Transit-Oriented Development
National
Transit-Oriented and Joint Development Study
Richmond
Transit Village Development Advisory Services
Richmond Redevelopment Agency and
BART
Portland Interstate MAX
Station Area Plans
Portland Development Commission, OR
Sacramento
Transit-Oriented Development Station Area Plans
Statewide
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Study
Del Norte
Place Transit Village Market Feasibility Study
New BART
Station Fiscal and Economic Impacts Analysis
Seattle
Light Rail Transit Station Area Development Planning
Palo Alto
Intermodal Transit Station and Area Plan
Union City BART Transit Village
Plan
TOD
Analysis for Sacramento Downtown/Natomas/Airport Extension
Evaluation
and Market Positioning for Transit-Oriented Retail
Fruitvale BART
Transit Village Financial Analysis
Evaluation of
Potential Transit System Extensions
National Transit-Oriented and
Joint Development Study
BAE served as a subconsultant to the Institute of Urban and Regional Development at the University of California, Berkeley to conduct a comprehensive look at the state of TOD and Joint Development projects throughout the U.S.. Led by Dr. Robert Cervero, the leading TOD expert in the country, with oversight from a distinguished panel of practitioners, the consultant team profiled successes and challenges facing transit agencies, local governments, and private developers. BAE conducted private developer case studies and surveys of lenders to highlight the dynamics of private sector participation in these emerging projects. BAE also conducted detailed case studies of successes and lessons learned for the Miami-Dade County region, and supported additional case studies for Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the District of Columbia. The final report profiles dozens of TOD projects and initiatives across the U.S., supported by hundreds of interviews, review of on-the-ground outcomes, and is richly illustrated with photos and graphics.
Richmond Transit Village
Development Advisory Services
Richmond Redevelopment Agency and BART
The Richmond BART station offers a unique opportunity for transit village development,
due to its location at the center of downtown Richmond and its status as the only combined
BART and Amtrak station. BAE’s work to facilitate development of the Transit Village
commenced with a development feasibility study for four parcels surrounding the station,
including market analyses, review of successful transit-oriented development projects,
outreach to 15 interested developers and organizations, schematic land use and design
plans, and a financial analysis of three alternatives. Public participation was
incorporated via three workshops. The Richmond Transit Village Plan was adopted by City
Council, and formed the basis of subsequent grant awards for $7M of station improvements.
BAE then assisted the Redevelopment Agency with a developer solicitation process,
including preparation of marketing materials, and site marketing. BAE served as the
financial advisor during the selection of the developer. This project is currently in
pre-development with the team of Olson Company and Calthorpe Associates.
Portland Interstate MAX Station Area
Plans
Working with an urban design firm, BAE provided market and financial feasibility analysis to create workable transit-oriented development strategies for an older, developed portion of Northeast Portland surrounding a planned MAX light rail extension. BAE work included market and financial studies of five station areas, participation in community planning process, and recommendations to integrate station area plans into a broader-based revitalization effort occurring in the surrounding area. This project received an Award of Excellence from the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2002.
Sacramento
Transit-Oriented Development Station Area Plans
BAE served as the real estate economist for a multidisciplinary team advising Sacramento Regional Transit on joint development opportunities for property surrounding existing and new light rail stations. The consultant team worked with a multi-agency steering committee and participated in an extensive community planning process to identify desired land uses and densities. BAE analyzed potential market demand and financial feasibility for office, residential, retail, and community facilities near each station. BAE work also included developing solicitation recommendations and creating marketing materials for TOD opportunities.
Statewide Transit-Oriented
Development (TOD) Study
Working with a transportation planner, BAE analyzed barriers and opportunities to encourage transit-oriented development projects throughout California. The study’s broad scope included analysis of past planning and implementation efforts, financing profiles of five successful projects, two developer panels to identify barriers and opportunities, and recommendations for state agency actions that will promote TOD and integrate its implementation within other state and local initiatives.
Del Norte Place Transit
Village Market Feasibility Study
BAE analyzed the market demand and competitive supply for the residential components of this mixed-use, mixed-income project near the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. This project also is distinguished by its transit-oriented development character, including reduced parking. The project, built in 1993, includes market-rate apartments, affordable elderly apartments, and ground floor retail uses. Del Norte Place has received numerous design and development awards for excellence, and been profiled by the New York Times and Urban Land as a model for transit-oriented development.
