Coming soon to San Francisco: a conference discussing the transit-oriented developments (TODs) and other Smart Growth principles. Smart Growth is gaining traction as an urban planning strategy (and antidote to suburban sprawl). The Rail-Volution conference October 26-30,will be hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

Rail-Volution is a conference for urban planners and transit officials focusing on the expansion of that link land use and transit planning together as joint opportunities for urban communities. The conference consists of workshops that offer hands-on experience, tools for planning, case studies and explores issues facing the rail and urban planning industries today.

TODs are designed to offer everything a consumer, resident, and community member needs within a reasonable walkable area or a quick transit ride. For example, a suburban neighborhood maybe built up around a grocery store, an electric train transit station, restaurants and other services providing both leisure and work opportunities.

Each building is designed to be within a 20-minute walk or bike ride, be located near a transit stop, provide bike racks and offer a community feel so that residents and consumers do not have to hop in the car, drive across town to shop and/or work

TODs provide many social benefits and environmental benefits including saving air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the decrease in vehicle miles traveled; increased compact land use that limits habitat damage, and often, an increase in open and/or public space.

Transit riders eager to learn more about urban planning and transit decisions can listen to TODcasts, free to download audio segments that discuss how to design a transit/pedestrian friendly area. 

TODcasts come complete with maps that reference sample TOD sites and include reference sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area such as locations in the cities of Hayward, San Francisco, San Jose, San Pablo, and Redwood City.