CapMetro Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan
HR&A co-led a multidisciplinary team developing an equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) strategy for CapMetro’s Project Connect, spanning 100+ station areas. Working with Austin Transit Partnership and the City of Austin, we created a comprehensive policy toolkit that minimizes displacement while maximizing economic opportunities for local residents and businesses.
Confronting the challenge of gentrification and displacement in rapidly growing Austin, HR&A conducted extensive research into national ETOD best practices and analyzed local market conditions across diverse station areas. Our team assessed the specific needs of different communities along the corridor, identifying varied challenges from affordable housing preservation to small business retention. This nuanced understanding allowed us to develop tailored recommendations responsive to each area’s unique context and development pressure.
The resulting ETOD Policy Toolkit delivers 46 strategies across five critical domains: affordable housing, small business support, workforce development, mobility enhancement, and urban design. By creating a station area typology system matched to specific policy prescriptions, HR&A equipped CapMetro with an implementation framework adaptable to varied neighborhood conditions. Throughout the process, we supported robust community engagement that directly shaped our recommendations, ensuring the final strategy reflects community priorities while advancing the Project Connect vision for equitable, transit-oriented growth.
Explore:
Press:
From TOD to ETOD: Advancing equity in Austin’s Transit-Oriented Development
Awards and Recognition:
American Planning Association Texas Chapter: Advancing Diversity and Social Change Award
