LEVERAGING THE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY June 2015 Outcomes | Assessment | Knowledge | Sharing A Report to the Denver Regional Council of Governments Sustainable Communities Initiative LEVERAGING THE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY Outcomes | Assessment | Knowledge | Sharing This report was prepared for the Sustainable Communities Initiative Executive Committee as part of the Denver Regional Council of Government’s Sustainable Communities Initiative program. Sustainable Communities Initiative Executive Committee Members Appointed by the DRCOG Board Jim Taylor, SCI Executive Jack Hilbert, Douglas County Aaron Serna, Colorado Committee Chair; DRCOG Commission, DRCOG Board of Governor’s Office Advisory Committee on Aging Directors Linda Tinney, US Bank Lorraine Anderson, RTD Monica Lyle, Colorado Health Colorado Board of Directors* Foundation The Honorable Elbra Robert Blankenship, Mile High Aaron Miripol, Urban Land Wedgeworth, Denver Health** United Way Conservancy/Mile High Cris White, Colorado Housing Craig Carlson, Metro North Connects and Finance Authority Chamber Chad Ochsner, REMAX Alliance Anna Zawisza, Alliance for Tom Clark, Metro Denver Rob Osborn, Xcel Energy Sustainable Colorado Economic Development Carla Perez, Jacobs Corporation Engineering * Replaced by Chuck Sisk, RTD Tom Gougeon, Gates Family Joshua Radoff, Urban Land Board Foundation/Mile High Institute ** Replaced by Olga Garcia, Connects Sara Reynolds, Housing Denver Health Colorado Contributors University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs College of Architecture and Planning Buechner Institute for Governance Benoy Jacob Carrie Makarewicz Randy Harrison Jeremy Nemeth Austin Troy Autumn 2014 Planning Project Studio Consultants Rocky Piro, FAICP Melanie Sloan Funding for this report was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting Denver Regional Council of Governments. LEVERAGING THE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY Outcomes | Assessment | Knowledge | Sharing Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ i Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... i Key Findings .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. ii Summary of Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................................ ii Project Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Organization of This Report ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 PART I: A REGION IN TRANSITION ................................................................................................................3 The Regional Context ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Where have we been?............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Where are we now? ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Complete Communities as a Framework ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Housing for All .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Economic Benefits of Transit Oriented Development ................................................................................................................... 8 Research Methodology: What We Did .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 PART II: CORRIDOR-by-CORRIDOR ANALYSIS.............................................................................................. 11 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 PART III: CASE STUDIES – DALLAS, PORTLAND, SAN DIEGO ......................................................................... 24 Dallas ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Portland, Oregon................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 San Diego .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 PART IV: RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................. 38 Implementing the Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................... 38 Recommendations, Actions and Measures ............................................................................................................................................... 40 Summary of Recommendations, Actions and Measures ..................................................................................................................... 41 Action Agenda ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 51 Recommendation 1: Collaboration Lays the Foundation .................................................................................................................. 53 Recommendation 2: An Integrated Approach Leads to Successful Communities ................................................................. 54 Recommendation 3: Ensure That Subarea Plans Support Transit Oriented Development in Transit Communities .............................................................................................................................................................. 55 Recommendation 4: Streamline Development Review in Transit Communities ................................................................... 57 Recommendation 5: Address Nearby Neighborhoods and Districts Adjacent to the Station Area ................................ 58 Recommendation 6: Prioritize First and Last Mile Connections ................................................................................................... 59 Recommendation 7: Parking Management ............................................................................................................................................. 60 Recommendation 8: Evolve the Centers Concept in Metro Vision to Address Station Areas ........................................... 61 LEVERAGING THE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY Outcomes | Assessment | Knowledge | Sharing Recommendation 9: Establish and Strengthen Programs for Real Estate Acquisition within Transit Communities ........................................................................................................................................................... 62 Recommendation 10: Expand Housing Funding within the Region ............................................................................................. 63 Recommendation 11: Address Changing Demographics (as they relate to housing) ............................................................ 64 Recommendation 12: Develop a Coordinated Regional Effort to Meet Housing Needs ...................................................... 65 Recommendation