Transit Oriented Development Study of Trinity Railway Express Ajay Jadhav D.V. MGIS

Objective : Conduct a Transit Oriented Development study within ½ mile buffer around TRE Stations to understand the Change in Demographic characteristics (Population Characteristics). Change in Land Use pattern.

TOD? The following represents a sample of TOD definitions found in the literature: “The practice of developing or intensifying residential land use near rail stations” (Boarnetand Crane 1998A). “Development within a specified geographical area around a transit station with a variety of land uses and a multiplicity of landowners” (Salvensen 1996). “A mixed-use community that encourages people to live near transit services and to decrease their dependence on driving” (Still 2002). A transit-oriented development (TOD) is a mixed-use residential and/or commercial area designed to maximize access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership. A TOD neighborhood typically has a center with a Train Station, Metro Station, Tram Stop or a Bus Station, surrounded by relatively high-density development with progressively lower-density development spreading outwards from the center. (Wikipidea)

Relevant Literature: Zykofsky, Paul. “Building Livable Communities with Transit.” Transit California. California Transit Association, May Currently found at –This article provides a useful description of the elements of good TOD. Land use mix and density, site design, pedestrian orientation, parking, enhanced streetscape, and transit amenities are among the many TOD components discussed. Dittmar, Hank and Ohland, Gloria. “The New Transit Town: best practices in transit-oriented development” Currently available at ver&dq=Transit+Oriented+Development#PPA255,M1 - This book presents a comprehensive approach to Transit-Oriented Development and outline steps that helps in creating new transit towns and study the development in existing Transits.

Data Most of the data for this project was taken from NCTCOG data bank and also from Census Data used are as follows Census Block Group (2000) - Shapefile Traffic Survey Zones (2005) - Shapefile TSZ05 Estimate – Table Land Use (1995) Data – Shapefile Land Use (2005) Data - Shapefile SF1 General Block Group – Table SF30004G – Table 2005 Aerials

Methodology Intension was to study the change in population demographics within ½ mile of each station. Hence, first step was to create ½ mile buffer around these 9 TRE stations and intersected the block groups and TSZs with the buffer zone. TSZs served as 2005 data and Census Block Groups as 2000 data. Exported each station along with buffered Census BlockGroup and TSZs as separate shapefiles. Joined the table TSZ05Estimates with all the 9 TSZ05 Shapefiles. This table contains information about 2005’s Population. Joined SF1 General Block Group with all the 9 Census Block Group 2000 shapefile. This table has data about 2000 Population specific to Blockgroups. Calculated the new “Area” for all the newly intersected shapefiles using the “Calculate Geometry” tool. Calculated the percent of area of the census block group and TSZs inside the ½ mile buffer. [ Area inside buffer = New Area/ Total Area] in a new column. Created a new column to calculate the population inside the buffer[ Pop inside Buffer = Percent of Area inside buffer*Total Population]

Methodology… From the resulting attribute table a series if Graphs were obtained. To serve the next objective, I collected the data of LandUse for the years of 1995 and 2005 of the study area. The Land use data inside the ½ mile buffer around the TRE station was selected for study. Calculated the total Vacant Land present in Identified what percent of this Vacant land was converted to different types of Land Use by 2005.

Problems Encountered Availability of Data - Goal was to use TSZ05 and TSZ00. The boundaries of TSZs and Census Blockgroups match and most of the time either of them nest inside the other. So basically, I had the data for the same geographic location. This however didn’t help me do any study of employment characteristics.. Land use code had to be manually interpreted.

Results

Union Station: 2000 : –Total Population : –Total Population – 1786 Percentage Change in Population: Decrease of 39.35%

Medical Market Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Increase of 8.15%

South Irving Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Decrease of 13.97%

West Irving Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Increase of 36%

Centre Port Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Increase of 68.15%

Hurst Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Increase of 5.14%

Richland Hill Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Decrease of 6%

Fort Worth Inter-modal: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Decrease of 13.97%

Texas and Pacific Station: 2000 : –Total Population – : –Total Population Percentage Change in Population: Decrease of 45.7%

Sample Maps

Land Use – Centre Port Station 1995

Land Use – Hurst Station 1995

Transit-oriented development is expected to improve air quality, decrease traffic and attract private investment, but there is less evidence that those expectations are being met in many of the TRE Stations. There has been an increase in population in 2005 around the Hurst, Centre Port and West Irving Stations which are father away from the City Centers. However, the increase in population may not be completely credited to the existence of a TRE station. There isn't a substantial change in Land use since past 10 years. However changes can be noted with Vacant land making way to many developmental activities and mixed use properties like Retail, Single and Multiple Family Households, Industrial establishments, etc. Conclusions…

Thank You…