Pulse Bus Rapid Transit stop under construction in Richmond, VA. Richmond
received FTA technical assistance to plan for transit-oriented development around the Pulse.

FTA’s Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative supports TOD projects and policies in communities by providing resources and support through online and on-site assistance. FTA engaged Smart Growth America to advance TOD through technical assistance, including providing planning and analysis tools, maintaining a comprehensive online database of TOD information, and establishing a peer-to-peer information exchange. In addition, communities can apply through a comprehensive selection process for on-site assistance that can help them plan TOD, including station area planning or financing.

Since the launch of the project, FTA’s technical assistance has provided various support and impact to thirteen communities across the country. Through the technical assistance, communities have:

• completed local capacity assessments to determine development potential along transit corridors and around transit stations
• identified regulatory barriers (e.g. local ordinances) that inhibit TOD and other economic development opportunities
• received recommendations on how to expand financing strategies (e.g. tax increment financing) to support TOD activities along corridors.

To provide support beyond  on-site technical assistance, FTA and Smart Growth America launched the Building Better Communities with Transit podcast in January 2018. The monthly podcast highlights ways communities can catalyze economic growth by encouraging development around transit stations. The host and guests will discuss developing local policies that encourage TOD, engaging the public, securing sources for funding, successful community experiences, and other topics.