Transit-Oriented Development

“Using case studies from cities around the world, Thomas and Bertolini unpack an understanding of the players, tools and processes involved in TOD so that we may learn how to succeed in our own context. This book will be of great interest to planning practitioners and scholars.”— Carey Curtis, Professor of City Planning and Transport, Curtin University, Australia
“Adopting a solutions-based approach and a global comparative perspective on TOD policy, practice and implementation, this book is a welcome addition to the planner’s bookshelf.”— Dominic Stead, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
This book uses international case studies to present insights on the policies, actors, and institutions that are critical to successful transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD has many potential benefits for cities and regions, and is considered a critical element in reshaping sprawling car-dependent urban regions into denser regions built around transit corridors. However, it is not a magic bullet solution for metropolitan transportation problems: challenges persist, such as displacement of local residents and regulatory barriers. How has TOD been successfully implemented? How can we integrate the positive aspects of TOD while minimizing its negative impacts? 
This book presents a study conducted at the University of Amsterdam, exploring 11 international case studies, including a meta-analysis, rough set analysis and policy transfer workshops. The authors discuss the findings and present solutions to persistent challenges to transit-oriented development. Additional literature on eTOD (equitable TOD) strategies, as a fundamental component of planning for regional transportation, shows that these approaches can result in more collaborative processes, community-led development that minimizes the negative impacts of transportation infrastructure. As our Dutch colleagues stated, TOD can be considered a policy concept that can be used as a story to unite people.
Ren Thomas is an Assistant Professor at the School of Planning at Dalhousie University, Canada 
Luca Bertolini is a Professor at the Department of Geography, Planning, and International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands