Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
StreetFilms

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Transit Oriented Development

This Streetfilm, by Clarence Eckerson Jr., is an important one for Los Angeles as we consider how our city and county are going to grow as a result of the expected transit boom in the coming decade(s). This film focuses on Transit Oriented Development, with a focus on how a light rail line transformed Jersey City with dense, mixed use, transit oriented development. Here are some of the lessons we should learn from Jersey City:

1) Transit Oriented Development should take advantage of many modes of transportation. In Jersey City, the developments take advantage of not only the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and the bus system, but also a ferry system to move people across the water in to New York City. In Los Angeles, we don't have ferries, but we do have a bus system that is constantly under attack because of operating shortfalls and of course we're also working on creating a bicycle network.

2) Transit Oriented Developments should not have parking minimums. As a matter of fact, there is no minimum parking requirement in Jersey City, but a maximum one. It's no wonder that car ownership around Jersey City's T.O.D.'s hovers between 40% and 45%.

3) Zoning should support mixed use development. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign's Kate Slevin explains that real mixed use zoning isn't just for the gigantic new developments, but also would allow apartments and offices to be placed on top of first floor retail buildings along commercial corridors.

If you want to comment on anything I've written, just hit the comment button. If you want to comment on the film, please visit the Streetfilms website.

(Full disclosure: Slevin was my boss when I worked at TSTC)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Grand Opening of Transformative Rail-to-Rail Bike/Walk Path on Slauson Brings Community Out to Play

The $166M project was a dozen years in the making. South Central residents and electeds alike hope it is a foundation on which even better things can be built for the community.

May 22, 2025

Metro Quietly Withdraws Lyft Bike-Share Contract Vote

The current twice-botched will-they-won't-they procurement process is not doing Metro Bike Share any favors.

May 22, 2025

SGV Hikes and Bikes: Duck Farm River Park

Tucked in the crook of the 605 and Valley Boulevard is some much needed breathing room for the East Valley.

May 22, 2025
See all posts