Transit-oriented development integration of land use and transport, and pedestrian accessibility

The article discusses the integration of land use and transportation planning through the lens of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Lisbon, Portugal.  

It highlights the importance of creating pedestrian-friendly environments around transit stations to enhance accessibility and promote sustainable urban mobility. The author, David S. Vale, critiques the existing frameworks for evaluating station areas, particularly the node-place model developed by Bertolini, which classifies areas based on their transportation (node) and land use (place) characteristics.  

The paper emphasizes that while the node-place model provides valuable insights into the balance between transportation supply and land use demand, it lacks a comprehensive evaluation of pedestrian accessibility. To address this gap, Vale proposes an enhanced approach that incorporates pedestrian connectivity, referred to as the pedestrian shed ratio (pedshed ratio), into the node-place model. This combination allows for a more nuanced classification of station areas based on their land use, transportation, and walkability conditions.  

The study analyzes 83 station areas in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) and finds that most areas exhibit a higher place index than node index, indicating a mismatch between land use intensity and transportation supply. The results reveal a predominance of balanced node-places, but also highlight several unbalanced situations where transportation supply does not meet the demand created by existing land uses.  

Through cluster analysis, the paper identifies seven distinct categories of station areas, ranging from “Urban TODs” with high walkability and balanced conditions to “Car dependent node-places” with low values across all metrics. This typology serves as a strategic framework for urban and transportation planning, suggesting tailored interventions for each category to enhance transit-oriented development. 

The findings underscore the necessity of integrating urban design features, particularly walkability, into the planning of transit-oriented developments. The article concludes with recommendations for future research, including the need for validation of the proposed typology and the exploration of additional walkability indicators to further refine the evaluation of station areas. Overall, the paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development by advocating for a holistic approach that prioritizes pedestrian accessibility alongside transportation and land use integration. 

Supporting evidence

The article provides substantial evidence supporting the integration of the node-place model with pedestrian connectivity evaluations in assessing transit-oriented development (TOD) in Lisbon. It reports that out of 83 station areas analyzed, 59 exhibited a higher place index than node index, indicating a mismatch between transportation supply and land use demand. The mean values for node and place indexes were 0.456 and 0.543, respectively, highlighting the overall inadequacy of transit supply. 

 The study calculated pedestrian shed ratios (pedshed ratios) for each station area, revealing significant variability, with values ranging from 0.147 to 0.768. This variability correlates positively with both node (r = 0.385) and place indexes (r = 0.564), suggesting that areas with better pedestrian accessibility tend to have higher land use intensity. 

 A cluster analysis identified seven distinct categories of station areas, emphasizing the role of walkability in differentiating between balanced and unbalanced TODs. The findings advocate for targeted improvements in walking conditions and transit supply, particularly in ‘Undersupplied transit TODs’ and ‘Car dependent node-places,’ to enhance transit patronage and active travel in Lisbon. 

Key findings

These are the key findings: 

1. Integration of Models: The article combines the node-place model with pedestrian connectivity evaluations to assess transit-oriented development (TOD) in Lisbon, highlighting the critical role of walkability in accessing public transport. 
2. Mismatch in Supply and Demand: Analysis of 83 station areas reveals that 59 have a higher place index than node index, indicating a significant mismatch between transportation supply and land use demand. The mean values are 0.456 for node index and 0.543 for place index, underscoring insufficient transit supply. 
3. Variability in Walkability: The study calculates pedestrian shed ratios (pedshed ratios) for each station area, which range from 0.147 to 0.768, demonstrating considerable variability in walkability across different locations. 
4. Positive Correlation with Accessibility: There is a positive correlation between pedshed ratios and both node (r = 0.385) and place indexes (r = 0.564). This suggests that areas with better pedestrian accessibility tend to exhibit higher land use intensity and diversity. 
5. Cluster Analysis Findings: The research identifies seven distinct categories of station areas, emphasizing the importance of walkability in differentiating between balanced and unbalanced TODs. 
6. Recommendations for Improvement: The findings advocate for targeted enhancements in walking conditions and increased transit supply, particularly in categories such as ‘Undersupplied transit TODs’ and ‘Car dependent node-places.’ These improvements are essential for boosting transit patronage and promoting active travel, thereby contributing to more sustainable urban mobility in Lisbon. 

Overall, the study underscores that walkability is a key factor in the effectiveness of transit-oriented development, influencing both accessibility to public transport and the general liveability of urban areas.