Transit-centric development

A 2003 extension of the Bay Area's rapid transit system, BART, south from Daly City approximately 7 miles to San Francisco Airport and terminating in Millbrae affords Peninsula cities the chance to develop the "right" solutions for these areas. With transit, high density proximate housing provides residents with the opportunity to reduce car trips and develop housing for people who don't have cars, don't want to drive, or anyone wishing to take advantage of proximate public transportation. Colma is building just this kind of solution.

Millbrae has a mixed-use retail/housing project being developed less than a quarter mile from its new station. Other cities however are seeing big BART parking lots intended for distant commuters and exploring how to optimize facilities for these drivers. These towns are missing the mark. Car-oriented services already pervade the Bay Area and indeed most of the country. Public transportation hubs are a rare commodity and where one exists, planners and developers need to define solutions that best address the needs of pedestrians. Where a transit hub exits -- high density housing and retail are ideal solutions, allow people to walk to the train from their homes, allowing people to commute to jobs near the train, and enabling business and housing growth within at least a one half mile radius (typical maximum distance people find acceptable before switching to driving) of the transit hub, while vehicular focus doesn't leverage the transit hub for the greater benefit of the community.