Accessibility and Transit-Oriented Development

International Council of Shopping Centers: Research Connections Denver, Colorado 29 September 2014 The Reshaping of Land Use and Urban Form in Denver Through Transit- Oriented Development

Dr. Andrew R. Goetz Dr. Keith A. Ratner Department of Geography & the Environment Department of Geography University of Denver Salem State University Denver, Colorado Salem, Massachusetts

NCIT Research Project

National Center for Intermodal Transportation (University of Denver and Mississippi State University)  “Evaluating Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Denver, Colorado”

Support for Rail Transit and TOD Rapidly growing, mind-numbing traffic congestion nation-wide and desire for multi-modal alternatives Higher gasoline prices and increased costs of car ownership and use Growing distaste for suburbia and “fry-pit” strip development Growing desire for more walkable urban lifestyles away from traffic Changes in family structures: more singles, empty-nesters, aging population, etc New rail transit systems—focus of federal, state, and local policy US Rail Transit Systems  commuter rail (2006) Albuquerque  Nashville commuter rail (2006)  rapid transit (1971) Atlanta  Newark light rail (1935), commuter rail  light rail (1992), rapid transit (1983), Baltimore  New Orleans streetcar (1835) commuter rail  New York City rapid transit (1868), commuter  Boston light rail (1897), rapid transit (1901), rail commuter rail (1974)  Philadelphia streetcar (1858), light rail (1906),  Buffalo light rail (1985) rapid transit (1907), commuter rail  light rail (2004), rapid transit (1936) Camden  Phoenix light rail (2008)  rapid transit (1892), commuter rail Chicago  Pittsburgh light rail (1987) (1856)  Portland streetcar (2001), light rail (1986)  Cleveland light rail (1920), rapid transit (1955)  Sacramento light rail (1987)  Dallas streetcar (1989), light rail (1996),  light rail (1999) commuter rail (1996) Salt Lake City  San Diego light rail (1981), commuter rail (1995)  Denver light rail (1994)  San Francisco streetcar (1860), light rail (1918),  Galveston streetcar (1893) rapid transit (1972), commuter rail (1863)  Hoboken light rail (2000), rapid transit (1908),  light rail (1987), commuter rail (1998) commuter rail San Jose  Seattle light rail (2009), commuter rail (2000)  Houston light rail (2004)  St. Louis light rail (1993)  Kenosha streetcar (2002)  Syracuse commuter rail (1994)  Los Angeles light rail (1990), rapid transit (1993), commuter rail (1992)  Tacoma light rail (2003)  Memphis streetcar (1992)  Tampa streetcar (2002)  Miami rapid transit (1984), commuter rail (1987)  Washington D.C. light rail (under construction), rapid transit (1976), commuter rail  Minneapolis light rail (2004)

US Transit Ridership, 1995-2011

TOD and Accessibility Aspects of accessibility in relation to TOD Traditional transport/ land

use theory Transit provides increased access within a metro area to urban activities, thus improving the value of land near transit stations, and increasing land use activity at those sites

But, can new transit lines refocus higher density development within an automobile/highway- dominated urban landscape?

New rail transit lines Rail Transit Development in Denver Rail Transit Service in Denver Transportation Mode Shares in Denver

Reintroduction of rail transit has had a large impact on patterns of downtown commuting Denver Denver Denver Downtown City MSA US Avg Drive Alone 38.2% 68.6% 75.6% 76.3% Transit 44.6% 7.2% 4.4% 5.0% Carpool 5.4% 8.7% 9.1% 9.7% Bicycle 4.6% 2.9% 1.1% 0.6% Walk 3.7% 5.0% 2.4% 2.8%

Source: 2013 Downtown Denver Commuter Survey, 2012 U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) yearly estimates

Denver Rail Transit and Transit- Oriented Development (TOD) Development built or under construction along transit lines (RTD 2013):  27,172 housing units  6,788 hotel rooms  5.5m sq ft retail  6.8m sq ft office Source: Regional Transportation District, Transit-Oriented Development Status Report.

Source: Regional Transportation District, Transit-Oriented Development Status Report 2010.

Residential Development by Station Type

15% 26% Downtown

Major Urban Center

Main St. 12% Campus

Urban Neighborhood

Urban Center

23%

21% Non-Residential Development by Station Type

1% 4% 1%

7% Downtown

Major Urban Center

Campus 21%

Urban Center

Urban Neighborhood 66%

Main St. Reshaping of Urban Form in Denver

Source: DRCOG Regional Snapshot, Metro Vision 2035 Goals DRCOG Metro Vision 2035 Growth and Development Goals 1. Achieve a 10% increase in the region’s overall density between 2000 and 2035. 2. Accommodate 50% of the region’s new housing and 75% of the region’s new employment in urban centers. 3. Limit the number of households in semi-urban areas to 3% of the region’s total households.

Source: DRCOG Regional Snapshot, Metro Vision 2035 Goals

Thank you!