Camiros' Approach to Planning for Transit-Oriented
Development
 The
rise of transit-oriented development is one of the most significant
trends in urban planning. Well functioning transit-oriented
districts combine access to transportation with a mix of land
uses, creating a dynamic place of vitality and synergy. In
many communities, transit-oriented development is used to
breathe life into their downtowns or town centers. Successful
downtowns and town centers become focal points for community
life and significantly enhance the local quality-of-life.
Camiros understands the dynamics involved in transit-oriented
development and can help communities formulate plans to promote
their community development goals. The key is to understand
the relationship between transit service & infrastructure
and real estate development. Camiros' critical work in the
field gives us the base of knowledge needed to make effective
plans for transit-oriented development. Principles learned
through this work include:
Accessibility to Transit Has Value: People
value access to transit. Multiple studies have shown that
access to rail transit has a positive effect on real estate
values. Proximity to rail transit has a positive effect on
home prices and apartment rental rates.
Commuters Do Not Shop: Camiros' hallmark survey
of Metra riders for the RTA established that rail commuters
do minimal shopping as part of the commuting experience. Demand
for shopping is limited to basic convenience items that enhance
their commuting experience such as coffee, food, news publications,
and general convenience merchandise.
Ridership Generation: The extent to which residents
within ½ mile of a rail station will use transit varies
and is dependent on a series of factors. Maximum ridership
generation in urban locations is in the 30% range.
Mix of Uses is Key: The maximum benefit of
transit-oriented development is achieved by creating lifestyle
enhancements that extend beyond commuting. Mixing residential
use with retail, service and public uses creates a lifestyle
less dependent on automobile use, emphasizing pedestrian oriented
activities as an alternative.
Understanding these and other principles for transit-oriented
development allows Camiros to make effective TOD plans for
communities. Foremost in our priorities is to make plans that
can be implemented. To do this, TOD plans must provide a sound
framework for private-sector development. Effective TOD planning
should express land use policy as a private-sector development
program. Developers should be able to look at the plan and
see discrete development projects, waiting to be built. While
developers will always adjust their development plans to meet
their own sensibilities, the community's TOD plan must speak
to them in a language they can understand. Camiros' transit-oriented
planning assignments include the following:
Examples of Camiros' work include:
 Richton
Park Town Center
(Richton Park, Illinois)
 West
Bench Project
(Salt Lake County, Utah)
 Bourbonnais
Downtown Plan
(Bourbonnais, Illinois)
 Glenview
Naval Air Station Reuse Plan
(Glenview, Illinois)
 College
Town Master Plan
(University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana)
 "Old
Town" Downtown Plan, Tinley Park, Illinois
Buffalo
Grove and Prairie View Transit-Oriented Development Plans,
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Grand
Avenue Village Center Plan, River Grove, Illinois
Milwaukee
Avenue Plan, Niles, Illinois
|
Richton Park Town Center Master Plan
