DELAWARE RIVER PORT AUTHORITY ( DRPA ) TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PLANS

...Urban Land Institute grant to engage residents in planning charrettes and provide information sessions with expert speakers to address TOD issues and benefits. “Coming on the heels of the success at the Lumber Yard, we’re thrilled to partner with the DRPA/PATCO to explore more transit oriented development along the PATCO rail line,” said Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley. “Our community will help plan this redevelopment to strengthen our business district, provide new ratables to ease property taxes and create a new neighborhood of families and friends to add to the fabric of Collingswood.” The Wallace Roberts & Todd study shows that residents of a well-designed new development at transit stations ride transit up to five or six times more often than residents of comparable development located away from transit. “We’re looking to expand upon the long history of success we have in working with and invigorating the communities we serve,” said Robert Box, PATCO General Manager. “This is a great way to collaborate with our communities to create a greater level of service for residents and commuters.” DRPA/PATCO’s implementation of TOD is indicative of a larger trend taking place across the country, where the development planning community has witnessed a boom in rail transit construction. A study by the California Department of Transportation showed that benefits of TOD planning include: •Reduction in air pollution and energy consumptions rates and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 to 3.7 tons per year for each household. •Increased household disposable income after reducing driving costs; saving $3-4,000 per year for each household •Conservation of resource land and open space •Mobility choices for congested areas and allows people who prefer not to drive and those people who do not own cars to get around •Revitalization of aging downtowns and declining urban neighborhoods The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation and development agency. DRPA owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross bridges, PATCO, the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier 1 and the RiverLink Ferry. Read entire plan....