Transit Oriented Development

Wendel Aerial SketchDunn Loring Town Center | Transit Oriented DevelopmentFairfax, VA

Wendel’s design philosophy is creative and responsible

design focused on the user and the community. Through our transportation projects, we work to reduce human impact on natural resources and ecosystems to create a better, more sustainable tomorrow.

In today’s world, it’s becoming more and more apparent that people want to live in existing and compact communities where jobs, services and educational opportunities are just a short distance from their home. By compacting this communal distance, people save time and money spent on transportation.

These compact communities are actually less congested, less polluted, have fewer accidents, providing a more healthy, safe and productive environment amongst its residents.

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a type of community development that brings compact, mixed-use development within walking distance of high capacity transit. Supplemented with complete-streets designs, TOD makes it convenient and safe to walk, bike or use public transit to get people where they need to go.

Supporting our transit traveler.

Map image courtesy of:

Wendel follows the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy’s (ITDP) 8 Principles for Better Streets and Better Cities to guide our approach to sustainable transport and development.

The 8 Principles

ConnectCreate dense

networks of streets and

paths.

A city is connected by a tight network

of streets and paths. By creating

varied routes for pedestrians,

cyclists and public transit, it

allows the user to choose the most efficient, direct

path to their destination.

TransitLocate

development near high-

quality public transporation.

Frequent, fast and reliable high capacity public transit reduces

the community’s dependence on personal

motor vehicles and connects the community to more distant parts of the city.

DensifyOptimize density

and transit capacity.

By building up instead of out,

the needs of the community start to overlap each

other. Dense urban growth around public transportation

helps ensure that all members of the community have access to it and creates a mix of activities and services.

MixPlan for mixed

use.

A diverse mix of residential and non-residential uses reduces

the user’s need to travel far and creates a more

lively community. It’s important to provide not only

horizontal but vertical mix of

uses in buildings and encourage

a variety of building forms.

CompactCreate regions

with short commutes.

A TOD creates a compact community

where residents live close to jobs, schools, services

and other destinations resulting in

reduced travel times and emissions.

Sour

ce: I

nstit

ute

for T

rans

port

atio

n &

Dev

elop

men

t Pol

icy

(ITD

P)

ShiftIncrease mobility

by regulating parking and road

use.

The communities mentality

on owning a personal

vehicle has a shift. Adequate

parking fees and a reduction in the supply of parking

also helps shift the thinking of users towards

the use of public transit, walking or

cycling.

CyclePrioritize non-

motorized transport networks.

Cycling provides people with an

efficient way to travel. It is important to design streets

with cyclist safety in mind. By reducing speeds

or creating separate cycle

tracks, you increase a

person’s access to a larger area.

WalkDevelop

neighborhoods that promote

walking.

Basic mobility needs are met

with high quality pedestrian walkways.

By including unobstructed

furniture, green landscaping

elements and active building edges a street is transformed into an active community.

The 8 principles through Wendel

Connect | Transit- Baileys Crossroads Fairfax, VA

Shift- Metro West, Fairfax, VA

Densify | Walk- Seneca Streetscape Buffalo, NY

Cycle- Ohio Street & Inner Harbor Buffalo, NY

Mix | Compact - Dunn Loring Town Center, Fairfax, VA

Recommendations for improving accessibility and connectivity to proposed streetcar stations to ensure success of the transit oriented development was a vital component of the plan. Wendel developed several options to incorporate mixed uses to lessen the impact that such a large and active facility would have on the redevelopment of the surrounding area.

Wendel was responsible for preparing an inventory of existing transit conditions and developing concepts for transit oriented development as part of the overall redevelopment plan for Bailey’s Crossroads.

The development provides for 720 residential units supported by immediately adjacent retail development. A 2000 vehicle parking structure replaced the surface parking area. A portion of the retail development is located on the street level of the parking structure and oriented so that it faces the main access street fronting the development.

In the final plan the intermodal component, with it’s 11 bus slips and continuous pedestrian fabric canopy system became the linchpin for connecting the bus and rail riders to residential, retail, and commercial development.

