“Transit Oriented Development at a Corridor Scale”

Providing affordable housing and developing local economies are daunting tasks for any governments in the world. They require a comprehensive approach, including political commitment, policies, regulations, laws, finance, behavior change and social issues and tools and instruments.  It is impossible to completely resolve these complex problems, within the realm of TOD.  However, it is important to address these challenges in the context of TOD as TOD is not only about creating economically efficient and environmentally friendly urban spaces. It should also help address the most serious problem facing many cities in developing countries: crippling urban poverty and deprivation. Land markets typically respond by increasing land prices in and around transit stations, which often displaces low‐income households  and smaller scale businesses and deprives economic opportunities for low‐income workers. Governments, in close collaboration with businesses and communities, should take measures to remedy the negative impact of gentrification and to make cities inclusive, by mainstreaming social development in TOD and ensuring that affordable housing is collocated with mass transit stations.  In this effort, cities should also understand that TOD can also increase opportunities through affordable housing and job creation that results from local economic development.