Transit-oriented development and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail : shaping urban design patterns in northern New Jersey

This thesis investigates the influence of a new transit system on mature urban environments. The confluence of evolving socio-economic trends, cultural travel behaviors, and existing urban contexts, is changing how cities develop. The added value of convenient transit access provides unique urban design opportunities. Transit-oriented development (TOD) addresses these opportunities through attention to the pedestrian environment, coordinated land uses, and an emphasis on the holistic urban experience. The new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) provides a much needed North-South transit line along the New Jersey's congested Hudson River waterfront. Since NJ Transit announced their commitment to increase regional mobility in the mid-1990s, parcels adjacent to the HBLR stations have experienced unprecedented growth The various urban design and planning strategies address many contemporary issues, such as the role of the automobile in the city, the impact of increased densities, and the marketable pedestrian networks. By looking at the different urban development experiences of three different cities along the light rail, the thesis will illustrate transit-oriented opportunities for urban design and development.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Aranda, Marlon Patrick

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tunny Lee.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37660

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37660