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FTA awards over $13 million for transit-oriented development projects

Posted: 21 November 2022 | | No comments yet

The federal funding will benefit 19 transit-oriented development projects that focus on strengthening local economies, as well as improving air quality and access to essential transportation services.

FTA awards more than $13 million for transit-oriented development projects

Credit: Miami-Dade County - City of Homestead will receive $533,000 to plan for TOD around three new BRT stations, as part of new South Dade TransitWay Corridor

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced 19 awards totalling approximately $13.1 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help boost local economies, fight climate change and provide more transportation options through development near new or expanded transit project corridors. 

These grants, funded by FTA’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning, support local strategies to increase transit access and encourage ridership through mixed-use and mixed-income development near public transportation projects. The programme helps communities plan for opportunities created by new transit stations, such as affordable housing, economic development and better connections to schools, hospitals, stores and restaurants.  

“Transit stations represent access to jobs, schools, affordable housing and so much more,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more communities will be able to develop the areas around their transit stations, which will mean stronger local economies, cleaner air and better access to the essential services families rely on.” 

“FTA’s Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps communities examine ways to improve economic development and multimodal connectivity,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “When communities build new housing, retail, offices and other construction near transit, they advance environmental justice and promote equity, particularly to underserved communities, by increasing access to opportunity and enabling and encouraging the creation and preservation of affordable housing.”

FTA awards $8.6 million to improve transit for Native Tribes and Alaskan Villages

Planning projects have been selected for funding based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, which also marked the first time that applicants had been asked to prioritise TOD in areas with high incidence rates of homelessness. Nearly 89 per cent of the applicants selected for an award addressed homelessness within their planning proposals.

Some of the selected fiscal year 2022 projects include:   

  • The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) will receive $960,000 for a study of the Union Station/Civic Center Transit District that focuses on supporting equity, sustainability and connectivity to jobs around LA’s regional transit hub and historic downtown. The project will explore ways to expand housing and affordable housing opportunities as the city continues to invest in transit infrastructure, consider new commercial development opportunities and respond to a housing and homelessness crisis
  • The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) will receive nearly $1.5 million to plan for TOD along the Purple Line light rail project in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties
  • The City of Homestead, Florida, will receive $533,000 to plan for TOD around three new bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, which are part of the new South Dade TransitWay Corridor, currently under construction. 

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a total of $68.9 million in funding for the TOD Planning Program through 2026, a 38 per cent increase over the prior five years of funding.