Multistage Transit-Oriented Development Assessment: A Case Study of the Montréal Metro System

Abstract

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is characterized as compact, mixed-use, and pedestrian-friendly development around transit stations, aiming to balance land use and transportation, enhance sustainability, and improve public transport accessibility. There are various TOD assessment methods; each target one of these goals. This paper proposes a comprehensive approach that addresses TOD goals in a multistage assessment. In the first stage, we identify station areas' typology using weighted node, place, and tie indices based on the correlation between land use and transportation. Then, feasible station areas for enhancing density and diversity are selected using a canonical score. In the second stage, station areas' typology is defined by sustainability criteria and a TOD index. Then, the efficiency of selected station areas for compactness is assessed using Data Envelopment Analysis. Finally, public transport accessibility is optimized for these stations in the third stage. We investigate the effects of weighting indicators of the node–place model in the first stage and aggregation methods in the second stage. We conduct a feasibility and efficiency assessment for the typology of station areas in Metro Montreal. This study attempts to advocate a holistic perspective for TOD assessment with a case study implementation.