Framework of Sustainable Transit Communities
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FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, CITY OF LOS ANGELES FEBRUARY 2011 This is a project for the City of Los Angeles (City) with funding provided by the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Compass Blueprint Program. Compass Blueprint assists Southern California cities and other organizations in evaluating planning options and stimulating development consistent with the region’s goals. Compass Blueprint tools support visioning efforts, infill analyses, and marketing and communications programs. The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant(s) from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in accordance with the provision under the Metropolitan Planning Program as set forth in Section 104(f) of Title 23 of the U.S. Code. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of SCAG, DOT, or the State of California. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. SCAG shall not be responsible for the City’s future use or adaptation of the report. FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, CITY OF LOS ANGELES FEBRUARY 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 3 OVERVIEW OF THE FRAMEWORK 4 Mix and Vitality of Uses 9 Well-Defined Sense of Place 11 Walkability and the Pedestrian Realm 14 Multimodal Transportation System 17 Environmental Sustainability 21 TYPES OF STATION AREAS 23 Suburban Neighborhood 23 Neighborhood Center 24 Office/Industrial District 24 Transit Neighborhood 25 Mixed-Use Center 25 Business District 26 Urban Neighborhood 26 Urban Center 27 Central Business District (CBD)/Special District 29 CREATING BALANCED SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES 30 Encouraging Balance 32 Station Areas That Benefit from Balance 33 Balancing Low-Intensity Place Types 34 Balancing Moderate-Intensity Place Types 35 Balancing High-Intensity Place Types 37 CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION The city of Los Angeles has a first-class system of public transit ridership and a reduction in private automobile use. transportation, operated by the Los Angeles County Ideally, an STC provides job opportunities as well as places to Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). While Metro’s live. many bus lines are a crucial part of its service, the backbone of Metro’s system is its rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines. As part of his 2008 Housing That Works plan—a five-year, These lines provide frequent, rapid service that connects from $5 billion housing plan for the City of Los Angeles—Mayor Los Angeles’ center to many different outlying neighborhoods. Antonio Villaraigosa announced a goal of creating 20 new STCs. As of 2010, the City has already created plans to transform 10 The station areas around each of Los Angeles’ rail and BRT station areas into STCs, and it is preparing to plan for 10 more. stations—typically defined as the land within a half-mile radius of the station—are ideal places to leverage Metro’s investment in This report describes the key principles for creating successful its transit infrastructure. By encouraging new transit-oriented STCs. These principles will be incorporated into future planning development (TOD) in these station areas, the City is already efforts. Many of these principles can be implemented by the City helping to provide new housing and jobs for Los Angeles’ through public improvements. Others will require cooperation residents. The City is also encouraging the rehabilitation of from private developers as they construct new buildings and existing buildings, helping to retain the homes and jobs that rehabilitate Los Angeles’ existing stock of buildings. In some already exist. In addition, the City is undertaking its own cases, public/private partnerships may be the most effective way development projects on City-owned land to catalyze change. to translate these principles into successful, thriving STCs. To further these efforts, the City is working to create Sustainable In addition, this report explains how Los Angeles’ station areas Transit Communities (STCs) around its rail and BRT stations. can be classified into different “place types,” which provide a An STC is a walkable neighborhood that takes advantage of further aid to planning for STCs. The report also describes its proximity to a major transit station. While it may include how to create truly balanced STCs that include a mix of housing single-family neighborhoods, it also provides higher-density, and employment-generating uses, such as offices and cleantech mixed-use development near the transit station, encouraging enterprises. FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES 1 OVERVIEW OF THE FRAMEWORK This Framework of Sustainable Transit Communities identifies the qualities that ideally would be present in every Sustainable Transit Community (STC). When an STC has all of these qualities, it becomes a vibrant, thriving place with a strong local economy, encouraging further investment by private landowners and developers. Some of Los Angeles’ Metro station areas have many of these qualities today. Others will need public and private investment to improve their existing land uses, streets, and built fabric. In either case, the principles in this Framework can serve as a guide for transforming Metro station areas into STCs. A more detailed version of this Framework is available separately as a technical memorandum. The detailed version includes a tool for rating the quality of station areas based on the Framework. This tool provides a convenient way to compare station areas to one another, so the City can prioritize its investments as it works to create STCs. Mix and Vitality of Uses Well-Defined Sense of Place Walkability and the Pedestrian Realm Multimodal Transportation System Environmental Sustainability FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES 3 MIX AND VITALITY OF USES A Sustainable Transit Community needs to include a diverse mix of land uses that provide the types of housing, employment, goods, and services that people rely upon in their daily lives. Having access to a diverse mix of uses helps create a vibrant community and healthy local economy. HOUSING Housing is an essential component of a Sustainable Transit Community. When people live within walking distance of a transit station, they have a strong incentive to use public transit for at least some of their trips. They also create activity in the station area in the evening, after many workers have gone home. An ideal STC would have a variety of housing types, such as townhomes, apartments, condominiums, and potentially even single-family homes. In addition, the housing should be affordable for the people living in the area. While housing affordability is an issue throughout Los Angeles, many station areas present an opportunity to develop affordable housing in a place where residents would have access to transit and other services. Housing in an STC may take many forms. It can include a mix of residential densities, as seen in the area surrounding the Pico/ Aliso station, on the Gold Line Extension. It can even include high-density residential towers in some places, such as those found near the Hollywood/Vine station on the Red Line. above High-density housing in a mixed-use building near the 7th Street/Metro Center station left Small-lot single-family homes near the Pico/Aliso station 4 OVERVIEW OF THE FRAMEWORK EVERYDAY USES A Sustainable Transit Community needs access to everyday uses—the places where workers and residents go shopping, eat a meal, attend school, play outdoors, or run errands. These uses are part of the backbone of a healthy STC. The quality of these everyday uses is also important. For example, rather than being dominated by convenience stores and fast- food restaurants, STCs should contain a wide variety of food choices, including access to healthier options such as grocery stores and farmers’ markets. These uses can be accommodated even in a highly urban environment. For example, grocery stores are located within a short walk of the Hollywood/Vine station on the Red Line and the 7th Street/Metro Center station on the Red, Blue, and Expo lines. The Crenshaw station on the Expo Line is an example of a lower-density station area that has a large grocery store and other everyday uses within walking distance of the station. top left Drugstore near the 7th Street/Metro Center station top right Produce market near the Highland Park station right Grocery Store near the 7th Street/Metro Center Station FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT COMMUNITIES 5 ATTRACTIONS Local and regional attractions, ranging from movie theaters to amusement parks, can help to create activity and economic vibrancy in a Sustainable Transit Community. Although most station areas do not include large regional attractions, many contain smaller attractions where people can enjoy local events and activities. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, accessible from the Civic Center station on the Red and Purple Lines, is an example of a large regional attraction that brings people from throughout the Los Angeles area. Another major regional attraction is the Kodak Theatre, which is adjacent to the Hollywood/Highland station on the Red Line. Local attractions can be found at the Warner Center station on the Orange Line, which is located near a large mall with a 16-screen movie theater. Similarly, the historic El Portal Theater is a local entertainment venue located near the North Hollywood station, on the Red and Orange Lines. top Walt Disney Concert Hall near the Civic Center station above Southwest Museum of the American Indian, near the Southwest Museum station 6 OVERVIEW OF THE FRAMEWORK COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS Colleges and universities, as well as vocational schools that teach a specific profession or trade, can also be an important part of a Sustainable Transit Community.