Danbury Branch Improvement Program: Transit Oriented Development. Final Report.

摘要

This report presents an evaluation of transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities within the Danbury Branch study corridor as a component of the Federal Transit Administration Alternatives Analysis/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (FTA AA/DEIS) prepared for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). This report is intended as a tool for municipalities to use as they move forward with their TOD efforts. The report identifies the range of TOD opportunities at station areas within the corridor that could result from improvements to the Danbury Branch. By also providing information regarding FTA guidelines and TOD best practices, this report serves as a reference and a guide for future TOD efforts in the Danbury Branch study corridor. Specifically, this report presents a definition of TOD and the elements of TOD that are relevant to the Danbury Branch. It also presents a summary of FTA Guidance regarding TOD and includes case studies of FTA-funded projects that have been rated with respect to their livability, land use, and economic development components. Additionally, the report examines commuter rail projects both in and out of Connecticut that are considered to have applications that may be relevant to the Danbury Branch. Within this framework, the report provides details and data related to the eight communities within the Danbury Branch study corridor. Demographics, market potential, existing land use, and zoning are among the topics discussed. Additionally, a matrix outlining the potential opportunities and constraints related to TOD at each station site is presented. GIS maps show the areas around each station with ongoing TOD efforts as well as those areas that have the potential for TOD. Detailed information on each community's zoning regulations is included in an appendix to this document. Data on wetlands and hazardous materials within each TOD site are presented in appendices as well.