The Purple Line’s expansion into Maryland suburbs in 2027 has spurred TOD along the line.
An upcoming light rail line in the Washington, D.C. suburbs is spurring the construction of thousands of new housing units and commercial space along the corridor.
As Robert Steuteville explains in Public Square, “The Purple Line will be complete by 2027, and the line parallels the Capital Crescent Trail—an easy bike ride to the Bethesda Metro Station, about a mile away. The Purple Line will connect compact, mixed-use suburbs like Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton.”
Steuteville highlights one transit-oriented development, Chevy Chase Lake, which will include over 500 housing units, retail and office space, and a neighborhood square. “Access to the light rail station is through a covered public stair in the green metal-paneled facade of The Claude, an 11-story apartment building.”
FULL STORY: TOD creates public space in suburban DC
Coalition Fights Displacement Along Purple Line
Community advocates are warning that Maryland’s new light rail line could cause displacement without concerted efforts to preserve affordable housing and legacy businesses.
Seattle Area Developers Target Areas Around Light Rail Extension
The East Link line, which will connect Redmond and Bellevue to Seattle in 2025, is spurring transit-oriented development near future stations.
Feeling the Impact of Federal TOD Grants
Grants aimed at stimulating development and increased density along transit lines are starting to make a difference in cities around the country.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line
Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.
Are Mobility Hubs Child-Friendly?
‘Mobility hubs’ aim to make urban travel easier by connecting travel modes. Adding more services could make them more accessible and useful to women and families.
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research