News & Research
February 3, 2010 This is important news for The TOD Group who is owner and master developer of a 21-acre parcel directly adjacent to the future “Federal” light rail station along Denver’s Gold Line corridor. The TOD Group intends on developing the 21-acre site into the Clear Creek Transit Village which is expected to be a national TOD model. For more information about the funding proposals, click on the following links from Denver Business Journal and Progressive Railroader. February 2, 2010 Among the keynote speakers at the Evacuation Conference will be General Honoré who was also interviewed for the USA Today article. Honoré is known for having coordinated military relief efforts after Katrina for the Gulf Coast. A link to the article can be found here. A link to the National Evacuation Conference can be found here. |
January 30, 2010 Dr. Renne discussed the increasing importance of TOD for the future of real estate development in the United States and what this could mean for New London. Renne urged increased collaboration among state and local entities who often have different strategic approaches to implementing TOD. Cities from the New Jersey Transit Village Initiative were considered as examples of municipalities that overcame many of the same obstacles New London now faces. A link to the forum's program can be found here. A newspaper article about the forum can be found here. |
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| Dr. Renne is pictured with New London Landmarks' Executive Director, Sandra Chalk |
| Dr. John L. Renne was part of a panel on "Safety, Livability and Sustainability" as part of the United States Department of Transportation's "Transportation Authorization National Outreach Tour." Dr. Renne's speech was a call to stakeholders to embrace public-private partnerships between "local government, transit agencies and developers to create sustainable communities. Renne also urged the United States Department of Transportation to adopt a strategic planning framework that would identify and link employment centers to rapid transit, implement density and design standards, and create a public-private funding mechanism to build and connect TODs with transit. |  |
A link to Dr. Renne's speech can be found here.
Ashgate publishers recently released Transit-Oriented Development: Making It Happen, coedited by Dr. John L. Renne, Managing Director of The TOD Group along with editors Professor Carey Curtis of Curtin University in Australia and Professor Luca Bertolini of the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Renne is also the author of a chapter in the book called 'Measuring the Success of Transit Oriented Development' along with coathoring the introductory and concluding chapters. This volume brings together the different stakeholders and disciplines that are involved in the conception and implementation of TOD to provide a comprehensive overview of the realization of this concept in Australia, North America and Europe. Contributors include prominent scholars and practitioners from across the globe including Professor Robert Cervero, Professor Peter Newman, and Ms. Marilee Utter who are also Advisory Board members of The TOD Group. |
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Transit Oriented Development: Making It Happen - announcement from Ashgate
Dr. Renne publishes a chapter "Evaluating Transit-Oriented Development Using a Sustainability Framework" in Planning Sustainable Communities (University of Calgary - Cities, Policy & Planning Research Series 2009) Edited by Sasha Tsenkova
Abstract: Planners and urban designers across the globe are promoting transit-oriented development (TOD) to encourage sustainable precincts around public transport stations. TODs are compact, mixed-use developments that facilitate walking, bicycling, and use of public transport through its urban design. This article presents a method to evaluate the sustainability of TODs based on six aspects of outcomes, including 1. Travel Behaviour, 2. The Local Economy, 3. The Natural Environment, 4. The Built Environment, 5. The Social Environment, and 6. The Policy Context. Data were collected in five rail precincts across Perth, Western Australia. The major goal of the study was to determine which indicators were possible to collect and establish baseline data.
Dr. Renne publishes "From Transit-Adjacent to Transit-Oriented Development" in the journal Local Environment
Abstract: Downtown Berkeley, Hayward, and Fremont are three Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations
with different surrounding built environments. Berkeley is located in a downtown setting,
whereas Hayward and Fremont are located in the suburbs. Fremont is the most auto-dominated,
whereas Hayward is a hybrid between being a transit-oriented and transit-adjacent
development. Downtown Berkeley exemplifies the aims of many planners across
the USA who are working to promote transit-oriented development (TOD). This study helps
to confirm the importance of a quality built environment upon travel behaviour and vehicle
ownership through an analysis of the three BART stations listed above. This article presents
a transit-adjacent development – TOD spectrum that may help planners and policy makers
better understand what is and what is not a TOD.
Dr. Renne publishes "Smart Growth and Transit-Oriented Development at the State Level: Lessons from California, New Jersey, and Western Australia" in the Journal of Public Transportation
Abstract: The states of California, New Jersey, and Western Australia encourage smart growth through the employment of transit-oriented development (TOD). This article documents each state’s approach and highlights the importance of interagency cooperation at the state-level and intergovernmental cooperation between state and local governments. This article discusses the importance of state government participation in the planning and creation of policy to facilitate TOD and recommends elements for a model state TOD program.
The TOD Group Advisor, Professor Robert Cervero, Publishes Effects of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel (TCRP Report 128) with G.B. Arrington
TCRP Report 128: Effects of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel provides original data on TOD residential trip generation and parking, the behavior and motivation of TOD residents, employees, and employers in their mode choice. The report also identifies best practices to promote, maintain, and improve TOD-related transit ridership.
Dr. Renne advises key policy makers and developers in Australia on building TODs
In June 2008, Dr. John Renne met with key policy makers and developers in Australia to provide advice on how to facilitate TOD in Melbourne and Perth. Dr. Renne gave invited lectures to key policy makers in Melbourne, Victoria hosted by the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability. In Perth, Dr. Renne gave invited lectures to the Western Australian Department for Planning and Infrastructure, LandCorp, the Satterley Property Group, the Public Transport Authority. Dr. Renne also led two workshops on implementing TOD hosted by the Planning and Transport Research Centre.The TOD Group hired by the Transportation Research Board to conduct a national study of TODs
The TOD Group was was hired by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to conduct a national study of joint developments and legal issues in TODs. The study is being led by The TOD Group's Managing Director, Dr. John L. Renne, in partnership with Keith Bartholomew, a leading environmental attorney and an expert on land use and transportation integration. Mr. Bartholomew is an author of Growing Cooler: The Evidence of Urban Development and Climate Change, published by the Urban Land Institute (2008). The TOD study will be completed in 2009.
