Good Transit Oriented Development (TOD) goes beyond just developing housing, office, and retail adjacent to transit. Good TOD integrates development into the fabric of a community to create a walkable, lively, mixed-use development that is centered around frequent and reliable transit. The increased transit ridership that results from Good TODs provides benefits to the community such as improved access to jobs and economic opportunities, increased sustainability, reduced dependence on automobiles and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.

In general, there are four major elements of Good TOD:

• Placemaking – supports a diverse community, establishes an engaging and vibrant public space, and promotes a compact and walkable urban environment;
• Mobility – ensures that transit is plentiful and easy to access by multiple transportation modes, such as bikes, privately owned cars, and shared mobility services;
• Economic value – builds upon transit investment to support local business, provide affordable housing and create jobs; and
• User experience – when the first three elements are done well, people that work, live and play with within a TOD experience a clear sense of community and local identity.

For the future Alum Rock/28th Street BART station, which is located within the Little Portugal neighborhood of San Jose, implementing the four major elements of Good TOD will help ensure the community’s rich history is integrated into the new station area. This history includes the Five Wounds Portuguese National Church that has been the heart and soul of the Little Portugal neighborhood since the early 1900s. Good TOD would incorporate architecture that mirrors that of the Church, as well as public art that depicts the rich history of the community. Good TOD would also include a public plaza where community events and celebrations can be held, as well as wayfinding that both provides the necessary directional information and also educates visitors about the community’s history.

How Can You Participate in Good TOD?

As part of our investment in VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project, VTA is completing the Transit-Oriented Development Corridor Strategies and Access Planning Study (TOD/Access Study) to help the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara realize their visions for TOD. The TOD/Access Study, builds on each community’s vision and will identify strategies and recommendations to enable walkable, lively BART station centered communities that include a range of uses, housing, and incomes.

Interested in learning more about the TOD/Access Study and TOD?

Join us for a series of TOD Workshops occurring April 16th through April 18th beginning at 5:45 PM. During these workshops, VTA will be previewing the Study’s proposed TOD strategies and recommendations to solicit community feedback. For additional details on the TOD Workshops, see Upcoming Meetings (http://www.vta.org/bart/upcomingmeetings), Phase II TOD/Access Study Workshops. For more information on the TOD/Access Study, visit our website: http://www.vta.org/bart/tod-access-study