'DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED TRANSIT' EMPHASIZES STATION DESIGN

Development-oriented transit (DOT) is a variation on the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) that concentrates on designing transit stations to be more fully integrated into the community and more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians. As transit-oriented development becomes more widespread, developers are asking that transit properties themselves become more oriented toward development locally. DOT designs, for example, might eliminate parking around a transit hub, or disperse parking lots throughout the neighborhood so that the station is not cut off from pedestrians and bike users. Before any new transit facility was built, there would be a thorough assessment of the development potential of the surrounding properties to ensure that transit facilities were not located in blighted areas beyond saving. Even large park-and-ride lots can be reconfigured to create a sense of shared community space and accessibility.