Encouraging transit-friendly policies and investment in walking and biking infrastructure for the more than 200 communities within the RTA region will help improve transportation for all. Equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) is development that enables all people to experience the benefits of dense, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development near transit. There is strong evidence that eTOD is particularly important in mitigating the effects of gentrification and the impact that unequal housing costs can have.

The RTA’s Community Planning and Access to Transit programs have helped local governments plan for multi-modal, pedestrian friendly, sustainable communities near transit stations and along transit corridors and complete capital projects that make transit more accessible by foot and bike. Even with these programs, there is still work to be done across the region in continuing to maximize the value of transit and to making sure that there is equitable access to affordable housing near transit. 

Stakeholder working groups proposed continuing many of the existing RTA efforts to work with communities to plan for transit supportive development at and around stations and stops, and ways to directly engage with residents and riders on how best to improve access to transit. Additionally, working groups pressed for the creation of more units of affordable, accessible, multi-family housing while preventing displacement of current residents from transit-rich neighborhoods and communities.

RTA is proactively reaching out to communities to apply and participate in RTA’s and CMAP’s funding programs to build more transit-friendly neighborhoods. RTA has released the Transit-Friendly Communities Guide to support communities that host transit services in improving accessibility, walkability, and sustainability to ensure that our riders can travel safely and efficiently.