Many municipalities in North America are in the process of initiating the development of or enhancing existing rapid transit systems (Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit (LRT), and/or Heavy Rail Commuter lines) which will serve to improve the travel times and reliability of transit service to attract new transit ridership. A key target market for new riders for these systems are “choice riders”, those who have access to a car for most of their trips but who prefer using rail-based and designed transit systems which provide more direct and comfortable service, compared to conventional buses. Many of these same municipalities, however, are not undertaking the preparation of transit-oriented development (TOD) plans and implementation strategies near existing or potential rapid transit station areas well in advance of building these systems or even after they are in operation. These plans and their implementation can deliver the following benefits: • Generate mixed land use development and an urban design environment near the stations to increase twoway transit ridership • Create attractive and higher density mixed land use, public realm and open spaces and buildings which are pedestrian and cycling-friendly • Provide positive urban and integrated urban environments for the benefit of adjacent communities. This paper will describe an innovative process which was undertaken by the combined team of T/Six urban design/architectural consultants and a transit planning consultant from UMA Engineering, working with City of Calgary staff, to develop a TOD plan, with implementation mechanisms, for the Heritage LRT Station in Calgary. The TOD process took place over a four month period (October, 2006 to January, 2007) and was supported by the City of Calgary. The Heritage LRT Station is located 7.2 kilometres south of the Calgary downtown area on the 14 kilometre southern LRT line, initially opened for operation in May, 1981. The Heritage Station site is 7 acres in size, with 11 different connecting bus routes and a park and ride facility with 560 free surface parking stalls. At the heart of the TOD plan was an intensive and unique three day charrette-like process: at a site across from the Heritage LRT Station, where planners and urban designers worked together to develop a station TOD plan which included implementation strategies for a 600 metre radius area around the station. This process entailed daily meetings and input into the continuous planning/design process from drop-in or invited representatives from the adjacent communities, station property owners, developers and their consultants, and stakeholder groups who had been asked to participate or who came in attracted by pre-charrette communications. This paper will also describe the key components of successful TOD planning process and discuss the advantages of undertaking this planning work well in advance of the planning and design of future rapid transit systems.
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