TRANSIT SENSITIVE LAND USE DESIGN GUIDELINES

Previous work identified a set of guidelines that can be used to create situations where transit/pedestrian and bicycle facilities are used as a basis for land use design. These are shown in Table 1.

There are three major guideline categories: (1) Administration and Policy, (2) Systems Planning, and (3) guidelines related to the Design of the Transit Corridor Districts. The systems planning and district planning guidelines each have three parts: land use, access to transit, and transit operations guidelines. Systems planning deals with the overall location of transit corridor districts, access to public transit and general rules for the operation of transit services. District level planning relate to the way in which land uses P>are arranged within a transit corridor district, how access is provided and how transit services are accommodated. Policy guidelines are not site specific and relate to how things are implemented, who has input in the process and how services and areas are managed. <

Table 1: Transit Sensitive Land Use Design Guidelines

Administration and Policy Guidelines

• Modify state and local policies to include transit as an element of land development .
• Zoning should encourage transit-sensitive land use design through the designation of Transit Corridor Districts (TCDs) .
• Provide for transit-sensitive review of site plans and development proposals .
• Provide transit checklist for potential developers .
• Parking requirements in TCDs should reflect availability of transit services .
• Establish a Transportation Management Association to oversee transportation services and land use development along the transit corridor.
• Provide a mechanism for transfer of development rights (TDRs) for the land surrounding the TCDs.
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• Predesignate a future system of transit corridors.
• Separate transit-oriented and auto-oriented land uses.
• Establish transit service zones along existing arterials.
• Explore public/private opportunities for transit stop joint development.
• Provide adequate population size and density to support transit use.
• Design for a phase implementation of transit corridors.

Access Systems

• Control of through automobile traffic.
• Use corridor for primary pedestrian, bicycle and transit movement.
• Avoid need for shuttle service

Transit Services

• Highway/transit relationship
• Provide high quality transit service.
• Transit vehicles should be quiet and have low air pollution levels.
• Identity: Signage and compatibility of stops.

District Level Guidelines

• Designate type and location of transit
• Provide mixed land use including housing, office, retail, light industrial and recreational uses.
• Relate design to market.
• Provide variety within the district.
• Land use density gradient.
• Utilize appropriate land use adjacencies.
• Provide recreational opportunities and amenities.
• Accommodate multiple developers and development patterns.
• Relate the design and connections of adjacent developments across `seams'
• Parking density gradient.
• Develop a program to encourage shared parking facilities.
• Minimize the distance between building entrances and transit stops; provide logical connections between buildings and transit.
• Building location and design should be sensitive to transit-generated noise and views.

 Access Systems

• Pedestrian/bicycle pathway system.
• Provide for safe, convenient pedestrian circulation.
• Promote bicycle access through high quality pathways and secure storage systems.
• Provide for feeder bus and auto access points.

• Technological and infrastructure flexibility.
• Provide for high level geometric design of transit corridors.
• Provide for handicapped access.
• Provide for passenger safety and security.
• Provide regular maintenance at transit stops.

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