Edmonton s Transit Oriented Development Journey Auckland Design Office Lunchtime Learning July 2018 Tom Young, MCIP, MCP NZ Group Manager, Urban Planning & Environmental Services tom.young@stantec.com
Agenda 1 Edmonton? I m vaguely familiar 2 Refresher: What is TOD? 3 Edmonton s Slow Start 4 Getting Up to Speed 5 Lessons for Auckland
That s a Long Way 12,000 km from Auckland
The Cities Compared Auckland Edmonton
The Cities Compared Auckland Edmonton Regional Population 1.7 million 1.3 million Population by 2042 2.3 million 2.0 million Auto Mode Share 83% 78% PT Mode Share (Commute) 8.4% 14.6% PT Trips Per Capita 55/year 97/year Urban Density 1,400/km 2 1,850/km 2
2 Refresher: What is TOD?
TOD is A compact development, with moderate to higher densities, located within an easy walk of a transit station, generally with a mix of residential, employment, and shopping opportunities designed for pedestrians [and cyclists] without excluding the auto. Source: Arrington, Transit Oriented Development: Understanding the Fundamentals of TOD, 2007
TOD aims to Encourage walking, cycling and PT Increase public transport revenues Improve safety outcomes Provide public health benefits Support move towards Zero Carbon Create more livable communities
Density of Development 200 m 400 m (5 min. walk) Station 800m (and more depending on form of transit)
Diversity A Mix of Uses Housing Shopping Jobs
Design Buildings, Streets and Public Spaces Architecture and Street Relationships Multi-modal Streets
Design Connected Networks
3 Edmonton s Slow Start
1978 Downtown to Belvedere 6.9 km, 5 stations
May or may not be Auckland
Belvedere Station
BUS TERMINAL PARK + RIDE Belvedere Station 100 m
BUS TERMINAL PARK + RIDE LOW INTENSITY INDUSTRIAL Belvedere Station 100 m
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AUTO-ORIENTED RETAIL BUS TERMINAL PARK + RIDE LOW INTENSITY INDUSTRIAL Belvedere Station 100 m
Coliseum Station Area Zoning
Bonnie Doon
Coliseum Station Area
Clareview Station Area
Clareview Station Area
HOSPITALS SCHOOLS AND RECREATION FACILITIES HOUSING INTEGRATED WITH RETAIL AND PARKING Clareview Station Area
Clareview Station Area
TOD didn t succeed because: Density Diversity Design Zoning allowed for it, but in locations where the market didn t want to build it + Served diverse land uses, but many tended not to be transit supportive + Station integration and design guidance for private development severely lacking
4 Getting Up to Speed
1978 Downtown to Belvedere Underground in Downtown
1981 Belvedere to Clareview
1983 Central to Corona Underground
1989 Corona to Grandin Underground
1992 Grandin to University River crossing
2006 University to Health Sciences Return to surface
2009 Health Sciences to Century Park
2015 New Metro Line Churchill to NAIT/Blatchford Current extent of LRT 24 km, 18 stations 27 km Valley Line under construction Multiple extensions in design
Lewis Farms 2008 Proposed West Line Health Sciences to Lewis Farms
No more crap! Stephen Mandel, 2006 State of the City Address
Multiple Criteria Analysis Assessment Category Land Use/Promoting Compact Urban Form Movement of People/Goods Feasibility/ Constructability Effects on Parks and Public Spaces Weighting 26.7% 20.0% 13.3% 13.3% Natural Environment 13.3% Social Environment 13.3% Overall 100%
From this
to this
and this
to this
Station/TOD Typologies
TOD Plans Since 2008 30,000+ residential units planned 230,000 sm commercial floor space More proposals in progress
Mill Woods Town Centre 24 ha shopping mall site 1,750 residential units 70,000 sm of reconfigured retail
Mill Woods Town Centre 24 ha shopping mall site 1,750 residential units 70,000 sm of reconfigured retail
Mill Woods Town Centre
12 ha shopping mall site (1950s) 3,000 residential units Daylighting of redeveloped retail to a series of on-site streets Bonnie Doon
12 ha shopping mall site (1950s) 3,000 residential units Daylighting of redeveloped retail to a series of on-site streets Bonnie Doon
12 ha shopping mall site (1950s) 3,000 residential units Daylighting of redeveloped retail to a series of on-site streets Bonnie Doon
Century Park 18 ha former shopping mall site Current end-of-line park and ride 4,200 residential units Office and retail
Century Park
Blatchford 217 ha former airport site Council acting as developer 15,000 residential units 130,000 sm office and retail 25 year build-out
Blatchford
B H 2 km 9 km CBD CBD Blatchford vs Hobsonville
5 Lessons for Auckland
Essential Elements for TOD
Edmonton s Lessons 1 Plan LRT that integrates with and adds to communities Edmonton struggled for decades because early route choices were easy ones, not the best ones. Choose technology and design infrastructure that is adapted to context. LRT should be an asset rather than a liability. Consider a broad-based range of effects and possibilities. Focusing narrowly on moving people as quickly as possible may have negative side effects and create missed opportunities.
Edmonton s Lessons 2 Choose your route and station locations carefully Think not only about what exists now, but where the best potential is in the future. Station areas with large sites that have older building stock or government-owned land provide better opportunities for more rapid transformation into TOD and public transport supportive areas. Areas with small lots and areas that are vehicleoriented (e.g., large unadaptable blocks, big box retail, newer buildings not supportive of public transport) are difficult areas for TOD.
Edmonton s Lessons 3 Establish firm principles but be open to different methods of achieving them TOD frameworks should be prepared early to set clear expectations for density, diversity, and design, for all actors. Target public sector planning efforts where conditions are not ripe for the private sector to lead (i.e. areas with fragmented ownership or the need for significant public infrastructure investments). Let the private sector lead where the market is strong, but hold them to a high standard on transitorientation.
Edmonton s Lessons 4 Have patience, and avoid zone it and they will come or silver bullet strategies Density is but one piece of the puzzle, and is best negotiated to maximize public value on diversity and design, rather than given up at the beginning of the process. Redevelopment that can be implemented in small, progressive steps over time is best. Government priorities change and economies rise and fall, so hanging your hat on megaprojects is dangerous. Successful TOD is complex and requires coordination of multiple parties over many years. Be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
Tom Young, MCIP, MCP NZ Group Manager, Urban Planning & Environmental Services tom.young@stantec.com Thank You!
Edmonton s Lessons 1 Plan LRT that integrates with and adds to communities 3 Establish firm principles but be open to different methods of achieving them 2 Choose your route and station locations carefully 4 Have patience, and avoid zone it and they will come or silver bullet strategies