Description

This new national study, released by Reconnecting America, shows that location matters a great deal when it comes to reducing household costs. While families who live in auto-dependent neighborhoods spend an average of 25 percent of their household budget on transportation, families who live in walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods spend just 9 percent, the study says. The report concludes that building mixed-income housing near transit can be an important affordability strategy.

The study indicates the strategies proving most successful in the five case study regions can be grouped into five broad categories of action, including:

* Identify and utilize TOD opportunities in the region and along transit corridors;
* Provide incentives that help catalyze the market for mixed-income TOD;
* Remove regulatory barriers to higher-density mixed-income development.
* Coordinate housing and transportation plans and investments;
* Improve local capacity, partnerships and data collection.

The full report is available at www.reconnectingamerica.org, as well as an executive summary.