The Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD) is dedicated to uncovering and deploying the best solutions for integrating community development with transit investments, resulting in an improved quality of life for all who live and work in the U.S.
CTOD believes that the current challenges facing communities across the United States – including rebuilding strong economies that benefit low- and moderate-income people, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of living for households, maximizing the efficiency of public investments, and sharing benefits equitably - can all be addressed through transit-oriented development (TOD). To that end, we define successful TOD as transit and community development investments that serve to reduce household budgets, expand housing choices in transit-rich locations, improve access to economic opportunity and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across a region.
CTOD was formed in 2004 to evaluate the first generation of TOD projects that emerged in the late 1990s and to make the business case for TOD the preferred alternative to urban sprawl. Since then, CTOD has raised the profile of TOD and built consensus among a growing body of stakeholders that through the appropriate policy, programmatic, and fiscal interventions, TOD can deliver on the promise of using resources more efficiently, creating more affordable lifestyles and disposable income, better job access, and catalyzing private investment.
For too long, the country has spent money on transportation and community development in individual silos without taking into consideration what might be achieved by integrating those investments. As a result, many people are stuck in long commutes, living in racially and economically exclusive communities without transportation options, and experiencing isolated pockets of investment and disinvestment. CTOD believes development must be viewed as building community, not as a commodity.
Despite a growing understanding and popularity of transit investment as an economic development driver and potential catalyst for community development, the ability to realize the benefits of TOD vary widely across communities. The variability of TOD success is most often based on real estate market conditions, regional economic conditions, governance and the strength of the nonprofit sector. CTOD is committed to conducting the research, developing the tools and engaging the necessary partners to help communities make their TOD efforts a success.