This project brings together residential, retail and structured parking on a 15 acre site owned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The project localized at the Dunn Loring Metro Rail Station and includes rail, bus, park-n-ride and kiss-n-ride connections to the mixed use development.

The project included development of a Complete Street concept that provides a link from Canalside to the Outer Harbor for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users to move safely and comfortably.

The Complete Street Solution included reducing the number of travel lanes on Seneca Street from four to two to increase opportunities for alternative travel modes. The reclaimed right-of-way was allocated to improved transit stops, on-street parking, dedicated bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks and streetscape buffer area.

PETERSBURG INTERMODAL TRANSIT CENTERThe City of Petersburg retained Wendel to assist with site selection and site design for a Intermodal Transit Center. The goal was to replace an existing, inefficient on-street pulse transfer hub, and enhance expanding transit services in the Petersburg area.

Wendel provided the City of Petersburg with a modern, safe and efficient Intermodal Transit Center, which includes the following project components:

- A transit center building with interior waiting, ticket counter, passenger amenities, police substation, retail space and public spaces.

- Twelve (12) Petersburg Area Transit/Greater Richmond Transit System buses.

- One-way bus movement with enhanced route flexibility and pedestrian safety.

- Canopy covered passenger transfer platform.

- Information kiosks, security cameras, security lighting and bicycle racks/lockers.

- Street improvements on adjacent streets, a park area, “green spine” pedestrian walkway and buffer wall along historic residences.

- Petersburg Area Transit (PAT) administration area, PAT driver area and Greyhound administration space.

This project included the preparation of an Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with the FTA as Lead Agent.

Enhanced connectivity throughout the city, region and northeast corridor is the driving force for this project. The intermodal station provides a place in downtown Roanoke in which train, local and regional bus, car, bike and pedestrian activity all converge.

The facility’s purpose is to act as a gateway to the city as Amtrak passenger rail service is re-established, while better accommodating the space needs of Valley Metro’s current and future downtown bus transit operations.

Surrounded on three sides by active civic and commercial districts, this development bridges the gap in activity that the site is currently lacking and strengthens the pedestrian experience along Salem Avenue.

ROANOKE DOWNTOWN INTERMODAL FACILITY

In close collaboration with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), a space program was developed for the bus transfer facility. The project provides a bus transfer facility adjacent to the existing Union Station, making this location a more complete intermodal center. The development has removed bus transfer activities from the city streets for a safer, more efficient rider experience.

Wendel provided a building and site design solution that bridges two city districts; the historic context of Union Station and the modern requirements of the innovative corridor along Foster Street. The site’s limited size and orientation led to design a multi-level structure.

The facility’s smaller footprint allowed the remaining site area at the corner of Foster and Front Streets to become a small, satellite park.

WORCESTER REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Benefits of TODs010203040506

Promotes healthy, active lifestyles – by increasing location efficiency, people can walk, bike or take public transit.

Reduces greenhouse gases – because of the community’s walkability, less cars are on the road reducing emissions and congestion.

Increased transit ridership and fare revenue.

Potential for added value created through increased and/or sustained property values where transit investments have occurred.

Improved access to jobs and economic opportunity for low-income people and working families.

Creates a sense of community.

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Improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Community revitalization.

FTA, funding and grant questions

What is equitable TOD?

What are TOD placetypes?

How do they work?

What densities are associated with transit?

What kinds of things does the FTA fund?

How does the FTA funding cycle work?

What is value capture?

Why are job concentrations an important part of TOD?

0102030405060708

Contact Ron Reekes at Wendel to assist you with your TOD questions. 1.877.293.6335 or rreekes@wendelcompanies.com or visit transit.dot.gov/ for more information.

A TOD timeline

ConceptualizeBy planning for a TOD from the start, you can really ensure a successful outcome of your project.

StudyConduct the necessary environmental and economic impact studies for the potential sites.

Site SelectionAfter the sites

have been studied, one main site will

be selected for development.

PlanningHow does TOD fit in with your community master plan?

It’s never too late for TOD!

DesignThe design should be creative and responsible and focused on the user and the community.

ConstructionA TOD can be built upon an existing site, in an existing neighborhood or on a clean parcel of land.

EnjoyAfter a TOD is constructed, citizens can start to enjoy their new community.

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