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What are some strategies to reducing the need for automobiles in a TOD?* The integration of housing within a TOD provides residents with direct access to transit, while increasing ridership. Households with convenient access to mass transit will likely be able to avoid the significant cost of owning and maintaining a second car, which can result in savings of several thousand dollars annually. A Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) study found that TOD residents made 44 percent fewer automobile trips than estimated by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) manual. The same study recommended reducing parking ratios in residential TODs by as much as 50 percent (Arrington, 2008). Car sharing services (such as Zip Car) can further eliminate or reduce the need for a primary or secondary car in a TOD environment. These programs provide residents, employees and commuters quick and easy access to a car when needed. Residents can rent from a fleet of vehicles on an hourly basis and park them in specially designated spaces throughout the community. These vehicles are easily accessible, and members can reserve their cars in advance. * Federal, State, and Local codes govern most of these requirements and should be thoroughly investigated. Data presented herein should be considered guidelines only. For more specific information, please contact TimHaahs via email at info@TimHaahs.com |