The Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) recently partnered with Smart Growth America to host an informational webinar Thursday at 1 p.m.
Public transit improves local economies as well as neighborhoods. One example is the Metrorail Green Line in Washington, D.C., which extends into the neighborhood of the Southeast Navy Yard. After the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) used new investments to make significant improvements to this transit, the industrial district was neglected. Today, it is a mixed-use community that is dedicated to federal as well as city agency and corporate offices, condos, neighborhood retail shops, new restaurants, grocery stores, new apartments and a riverfront park.
This outcome, called “transit-oriented development” (TOD) is the process that changes neglected areas into compact, mixed-use communities where people want to work, live and spend time. These areas have housing available for a wide range of incomes, environments conducive to fitness, jobs and luxuries like retail, venues and parks.
Therefore, the FTA recently began a National TOD Ladders of Opportunity Technical Assistance Initiative. This is program is designed to help communities learn how to apply transit projects in such a way that TODs will give their communities positive changes as well.
Those who are interested in learning more about TOD program can attend the webinar. Registration is required.
