History of transit oriented development (TOD) – Track2training

By Shashikant n Sharma

Development oriented towards public transport (TOD) is a planning and design strategy which promotes compact and accessible communities on foot focused on high -quality public transport systems. The concept has evolved over time, resulting from various urban development practices, transport innovations and planning philosophies. Its history can be traced through several key phases:

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1. Early inspirations (from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century)

TOD roots can be retraced to the development of railway suburbs in Europe and North America in the 19th century. While cities are industrialized, railways and tramways have enabled the development of new residential communities beyond the congested urban nucleus:

• United Kingdom: THE Garden City movement Led by Ebenezer Howard in the late 1800s, the autonomous communities underlined with high rail connectivity.
• UNITED STATES: In cities like Boston and New York, the districts have developed along the tram lines, giving birth to the term Tramway suburbs.
• India: The developments of the colonial era such as New Delhi were also shaped by access to railways and hierarchical planning.

These first examples were not called TOD, but they shared its basic principle: locating housing, jobs and services near the transit.

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2. Post-war and automatic dependence suburbanization (1945-1970)

After the Second World War, especially in countries like the United States, there was a significant change towards Development of a bait centered on the automobile. Public transport has decreased in favor of highways and suburban spreads at low density:

• Urban decentralization has led to the spatial separation of land use (residential, commercial, industrial).
• The use of public transport has decreased sharply.
• This period marked a retreat from TOD principles, because town planning favored highways and parking in relation to compactness and accessibility.

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3. Emergence of the TOD concept (1980 – 1990)

The term “Development focused on transits” was officially invented by the American architect and planner Peter Carthorpe In the early 1990s. His book The next American metropolis (1993) described Tod in response to the problems of spreading:

• He defined TOD as compact communities for mixed use of walking (generally 400 to 800 meters) of a transit stop.
• Carthorpe argued for the integration of land use and public transport planning to create more sustainable and livable urban environments.
• During this period, cities in the United States, Canada and Europe began to integrate TOD into their long-term growth strategies.

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4. Global adoption and expansion (2000-print)

Tod has won in the global field that cities have recognized the need for sustainable urban growth:

• Asia: Cities love Hong Kong,, Tokyo,, SingaporeAnd Scramble has developed sophisticated TOD models with high density developments above or around metro stations.
• Europe: Many cities have improved existing TOD executives with tram, metro and cycling integration.
• India: THE National Tod policy (2017) was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to guide the integrated land use and transport planning. Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru launched TOD projects around metro corridors.
• Latin America: TOD, based in BRT, emerged in cities like Bogotá and Curitiba.
• TOD has also been integrated into climate resilience strategies and affordable housing policies.

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5. Contemporary trends and innovations

Recent developments have further evolved Tod:

• Technological integration: Smart mobility, mobility as a service (MAAS) and data -based planning improve the effectiveness of the TOD.
• First kilometer solutions: Cycling, scooters, driving infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure is increasingly highlighted.
• Tod inclusive: Focus on equitable access to housing, gender-sensitive design and affordability.

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Conclusion

The development focused on public transport has increased from early rail planning to a complete urban development strategy adopted worldwide. While cities are struggling with climate change, congestion and social equity, TOD remains at the heart of efforts to create compact, connected and durable urban forms.

References

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