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7 STATION AREA STATION AREA PLANNINGPLANNING

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7 Station Area Planning

IntroductionThis is one of seven Transit Oriented Development training modules developed by the Regional Plan Association, the Project for Public Spaces and Reconnecting America under contract to the New York State Department of Transportation in collaboration with the New York State Thruway Authority and MTA/Metro-North Railroad. The modules were presented and tested in one-day training sessions in two counties and two-day training sessions in eight municipalities, all in the lower Hudson Valley. Each module is, largely, the culmination of the versions used in the training sessions. The seven modules are as follow.

Module 1: Building Quality communities Around TransitModule 2: Changing Street Design to Support Liveable DevelopmentModule 3: Smart ParkingModule 4: Creating Great Places Around TransitModule 5: Regulations and Financing Tools for TODModule 6: Building Mixed Income Communities Around TransitModule 7: Station Area Planning

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7 Station Area Planning

Key Concepts and Definitions

Station Area Planning Process

1. Define the Station Area.

2. Identify the (appropriate) Place Type.

3. Create a vision with Development Objectives and Guidelines.

4. Develop and implement strategies to establish a Station Area Plan.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Key Concepts and DefinitionsWhat defines a Station Area?

The Station Area generally refers to the half-mile radius around the station.

San Leandro BART Station

Half-mile radius

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7 Station Area Planning

Key Concepts and Key Concepts and Definitions Definitions

What is a Place Type?What is a Place Type? It defines the land uses and

activities around a station area. It helps guide planning for

particular station areas. It explains the diversity of TOD

opportunities. It documents what exists, and forms

the base for planning for the future.

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7 Station Area Planning

Key Concepts: Key Concepts: Place Types Place Types

• Regional Center• Urban Center• Suburban Center• Transit Town Center• Urban Neighborhood• Transit Neighborhood• Special Use /

EmploymentDistrict• Mixed-Use Corridor

Pearl Station -Denver, CO

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7 Station Area Planning

How to Identify a TOD Place How to Identify a TOD Place Type? Type?

What are the characteristics of the station area? What is the transit mode? What is the peak frequency of transit? What is daily average and peak transit ridership? What is the land use mix and density? What are the retail and employment

characteristics? What are the major planning and development

challenges?

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7 Station Area Planning

Typology of Place TypesTypology of Place Types

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7 Station Area Planning

Development Guidelines for Development Guidelines for TOD Place TypesTOD Place Types

Housing Mix – New development (Single family, mid-rise, townhouse etc.).

Station Area Total Units–The number and density of units planned for the station area.

Planned retail, commercial and institutional development in the station area.

Station Area Total Jobs – Potential of new jobs in the station area.

Minimum FAR – Floor-Area-Ratio – Determines the appropriate mix of building types.

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7 Station Area Planning

Station Area Planning TypologiesStation Area Planning Typologies• Residential Buildings• Mixed-Use Buildings• Commercial • Civic and Open Space

Residential Building Types and Densities

Townhomes in Mountain View, CATownhomes in Mountain View, CA

Single-family in Chicago, IL

Single-family in Chicago, IL

Low-rise Low-rise apartments in apartments in

Plano, TXPlano, TX

Low-rise Low-rise apartments in apartments in

Plano, TXPlano, TX

Mixed-use in Washington, DCMixed-use in Washington, DC

Mid-rise in Metuchen, NJMid-rise in Metuchen, NJ

Mid-rise apartments in Tarrytown, NY

Mid-rise apartments in Tarrytown, NY

Mixed-UseCommercial and Retail Uses

Shopping center, Arlington, VAShopping center, Arlington, VAShopping center, Arlington, VAShopping center, Arlington, VA

Office mixed-use, Office mixed-use, Washington, DCWashington, DC

Office mixed-use, Office mixed-use, Washington, DCWashington, DC Shops, Scarsdale, NYShops, Scarsdale, NYShops, Scarsdale, NYShops, Scarsdale, NY

Ground floor restaurant, CAGround floor restaurant, CAMain street retail, NJMain street retail, NJMain street retail, NJMain street retail, NJ

Mixed-use in Morristown, NJMixed-use in Morristown, NJ

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Civic and Open SpaceCivic and Open Space

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

ChallengesNot One Size Fits All

Communities are different

• Intensity of uses• Mix of Uses• Existing residents and

workers• Sources of market

demand

Transit Stations are different

• Transit technology• Access modes• Location relative to community

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7 Station Area Planning

7 Strategies to Successful 7 Strategies to Successful Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

1. Generate meaningful community involvement.2. Maximize ridership with TOD.3. Design streets for all users.4. Create opportunities for affordable and

accessible living.5. Make great public places.6. Manage parking effectively.7. Maximize neighborhood and station connectivity.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 1: Generate Strategy 1: Generate Meaningful Community Meaningful Community

InvolvementInvolvement• Engage the public

early in the decision-making process.

• Plan the station and community together.

• Identify needs and opportunities.

• Set the vision and implementation steps.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 2: Strategy 2: Maximize Ridership With TODMaximize Ridership With TOD

• Create a mix of residential and non-residential uses to meet market needs.

• Analyze the impact of zoning requirements on potential densities.

• Use transit to support community activities and vision.

.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 3: Strategy 3: Design Streets Design Streets For All UsersFor All Users• Design street

patterns to support walking and biking.

• Make station area fully accessible to all users.

• Design station and station areas for safety.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 4: Create Strategy 4: Create Opportunities for Affordable Opportunities for Affordable

and Accessible Livingand Accessible Living• Capture the value of

transit to create funding mechanisms.

• Target affordable housing resources to station areas.

• Link a range of incomes and household types with other amenities.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 5: Strategy 5: Make Great Make Great Public SpacesPublic Spaces• Incorporate parks

and open space.

• Involve the community in the programming.

• Make the station a focal place for the community.

• Reflect local character.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 6: Manage Parking Effectively

• Analyze parking supply and demand.

• Consider innovative parking policies.

• Incorporate parking of different modes.

• Locate parking with sensitivity to context.

• Implement parking pricing strategies that encourage transit use.

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

Strategy 7: Maximize Neighborhood and Station

Connectivity• Provide high-quality

walking environment.• Minimize the distance

and time required to access the station.

• Incorporate way-finding elements.

• Provide real time transit information.

Case Studies To Put It All Case Studies To Put It All TogetherTogether

Case Study: Rahway New Case Study: Rahway New JerseyJersey

Before

After

• $7 million failed rehab

• $13 million renovation

• $1.5 million plaza constructed

• 4,500 Merck employees served

• 2002 TransitVillage Designation

Led by Mayor James Kennedy’s sustained support for downtown Transit-Oriented redevelopment

Case Study: Case Study: Rahway New Rahway New JerseyJerseyConstruction activity within the half-mile radius exceeded $105 million from 1999 to 2003:

• 136 unit luxury River Place Development• 159 apartments and townhouses plus retail space• 3 major hotels• Mixed use development with movie theaters and artistic live/work space

Before

After

Case Study: Case Study: Gaslight Commons,Gaslight Commons,

South Orange, NJSouth Orange, NJ

• $34. 5 million Project• 200 Condo Units• Near Sloan Street NJT Station• 65 percent take transit to work• 1.35 cars per unit• 6 x Tax Revenue• 0,02 School age children per unit

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7 Station Area PlanningStation Area Planning

What Goes Into a GoodWhat Goes Into a GoodStation Area Plan?Station Area Plan?

Community Engagement and Vision

Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Innovative Design

Community and Station Connectivity

Public Investments in Roads, Parks, etc

Implementation and Financing Plan

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7QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?COMMENTS?COMMENTS?