World Resource Institute (WRI) India’s recent publication titled ‘Jobs near metro rail transit in Bengaluru: Enabling an accessible and productive city’.
- It underscores the critical need for integrated spatio-economic planning and bringing jobs closer to transit through Transit Oriented Development (TOD).
Background
- India’s 2017 National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy promotes urban planning around mass transit hubs, enhancing mobility and economic growth.
- With ₹3 trillion in metro rail projects (between 2022–2027) underway, 27 cities are integrating TOD to maximise urban and economic benefits.
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The 3V Approach of the World Bank for Transit Oriented Development
- In Transit-Oriented Development, no size fits all.
- Understanding where, when, and how potential value can be created requires highlighting the importance of different stations in a mass transit network.
- The World Bank Group has developed a methodology called the 3V Framework :
- Node Value: It describes the importance of a station in a public transit network based on its passenger traffic volume, intramodality, and centrally within the network.
- Place Value: It describes the quality of urban fabric around the station; in particular its pedestrian accessibility, local accessibility to shops, schools, and healthcare.
- Market Potential Value: It describes the unrealised market value of station areas.
- It depends on demands including current and future human densities, developable land, and market vibrancy.
- Significance of 3V Approach: The framework provides policy and decision-makers with clear indicators to understand how the city’s economic goals, land use, and mass transit network interact.
- It outlines planning and implementation measures for different clusters of stations that enable judicious use of limited public resources.
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Transit Oriented Development
- About: Transit Oriented Development or TOD is densification around nodes and corridors of public transit so that households can live in close proximity to their jobs.
- TOD focuses on creation of high density mixed land use development in the influence zone of transit stations, i.e. within the walking distance of (500-800 m)
- It enables them to walk to work or use public transit when required instead of depending on private vehicles.
- It promotes urban development that is compact, mixed-use, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, and closely integrated with mass transit by clustering jobs, housing, services, and amenities around public transport stations.
- Based on Premise: TOD is based on the premise that economic growth, urban transport, and land use can be managed more efficiently if planned together.
- Examples: TOD has been successfully applied at a city scale in cities around the world including Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hong Kong SAR, Tokyo, and Singapore.
- Figure shows : TOD along Transit Stations
Benefits of Transit-Oriented Development
- Reduction in commutation time: Reduce the need to Commute and thereby, reduce traffic and congestion in the streets as well as reduce pollution caused by vehicles
- Enable efficient use of available land.
- Agglomeration Effects: Promoting higher densities and the concentration of jobs within relatively small areas, TOD creates agglomeration effects proven to boost a city’s competitiveness.
- Studies have shown that doubling job density, for instance, increases economic productivity by 5 to 10%.
- This concentration creates vibrant communities with high-quality public areas and shorter commuting distances making cities more livable.
- Boost Real Estate Value: Proximity to mass transit improves access to TOD neighbourhoods, boosting their attractiveness and increasing real estate value.
- Enable healthy and active lifestyles by creating walkable communities: TOD promotes walking, cycling, and public transit to decrease reliance on personal vehicles.
- Improves the financial Viability of the Public Transport System: TOD increases the accessibility of the transit stations by creating pedestrian and Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) friendly infrastructure that benefits a large number of people, thereby increasing the ridership of the transit facility and improving the economic and financial viability of the system.
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Transit Oriented Development Essentials
- High-Quality Public Transit Network: Example: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) (Ahmedabad) – Metro (Delhi) – Commuter Rail (Mumbai)
- Intensification of land utilisation: for higher Household per sq.km, People per sq.km and Jobs per sq.km
- Affordable housing in close proximity to public transit: to enable lower income families to access jobs
- Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure: to ensure access to public transit (last mile connectivity)
- Mix of activities and uses: to reduce distances travelled for work or for recreation
- Urban design that enhances quality of the built and open spaces for all user groups.
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Way Forward for Enabling Transit Oriented Development
- Coordinated Planning Across Sectors: Realising Transit-Oriented Development (ToD) necessitates collaborative efforts across various sectors.
- There is a need to integrate ToD as a key component in the city’s master plan, identifying urban centres that align with the mass transport network and infrastructure.
- Promotion of Mixed Land Use: Mixed land use should be stipulated for development/ redevelopment in the TOD zone as it would reduce the need for travel by providing most of the activities such as shopping, entertainment and public amenities such as schools, parks, playgrounds, hospitals etc. within the walking distance of the residents.
- Enhancing Transit Accessibility: There is a need to implement policies that favour public transport, such as reducing parking availability in urban areas and promoting public transit use over private vehicles.
- Multimodal Integration : Integrated multimodal transport systems should ensure seamless connectivity and user-friendly design.
- Adequate parking and pickup/drop-off zones are essential to prevent congestion and enhance first and last mile connectivity around transit stations.
- Focus on pedestrians, cyclists and Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) users: The streets should be designed for users of all age groups and for all types of commuters including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders. They should be safe and accessible by all.
- Localised Implementation for Demonstration: Cities can start ToD projects in manageable, localised areas near city centres.
- These successful projects can serve as demonstrations for scaling up ToD efforts in other areas, boosting confidence and replicating successful models.
- Learning from International Examples: Adapt strategies and practices that have proven effective in other cities to fit the local context and needs.
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September 24, 2024
