These neighborhoods are characterized by their compact design, higher density, and diversity of uses. They provide a range of transportation options that enable residents and workers to drive their cars less while walking, biking, and taking mass transit more often. DVRPC has developed a rating system that evaluates a number of physical, demographic, and economic characteristics in order to identify TOD opportunities throughout the region. These ratings are designed to provide public officials, planners, transit operators, developers, and citizens with resources that can help guide public and private investment at rail stations.
Greater Philadelphia’s extensive and varied rail infrastructure is one of the region’s greatest assets. This infrastructure has shaped the historical growth and development of the region and helped to create many of our most recognizable and cherished communities. Today, TOD remains an integral part of a centers-based development strategy because it can enhance access to jobs, promote healthy and active lifestyles, and create vibrant communities that help to meet the needs of a changing population.
The rating system developed for this study provides a broad sense of how individual station areas compare across a variety of factors that establish the foundation for TOD. Station areas that possess quality transit service, strong market demand, and local government support may be good candidates for TOD. See Rating TOD Opportunities for more information on the specific evaluation criteria.
It is important to note that these scores represent a generalized assessment of TOD opportunities in our region. Lower ratings should not discourage proactive planning efforts designed to make a station area more vibrant, accessible, or attractive. Instead, lower scores can help guide the efforts of those wishing to encourage TOD in a specific location.
DVRPC used 12 individual attributes divided into two categories to evaluate the TOD readiness of station areas throughout the region. To create an easily understood rating system, each factor was rated on a scale of one to four (with four being most supportive of TOD). Composite scores for each category were generated by averaging the scores of individual attributes within each category.
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Andrew Svekla
Senior Planning and Design Analyst
Office of Smart Growth
Phone: 215-238-2810
Email: asvekla@dvrpc.org
