fox 17 Nashville | April 29, 2026
Mayor Freddie O’Connell highlighted efforts to expand and advance affordable housing and transit, including nearly 3,000 homes built or preserved in 2025 and expanded bus service with greater frequency and longer hours.
Reform the Federal Home Loan Banks to Finance the Housing America Needs
Aaron Klein and Chris Hughes, Brookings | April 27, 2026
Researchers at Brookings argue that Federal Home Loan Banks should refocus on financing multifamily housing. Originally designed to support homeownership, the system now primarily provides low-cost funding to commercial banks and insurers.
Regional and National TOD News
TEXAS—Construction for TEXRail Medical District Expected Late 2026
Eric E. Garcia, KERA News | April 28, 2026
Trinity Metro plans to start construction in late 2026 on a rail extension to Fort Worth’s Medical District, improving access to 50,000 jobs and advancing its TOD strategy. Service is expected to begin in 2029.
FLORIDA—Transit-Oriented Development Simply Makes Sense
Larry Silvestri, St. Pete Catalyst | April 27, 2026
St. Petersburg plans to allow higher-density development and eliminate parking requirements near PSTA SunRunner BRT stations. This article from a city resident argues the initiative would support affordable housing, economic activity, and more walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.
USDOT Proposes New TIFIA, RRIF Loan Sizing Methodology for TOD Projects
Roderick N. Devin, Nixon Peabody | April 27, 2026
USDOT proposed sizing TIFIA and RRIF loans for TOD based on a project’s demonstrated transit value. The approach would prioritize projects that increase transit value through infrastructure or revenue-generating joint developments, such as ground lease or profit-sharing.
Bill to Streamline Transit Project Permitting Introduced in House
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | April 24, 2026
H.R. 8315 would streamline transit project permitting by aligning it with highway rules. The bill would allow transit agencies to acquire property for rail projects before completing the NEPA review.
International TOD News
HONG KONG—Hong Kong Proposes Bill for Unified Regulation of New Mass Transit Projects
Oscar Liu, South China Morning Post | April 27, 2026
Hong Kong will consider a bill to standardize regulation for new transit projects, replacing the current project-by-project approach. The change would streamline oversight as multiple expansions move forward with different operators.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—Dubai Metro Gold Line: Everything UAE Residents Need to Know About the 42km Expansion
Zainab Husain, Gulf News | April 22, 2026
The UAE announced the Dubai Metro Gold Line, a 26 mile expansion that would increase the system’s length by 35 percent. The project will serve about 1.5 million residents and connect 55 major developments. Completion is expected by 2032.