Transit Oriented Development
Transit cities are based on the principles of Transit Oriented Development. This is a form of urban development that clusters a greater mixture of land uses around a high quality transport service. The transport node, either train, light rail or bus terminus is designed to be the focus for the development and ideally becomes the community 'heart'. It is where people shop, work, meet, relax and live. The images on the right illustrate how these principles could achieve such outcomes.
Transit Oriented Development is gaining currency worldwide as a key tool to reduce car dependence, boost public transport use and hence reduce reliance on fossil fuels.Differing patterns of development in cities have a direct impact on the way people move about. European cities tend to have a compact form due to such factors as a lack of space for expansion. As a consequence they have comparatively low levels of transport energy use. Australian and North American cities tend to be more dispersed and thus more reliant on cars for travel.
The Victorian Government has recognised the importance of a more compact city with a greater diversity of housing types as a part of the Melbourne 2030 metropolitan strategy. Transit Cities fits within a suite of policies designed to limit outward expansion of the metropolitan area. Activity centre policy aims to concentrate development in existing activity nodes around the city and the Urban Growth Boundary shapes and limits greenfield development on the fringe of the metropolitan area.
The Transit Cities project is the responsibility of the Department of Planning and Community Development and is implemented by the Department in partnership with Councils, government authorities, developers and the community.
General Principles of Transit Cities and the Urban Renewal of Centres
General Principles
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Movement Network
High Quality Public Transport & Facilities
Transit-Centred & Urban Lifestyle Development
(Source: David Lock Associates in association with SGS Economics & Planning PBAI Australia)
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Triple Bottom Line Project
The Triple Bottom Line Project includes all of the transit cities and also the south east metropolitan activity centres.Triple Bottom Line reporting involves measuring the performance of a program or organisation against environmental, social and economic goals. The project brings together a wide range of data relevant to the goals of the Transit Cities Program.
The baseline data has been obtained from the 2001 census and will be measured against data from the 2006 census when it becomes available.The results will give an indication of how well the Transit Cities Program is performing against its goals.
One of the key characteristics of Transit Orientated Development is that it is well serviced by public transport, with development shaped around a transit-hub. By encouraging development around public transport, Transit Cities is aimed to deliver these outcomes in order to achieve better social, economic and environmental outcomes to the whole community. View the report Transit Cities and South Eastern Metropolitan Activity Centres - Triple Bottom Line Study (TBL) |  |
Applying US Transit-Oriented Development Experience to Melbourne
In July 2005, the Port Phillip Regional Office of DPCD sponsored GB Arrington to present a seminar on “Applying US Transit-Oriented Development Experience to Melbourne”. GB Arrington is an international authority on transit-oriented development who has advised governments throughout North and South America.Over 150 people from the State Government, local governments and the property, development and investment sectors attended the seminar, representing the wide range of stakeholders involved in Melbourne’s Transit Cities.
GB Arrington Presentation (PDF - 1.9 Mb)Page Top
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