Transit-Oriented Development: A Path to Affordable Housing

Thu Nov 13 2025 09:24:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Cities like Los Angeles and Boston are investing in housing developments near public transport to combat homelessness and traffic congestion. These initiatives aim to provide affordable living while promoting eco-friendly commuting.

Cities across the U.S. are prioritizing transit-oriented housing developments, enabling access to affordable living for many. For example, Quantavia Smith from LA has transitioned from homelessness to her own apartment, benefitting from proximity to the metro. Officials believe that connecting housing with public transport not only revitalizes neighborhoods but also mitigates traffic and environmental concerns. Similar projects in DC, Boston, and California underscore a growing trend to make housing accessible and sustainable.

BOSTON (AP) — After years of experiencing homelessness, Quantavia Smith was thrilled to receive the keys to her new studio apartment in Los Angeles, a place vitalized by its close proximity to public transit. Smith, 38, expressed her joy about finally having a safe space to rebuild her life, explaining how the metro station built upon her apartment complex serves as a crucial lifeline as she searches for employment without a vehicle.

“It’s more a sense of relief and independence,” said Smith, who moved in July. Smith receives government support and pays only $19 monthly, despite the apartment being valued at $2,000. “Having your own space feels empowering; you can do anything.”

Urban areas from Los Angeles to Boston are implementing new policies linking housing developments directly to public transport systems, with the intent of boosting neighborhood revitalization, enhancing affordable housing access, and reducing environmental impact by encouraging public transport use.

City officials argue that these developments are essential for energizing neglected areas and ensuring an ongoing ridership in transit systems, which, in turn, cuts down greenhouse gas emissions. “Transit-oriented development should be one of, if not the biggest, solutions we’re looking at for housing development,” said Yonah Freemark, a research director at the Urban Institute’s Land Use Lab. He emphasized the importance of utilizing existing transportation infrastructure to support housing growth.

The ambitious initiative by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority strives to build 10,000 housing units near transit locations by 2031, providing developers with land incentives and emphasizing community benefits.

Washington D.C. has completed eight transit-related projects since 2022, contributing nearly 1,500 apartments and significant office spaces, primarily in partnership with Amazon. Similar trends are noted in Boston, where residents appreciate easy access to public transport lessening car dependency. In Massachusetts, new zoning laws mandate multi-family housing near transit, highlighting efforts to tackle housing shortages across various states.

Despite facing opposition, including local pushback against zoning changes, projects like Smith’s underscore a transformative potential for housing development near public transit that improves lives and neighborhoods. “I’m very fortunate to be somewhere where the transit takes me where I want to go,” Smith added.