Transit planning begins with a detailed analysis of transportation and related problems in a designated study area. A set of transportation-based strategies is then developed to address those problems. Using evaluation criteria that include factors such as higher transit ridership, stronger neighborhoods, the costs to build and operate a new facility, and environmental impacts, the alternatives are evaluated against one another and against the existing situation. The evaluation process results in the selection of a preferred alternative or transit project for the study area.

If federal funds are to be used to construct a transit project, as would be the case in the Northside-Southside Study, federal guidelines must be followed. These guidelines include regulations issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA manages the New Starts program, which is the most important source of federal funding for major transit projects. New Starts funding helped build St. Louis’ original MetroLink line. Other federal regulations are found in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This act outlines the guidelines for completing an Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), which could be the next step for the Northside and Southside areas.

An important task in the Northside-Southside Study is to examine transit-oriented development (TOD) and broader neighborhood development opportunities. TOD consists of relatively dense residential and commercial development within approximately one-half mile of transit stations. TOD attracts residents and patrons of commercial establishments who are likely to be transit users, thus helping to increase ridership. TOD can be traditional, or naturally occurring, such as the multi-unit residential development that grew up along streetcar routes in St. Louis in the early 20th century, or newly designed and built, such as the residential development at MetroLink’s Emerson Park station in East St. Louis, Illinois.

While the tight linkage to transit service is a TOD hallmark, so too are design elements that help focus a broad range of activity around stations. Thus, development needs to be truly oriented to the station and not merely near it (what is termed “transit-adjacent development”). The design focus is on “walkability,” the ability to access such activities as shopping and entertainment without the necessity of using a car. This implies mixed-use development (residential mixed with stores, restaurants and services), relatively dense development, and parking management, which emphasizes the pedestrian over the automobile. A good example of this type of development is the mixed-use development in downtown Kirkwood, Missouri near the historic Amtrak Station – although it lacks the transit component required for TOD. This and other examples of TOD can be found below.

Transit-oriented development supports EWGCOG’s approach to transportation planning and decision-making, particularly in terms of preserving existing infrastructure, managing congestion, and fostering sustainable development. More of the Council’s transportation planning framework can be found in its Legacy 2030: Transportation Plan Update.

Glossary of Terms