Transit-Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State

Download the full report Transit-Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State here. 

Learn how to implement the TOC Vision summarized below and how your community and Washington State can increase the social and environmental benefits from maintaining and building better communities near transit stations and along major transit routes.

Futurewise would like to thank its partners and sponsors.  Our TOC partners are GGLO and the Transportation Choices Coalition.  Transit-Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State was funded in part through generous support from the Surdna Foundation and the Bullitt Foundation.

TOC Vision

The urban areas of Washington State will grow in a manner that is good for both people and the planet.

Urban growth patterns will give people access to choices in housing and transportation by creating more mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhoods with excellent pedestrian, bicycle and transit connectivity. These patterns will allow more people access to homes, jobs, and community services without relying on personal vehicles, thereby reducing household transportation expenses and promoting better physical health. Neighborhoods will be well designed, preserve historic and cultural character, and offer ample open space, good schools and recreational opportunities-all together fostering a strong sense of place and community.

Urban growth patterns will also help protect the planet, promoting long-term environmental sustainability and the conservation of natural resources. Compact urban patterns in existing cities will direct development away from working farms and forestlands, thereby protecting food and fiber production, wildlife habitat, and water quality. These patterns will reduce impervious cover that leads to run-off pollution, and decrease shoreline development that leads to erosion and habitat destruction. Compact development will be energy efficient, reducing energy-related pollution and increasing energy independence. Finally, these compact patterns will allow more people the choice to walk, bike or take transit, leading to critical reductions in vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions.

This is the vision of transit-oriented communities.

Upcoming TOC Activities:

Quarterly Brown Bag Series

Wed., Jan. 20, 2010, 12:00-1:15pm:

Wed., April 21, 2010, 12:00-1:15pm:

Topic: Ensuring Affordability in Transit Station Areas
Location:  Bellevue City Hall

Wed., July 21, 2010, 12:00-1:15pm:

Wed., Oct. 20 2010, 12:00-1:15pm:

Topic: TBD
Location TBD

TOC on Tour!

The first stop of our TOC statewide tour kicked off with a workshop and art exhibit in Spokane. Local area planners and community leaders were invited to a presentation co-hosted by Futurewise and GGLO to review the principles of creating transit oriented communities and its local applications. The workshop was followed by a visual display as part of “Blueprint Exhibition: Art/Urban Planning,” featuring local art focused on the urban form.

The exhibit in now on display at Bellingham City Hall through the end of September.  Future stops for the tour are planned for Tacoma, Lynwood, Tukwila. Learn more about the Spokane showing here and the Bellingham showing here.

To sign up to receive event notification contact chieu@futurewise.org.