Transit-Oriented Development Archives

Blue Line Corridor Vision and Implementation Strategy

April 11, 2025 / Comments Off

HR&A led an interdisciplinary team to develop a transformative vision and implementation strategy for Prince George’s County’s Blue Line Corridor, a 6-mile stretch along Central Avenue in Maryland. This comprehensive plan has already secured over $450M in state funding and bonding capacity for priority capital projects including a youth sports fieldhouse, amphitheater, central library and cultural center, market hall, and multimodal infrastructure while establishing a replicable model for place-based economic development countywide.

Working with Design Collective and Toole Design Group, HR&A crafted a 30-year development roadmap for this transit-rich corridor, served by four Blue and Silver Line Metro stations. The vision identified capital improvements and new anchor institutions and facilities to catalyze private investment in dense, transit-oriented development stations. The team coordinated across County and State agencies and WMATA to align objectives, leverage resources, identify obstacles, and recommend new legislative and financial tools to maximize economic potential.

The vision became the centerpiece of the County Executive’s 2021 State of the County address and continues to guide implementation. HR&A remains actively involved, facilitating an interagency working group, conducting feasibility studies, and advancing capital improvement projects. These efforts ensure the ambitious vision moves from concept to reality with strategic oversight.

HR&A also developed County-specific enabling legislation (Maryland House Bill 1109) to establish business improvement districts in Prince George’s County, adopted in April 2023. The Blue Line Corridor BID is being specifically designed to ensure inclusive development that benefits existing communities while attracting new investment. This innovative approach ensures that economic growth along the corridor supports both existing residents and businesses while creating vibrant, accessible places for all county residents.

Press:

Prince George’s County Breaks Ground on Civic Plaza, The First Signature Project of The Blue Line Corridor Initiative – Prince George’s Country MD

Photo: Jackie Hicks and Prince George’s County

LIRR Third Track: From Economic Study to Construction

January 8, 2021 / Comments Off

On behalf of the Long Island Index, HR&A conducted a comprehensive study of the economic and fiscal impacts of the proposed Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Main Line Third Track project. The project will add an additional track to a 10 mile segment of the LIRR between Floral Park and Hicksville, improving system reliability and significantly enhancing reverse peak service to and from Long Island. Initially part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) 5-year capital plan, the project was met with significant opposition from local elected officials and affected communities. In an effort to resuscitate the project, HR&A undertook complex and dynamic economic modeling to quantify the benefits of improved employer access to a skilled regional workforce, higher productivity in denser transit-oriented employment nodes, and rider time savings. Using transportation impacts modeled by project partner Parsons Brinckerhoff, HR&A employed the REMI Policy Insight model to estimate benefits the project would generate for Long Island during its construction and operational phases.

HR&A found that by improving regional mobility, Third Track will position Long Island for sustained economic growth by making it a more attractive place to live and work. Implementing Third Track and enacting complementary land use policies facilitating transit-oriented development (TOD) in station areas would generate 14,000 new jobs on Long Island by 2035, along with $5.6 billion in annual gross regional product and $143 million in annual tax revenues to Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Long Island would also attract 35,000 new residents by 2035, helping stem the outflow of talented young workers and their families. During the five-year construction phase, Third Track would generate $910 million in gross regional product and an average of 2,250 jobs annually, providing employment opportunities for construction workers hit hard by the Great Recession. HR&A summarized its findings in a compelling, graphically strong briefing book that has enabled the Long Island Index to communicate the benefits of Third Track to a range of stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and LIRR, elected officials, businesses, and residents. The study was instrumental in reviving the project and winning approval and funding from New York Governor Cuomo. The $2 billion project is now under construction and is expected to be completed by late 2022.

Press:

Study: 3rd track on LIRR Main Line would boost service, economy

Public-Private Development Strategy for Dhaka’s Mohakhali Bus Terminal

December 17, 2019 / Comments Off

The World Bank engaged HR&A to leverage a public-private partnership (PPP) for the development of the Mohakhali Bus Terminal in central Dhaka, aiming to transform it into a state-of-the-art mixed-use transportation hub. With its strategic location and significant potential, this project is designed to enhance transportation options for North Dhaka, integrating inter-city buses and future bus rapid transit services, thereby catalyzing broader neighborhood development.

Located on over eight acres of prime land, the Mohakhali Bus Terminal has the potential to serve as a key transportation interchange amid Dhaka’s rapid economic growth. Recognizing the need for an innovative approach to funding and operations, the World Bank’s “Improving Private Sector Participation in Dhaka Public Transport” project aims to create a transformational model for urban infrastructure. HR&A’s objective was to develop a market-supportable mixed-use program that maximizes the site’s value while accommodating both current and future transportation needs.

To achieve this, HR&A conducted a comprehensive assessment of the site’s existing conditions, accompanied by a real estate market analysis to identify feasible land uses. Engaging with local developers and stakeholders, we highlighted key risks and opportunities for the project. This foundational analysis informed the development of various mid- and long-term real estate development scenarios, allowing us to project future revenues from land sales or leases that could fund the terminal operating costs .

Additionally, we proposed a range of public-private partnership structures for both terminal operations and the mixed-use development, clarifying roles and responsibilities for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and private entities, along with projected financial outcomes for each model.

As a result of our work, DNCC and the World Bank initiated next steps to foster dialogue with municipal and national leaders to build consensus around Mohakhali’s transformative potential and the PPP model as a catalyst for rapid infrastructure development in Bangladesh.