FTA awards $6.2 million in TOD planning grants

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $6.2 million in funding through the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning. The funds will go to nine projects in seven states and will help communities examine ways to improve economic development and multimodal connectivity and encourages mixed-use development near transit stations. 

"This $6.2 million in federal grants will help transit and public transportation in communities in seven states," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The Pilot Program for TOD Planning funds comprehensive planning projects near public transportation that improve access, encourage ridership and spur economic and mixed-use development.

"We are proud to support local transit agencies as they plan for TOD that better connects residents to jobs, education and essential services," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. "This funding will encourage economic development and capture the value transit brings to communities as they respond to and recover from the public health emergency."

The projects selected to receive funds include:

• The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department will receive $1 million to plan for TOD at three stations of the proposed 1.6-mile Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail project.
• San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District will receive $350,000 to plan for TOD at nine existing heavy rail BART stations along the green and orange lines from Fruitvale south to Warm Springs/South Fremont.
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Florida will receive $877,068 in funding to plan for TOD at four stations in the initial phase of the proposed 38.4-mile First Coast commuter rail project in Northeast Florida.
• Miami-Dade County will receive $900,000 in funding for TOD planning at four stations of the proposed Beach Corridor Bay Crossing Trunkline from the Miami Metromover to Miami Beach, and at six stations of the proposed extension of the Miami Metromover to NW 41st Street.
• The Town of Chapel Hill Transit Department in North Carolina will receive $592,500 to plan for TOD at 16 stations of the proposed 8.2-mile North-South BRT project, which will run along one of the town’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares stretching from Eubanks Road in the north to the Southern Village in the south.
• The North Carolina Department of Transportation will receive $900,000 to plan for TOD at 13 stations along a proposed passenger rail corridor between Sanford and Henderson, connecting rural and urban communities in the Triangle region.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia will receive $360,000 in funding to plan for TOD at five stations of the proposed four-mile King of Prussia rail extension of the Norristown High Speed Line.
• Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $900,000 to plan for TOD at 13 stations of the proposed Blue and Orange Line light-rail projects in the 12-mile North Lamar/Guadalupe/Riverside Corridor.
• The city of Madison, Wis., will receive $290,000 to plan for TOD at stations along the proposed 15.5-mile East-West BRT project that will operate through Madison's downtown and the University of Wisconsin campus areas.