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What are the biggest mistakes that transit agencies, cities and developers make in developing TOD's? Find out the TOD Do's and Don'ts for creating successful communities around rail stops.

Learn about Austin's strategy to create transit-oriented developments.

Arlington, VA has used rail and transit-oriented development to significantly change land use patterns.

Addison and Plano and other North Texas communities using rail and TOD's to build tax base and improve their quality of life.

Portland, OR's Pearl District demonstrates how a community can transform a decaying industrial area into a vibrant mixed use area through rail and New Urbanist development principles.

home: tod myths and facts

myth 7: TOD's are a niche market.

myth 6: Anything next to a rail line is transit-oriented development.

myth 5: TOD's make so much money that they don't need public investment.

myth 4: TOD's are filled with tall buildings.

myth 3: The transit agency is not responsible for real estate development.

myth 2: Buses are just as good as rail at creating real estate value.

myth 1: Texans will never ride rail.

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Lake Forest TOD

A land use strategy focused on integrating rail transit and dense development around transit stops can significantly impact land use and a community's tax base.

Just look at Arlington, Virginia. Since Arlington implemented its "Bulls Eye" plan to run rail transit through the heart of its decaying commercial corridor and focus new development at the rail stops on this line, 75 percent of all new commercial development has located at its rail stops.

Over 30 million square feet of new development has located around Arlington's TOD's. Arlington had no downtown at all in the early 1980's; it now has one of the nation's five densest downtowns. Arlington now has the lowest tax rate in the DC metro area. And Arlington has accomplished all of this while still protecting its single family neighborhoods.

TOD's represent a chance to improve Austin's land use, tax base and quality of life. To achieve these goals, however, it's important to separate the myths from the facts about TOD's.

We all have a responsibility to do what's best for Austin. Rail and TOD's are not the only answer, but they are part of creating a better future for our community. Done right, they can play a very big part.