Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Certification is a formal recognition or rating system that evaluates how well a development aligns with the principles and goals of TOD. The certification process helps ensure that a project supports sustainable, walkable, mixed-use development in close proximity to transit stations, encouraging the use of public transportation and reducing reliance on cars.
TOD certification can be granted by local authorities, transit agencies, or independent organizations based on a set of criteria designed to assess the quality of TOD implementation. These criteria may include factors such as land use, density, connectivity to transit, sustainability, and the overall walkability of the development.
Key Elements of TOD Certification
- Proximity to Transit
- Distance: The development must be within walking distance (typically 1/4 to 1/2 mile) of a transit station or corridor (e.g., train, metro, or bus rapid transit).
- Certification will assess how accessible the transit options are for residents, workers, and visitors to the area.
- Density and Mixed-Use Development
- TOD encourages higher-density development, such as multi-story buildings, which can accommodate more people and businesses in areas near transit hubs.
- A TOD-certified development should include mixed-use components—residential, commercial, retail, and recreational uses—so people can live, work, and play without the need for a car.
- Walkability and Pedestrian Infrastructure
- A key feature of TOD is creating pedestrian-friendly environments. This includes ensuring that streets are safe, well-lit, and connected, with sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and easy access to transit stations.
- The certification process will evaluate the pedestrian infrastructure and how it supports walkability, with an emphasis on reducing car dependence.
- Sustainable Design and Green Infrastructure
- TOD certification typically includes a focus on sustainability. This can include energy-efficient buildings, green roofs, stormwater management, and the use of eco-friendly materials.
- Projects may need to meet specific environmental standards or integrate green spaces, parks, and public areas to earn certification.
- Affordable Housing
- TOD policies often include provisions for affordable housing, ensuring that people from various income levels can live near transit stations.
- The certification may assess the percentage of affordable housing provided, whether the development complies with local affordable housing mandates, or if incentives are offered for including affordable units.
- Transit Accessibility and Integration
- Certification will evaluate the integration of the development with the broader transit network, ensuring that the development is well-served by transit and promotes multimodal transportation (e.g., walking, cycling, buses, trains).
- It may also involve assessing how well the development provides connections to other parts of the city, making it easy to transfer between different modes of transportation.
- Parking Management
- TOD typically reduces the need for parking spaces, as the goal is to encourage people to use public transportation rather than private vehicles.
- TOD certification might evaluate the parking ratio (fewer parking spaces are typically required in TOD areas) and how well the development incorporates strategies like shared or underground parking, car-sharing programs, and bike racks.
TOD Certification Programs
While there is no single national or international standard for TOD certification, several organizations and programs provide frameworks for TOD rating and certification. Some examples of TOD-related certification or rating systems include:
- LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)
- Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED-ND is a certification program that promotes sustainable urban design and planning. TOD projects can earn LEED-ND credits by meeting criteria for walkability, mixed-use development, and transit connectivity.
- LEED-ND evaluates a project’s sustainability, energy use, stormwater management, and its ability to create walkable, transit-friendly communities.
- The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)
- CNU promotes principles of New Urbanism, which aligns closely with TOD, focusing on creating dense, walkable, and transit-oriented urban spaces.
- CNU provides guidelines and resources for communities and developers to meet TOD goals and may certify developments that align with its principles.
- The National TOD Standard (U.S.)
- The National TOD Standard (developed by the Federal Transit Administration and the Center for Transit-Oriented Development) provides a set of guidelines and criteria for evaluating TOD projects in the United States. This standard helps communities measure whether their TOD projects are successful in meeting various TOD goals, including transit accessibility, density, and sustainability.
- Smart Growth America’s TOD Scorecard
- Smart Growth America developed a TOD scorecard to evaluate the performance of transit-oriented development. This scorecard helps cities, developers, and planners assess how well a TOD project meets key criteria such as accessibility, walkability, mixed-use integration, and environmental sustainability.
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) – TOD Guidelines
- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) offers guidelines for implementing TOD that help developers and municipalities create effective, sustainable, and equitable transit-oriented projects. While ULI does not offer a formal certification, it provides best practices and recommendations for TOD development.
TOD Certification Process
The process for obtaining TOD certification typically involves several steps:
- Pre-Assessment and Planning:
- Developers or planners conduct an initial assessment of their project against TOD principles. This includes evaluating the site’s proximity to transit, zoning laws, and planned infrastructure.
- Application for Certification:
- Once the project meets the necessary criteria, the developer submits an application for certification. This may require detailed documentation about the project’s design, transit integration, sustainability features, and community impact.
- Evaluation:
- The certifying agency evaluates the project based on a set of established criteria. This evaluation may include site visits, community input, and analysis of how the project integrates with the transit network.
- Certification Decision:
- After the evaluation, the agency grants certification or provides feedback for improvement. In some cases, projects may need to make adjustments before being certified.
- Post-Certification Monitoring:
- Some certification programs may involve ongoing monitoring to ensure that the TOD principles continue to be met over time, especially as the development is completed and occupied.
Benefits of TOD Certification
- Increased Property Value: TOD-certified areas often experience higher property values due to increased accessibility, improved walkability, and better transit connections.
- Attracts Investment: Developers and municipalities can use certification to attract private investment and public funding. Certification also serves as a marketing tool to attract businesses and residents who prioritize sustainability and transit access.
- Sustainability: TOD certification ensures that the development supports sustainable urban growth by reducing reliance on cars and promoting public transportation, which helps reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and create more livable cities.
- Improved Livability: TOD projects are often more pedestrian-friendly, integrated with green spaces, and well-connected to other parts of the city, improving the overall quality of life for residents.
- Environmental and Social Equity: TOD policies often encourage affordable housing and equitable access to transportation, improving social equity by providing low- and middle-income families with better access to transit and jobs.