Planning and Policymaking for Transit-Oriented Development, Transit, and Active Transport in California Cities

This report provides research findings from the first year of a two-year research project on patterns of local policymaking in California to support transit-oriented development (TOD), transit, and active transport. The project aims to assess motivations, perceived obstacles, and priorities for development near transit, in relation to patterns of local policy adoption, from the perspective of city planners in the state’s four largest regions: the San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento metropolitan areas. This first-stage report discusses research and policy context that informed the methodology, findings from the analysis of results from an online survey of city planning directors administered in the spring of 2019, and findings from two case studies of TOD policymaking in urban central cities, namely Los Angeles and Sacramento. A sampling methodology for conducting further case studies of TOD policymaking during the upcoming second phase of the project is also described, based on findings from the first year of the research.View the NCST Project Webpag

Increasing Community Participation in Planning to Prevent Housing Displacement: Case Study of Stockton Boulevard Community, South Sacramento

In this project, I evaluate the participation of community residents, who are potentially at risk of displacement, in planning for their neighborhood and investigate strategies to increase that participation to achieve more equitable outcomes. Historically, low-income community voices have been overlooked in the process of implementing city government strategies, and even when those groups participate, there is no guarantee that their voices will be heard (Lasker & Guidry, 2009; Arnstein, 1969). Based on the findings from twenty semi-structured interviews with community residents and stakeholders in the Stockton Boulevard area of South Sacramento, the residents have keen interest to participate in planning. However, resident participation in planning is obstructed by low awareness of the ongoing projects in the community as a result of limited access to the internet and other information resources. One of the ways to increase engagement is by improving communication between planners and community members. To address the communication issue between planners and the community, in this thesis, I developed a model of Meaningful Community Engagement that implies prompt and transparent communication between planners and community residents and stakeholders at all stages of the planning process. This model will increase transparency of the planning process, which in turn will improve trust among community residents towards planners, and will lead to more equitable planning outcomes

Planning and Policymaking for Transit-Oriented Development, Transit, and Active Transport in California Cities

This report provides research findings from the first year of a two-year research project on patterns of local policymaking in California to support transit-oriented development (TOD), transit, and active transport. The project aims to assess motivations, perceived obstacles, and priorities for development near transit, in relation to patterns of local policy adoption, from the perspective of city planners in the state’s four largest regions: the San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento metropolitan areas. This first-stage report discusses research and policy context that informed the methodology, findings from the analysis of results from an online survey of city planning directors administered in the spring of 2019, and findings from two case studies of TOD policymaking in urban central cities, namely Los Angeles and Sacramento. A sampling methodology for conducting further case studies of TOD policymaking during the upcoming second phase of the project is also described, based on findings from the first year of the research.View the NCST Project Webpag

City Planner Survey Reveals the Most Common Tools for Promoting Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development—higher density residential or mixed-use development centered around high-quality transit stations—can reduce the need for driving and cut vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. It can also play a role in revitalizing downtowns, improving accessibility for residents, and preserving open space. For these reasons, state and local governments in California have adopted goals and policies to support transit-oriented development.Despite its benefits, transit-oriented development faces multiple barriers. Projects may face more complex planning, financing, and regulatory hurdles, and often entail higher land and development costs compared to greenfield development. Local governments are confronting these challenges through the adoption of innovative policy, planning, and finance tools. Researchers at the University of California, Davis surveyed almost 150 city planning directors in California’s four largest metropolitan areas to better understand cities’ motivations for supporting transit-oriented development, the challenges encountered, and techniques employed in achieving their transit-oriented development goals. The results presented in this policy brief are from the first part of a two-year study.View the NCST Project Webpag

City Planner Survey Reveals the Most Common Tools for Promoting Transit-Oriented Development [Policy Brief]

Caltrans 65A0686 Task Order 001 USDOT Grant 69A355Transit-oriented development\u2014higher density residential or mixed-use development centered around high-quality transit stations\u2014can reduce the need for driving and cut vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. It can also play a role in revitalizing downtowns, improving accessibility for residents, and preserving open space. For these reasons, state and local governments in California have adopted goals and policies to support transit-oriented development