Public transit systems are often promoted as offering a plethora of social, economic and environmental benefits to urban populations by transforming urban forms from auto-centric designs into more sustainable ones. The “next big thing” in public transit is bus rapid transit (BRT) systems. From virtually no systems a generation ago, there are now nearly 20 lines operating with at least seven under construction and more than 20 in the planning stages. Part of this recent popularity in BRT stems… Read More

This course introduces the theoretical basis and design principles of compact urban development and will review local, national and international TOD’s for the urban design qualities that make a place walkable and encourage multi-modal transportation. From this review, specific TOD locations will be identified and targeted for more comprehensive on-site investigations. Students in the course will be sent out to different metropolitan areas with exemplary TODs to conduct interviews, collect… Read More