EMERGING EUROPEAN-STYLE PLANNING IN THE USA: TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This article presents an overview of the New Jersey Transit Village Initiative, a program design to promote mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented, dense developments around transit stations in New Jersey. The authors note that this approach is not typical in American settings, as it is more European-like in nature. The authors consider the role of federal legislation (such as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act), the definition of transit-oriented development (TOD), the demographics of the area involved in the NJ Transit Village Initiative, interviews with state and municipal government representatives, the elements of the task force, and obstacles that the program faced. The authors conclude that this initiative is a good model of smart growth that stems from active planning and intergovernmental cooperation on land use and transportation issues.