Smart Growth

Transit-Oriented Development

TransLink for Transit Oriented Development (T4T)

In a pilot project beginning in June 2008, MTC partnered with the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) to provide free electronic transit passes to residents of select transit-oriented development (TOD) communities in the East Bay. About 1,500 residents received free, personalized TransLink cards, allowing unlimited free access on the AC Transit bus system for six months to one year. Participants also received customized information about transit services in their areas.

The TransLink for Transit-Oriented Development pilot project has demonstrated that a combination of free convenient transit passes and custom marketing has both short and longer-term impacts on travel behavior. A number of specific strategies can be pursued to build on this pilot project, engaging the regional agencies, transit agencies, cities, developers, employers, and schools. When implemented in the right places with the right policies and procedures, a refined program of this nature can be a useful tool in the campaign for higher use of transit and reduced vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gases.

MTC intended the TransLink for TOD (T4T) pilot project to serve as “proof of concept” to promote further implementation of transit pass programs at transit-oriented developments in the region. The final report assesses program impacts on:

• Automobile trips and greenhouse gases;
• Mobility or quality of life of low-income households; and
• Customer satisfaction with the TransLink electronic pass.