New BART Station Fiscal and
Economic Impacts Analysis
For this proposed BART station (part of the planned extension to SFO), BAE assessed the near and long term fiscal and economic impacts on the adjacent Tanforan Shopping Center as well as downtown San Bruno. The station proposal was controversial due to its perceived short-term impacts on merchants and property owners. BAE found that the fiscal impacts as well as the economic benefits outweighed the perception of negative impact, both in the short- and longer-term.
Seattle Light Rail
Transit Station Area Development Planning
As part of the City’s station area planning process, BAE was engaged to conduct a market assessment of six proposed station areas in the Southeast Corridor. BAE’s work included evaluation of demographic and economic trends; potential demand for retail, housing, and office uses; assessment of special purpose uses: and identification of transit-oriented development potential that would also create enhanced economic development opportunities for existing station area businesses. BAE’s work also included a summary of potential financing sources for joint development and economic development projects.
Palo Alto Intermodal Transit
Station and Area Plan
City of Palo Alto and Stanford University
BAE worked with a multidisciplinary team to develop a comprehensive redevelopment plan
for this multimodal transit station where commuter trains, bus service, bicycles,
pedestrians, and automobiles converge. With an estimated improvement cost of over $100
million, the plan involved numerous stakeholders including rail operators, bus operators,
the City of Palo Alto, Stanford University, and private property owners. In addition to
providing the infrastructure necessary for expanded transit operations, the plan also
envisions significant transit-oriented development. BAE’s work included advising the
team on the quantity and configuration of private development, analyzing the economic
benefits of improved transit access, and creating a financing strategy to implement the
plan.
San Mateo County, CA
This project involved extensive market analysis, fiscal impact analysis, and related economic analysis to support the Colma BART Specific Plan for a 100-acre site surrounding a new BART station. BAE work included full market studies for residential, office, and retail uses for northern San Mateo County. The plan, based on New Urbanist principles, is currently being implemented.
Union City BART Transit Village Plan
Working with an urban designer, BAE conducted a series of economic analyses to formulate a development plan for this core area station on the edge of Silicon Valley. The Union City BART station area faces a complex set of development challenges arising from different goals of the City, seeking Class A office space, and the primary property owner, PG&E, seeking more marketable residential uses. BAE’s work included financial analysis of mixed-use development scenarios and a fiscal impact analysis of various land uses to the City’s General Fund.
TOD Analysis for
Sacramento Downtown/Natomas/Airport Extension
BAE analyzed the feasibility of creating transit-oriented developments around Sacramento Regional Transit stations as part of the proposed light rail extension from Downtown to the Sacramento International Airport. BAE’s work included analyzing potential market demand within the study corridor, and assisting the consultant team in developing recommendations for preferred light rail alignments and station locations. BAE also conducted financial analysis for prototype station area development concepts and recommended corridor land use strategies to support transit oriented development.
Evaluation and Market
Positioning for Transit-Oriented Retail
BAE completed a broad evaluation of 10 retail districts in Arlington County, VA, located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. BAE evaluated the success of each district and recommended repositioning strategies to broaden attraction and create a stronger 18-hour urban entertainment focus for retailing in the region. Five of the districts studied were high-density, transit-oriented retail environments surrounding Metro stations.
Fruitvale BART Transit Village
Financial Analysis
This Transit Village is planned as the cornerstone project for revitalization of the Fruitvale district in Oakland, a primarily Latino-oriented commercial area. The Fruitvale Transit Village will contain a mix of retail, residential, office, and community service uses, along with a large plaza with a farmers’ market, and is the result of more than three years of intensive community planning and visioning. BAE conducted a detailed financial analysis of the project, its funding sources and uses, and its financing gaps. BAE’s work was used to successfully apply for a HUD Section 108/EDI grant.
West Hyattsville TOD Plan
Maryland Department of Transportation & Prince George’s County, MD
The West Hyattsville Transit Oriented Development Strategy received the 2004 AASHTO Best
Project of the Year Award for Smart Growth and Sustainable Transportation Initiatives. In
2002, PB was retained by the State of Maryland to study the transit-oriented development
(TOD) potential of the area surrounding the existing Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority (WMATA) Metro station in West Hyattsville, MD. The study involved the assessment
of development opportunities and constraints, the creation of three alternative TOD
scenarios, and the creation of a final master development plan, which envisions a transit
village with 3,600 residential units, one million square feet of commercial space, and an
extensive system of parks and open space.
Evaluation of Potential Transit
System Extensions
To guide system planning to the year 2025, WMATA undertook an analysis of potential system extensions throughout the District. BAE participated in the multi-disciplinary analysis, assessing the extent to which each line would complement the District’s economic development priorities. BAE’s work also included a detailed fiscal impact analysis of the alternative lines to compare potential tax returns to the District.
