The TOD Evaluation Method Evaluating TOD on Station Area and Corridor Scales

Capstone paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree.The Metropolitan Council’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy defines TOD as walkable, moderate to high density development served by frequent transit with a mix of housing, retail, and employment choices designed to allow people to live and work without need of a personal automobile. As the Metropolitan Council expands the region’s transit network, the regional planning agency and transit provider has an interest in facilitating TOD implementation along existing and future transit corridors. Understanding the degree to which transit corridors and station areas are potential places for TOD helps public agencies implement TOD. To date, the Metropolitan Council does not have a system for evaluating the potential for TOD along transit corridors and within station areas. Instead, TOD evaluation is typically performed on a project-by-project basis without considering the existing corridor and station area. This report proposes a TOD Scoring Tool and Framework for the Metropolitan Council to use to evaluate the suitability of transit corridors and station areas for TOD. The TOD Scoring Tool is based on the Framework, which focus on three categories of variables informed by scholarly research and interviews with TOD professionals: • Travel Behavior • Built Environment • Community Strengt

The Road to Prosperity: Engaging Ramsey for a Better Highway 10

Report and poster completed by students enrolled in PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes, taught by Dan Milz in fall 2017.This project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. Ramsey is bisected by U.S. Highway 10, which is slated for significant upgrades in the next 20 years to convert the corridor to a limited-access highway. However, the uncertain timing of future Highway 10 improvements makes it difficult for landowners along the corridor to invest in or sell their property. The City wanted to clarify the future vision for the corridor and the timing of planned improvements, and sought assistance designing an outreach and engagement process to connect with stakeholders affected by the plan and future improvements. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class identified strategies to productively engage with the main groups of stakeholders concerned about the future of Highway 10: business owners, residents, and commuters. A final report and poster are available.This project was supported by the Resilient Communities Project (RCP), a program at the University of Minnesota whose mission is to connect communities in Minnesota with U of MN faculty and students to advance community resilience through collaborative, course-based projects. RCP is a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA). More information at http://www.rcp.umn.edu