Public Services

Making Transit-Oriented Development a reality in Rhode Island

“What is TOD?,” asked John Flaherty, Deputy Director of GrowSmart Rhode Island at a workshop to discuss Making Transit-Oriented Development a Reality. “At it’s core, Transit-Oriented Development is a type of development that includes a mixture of housing, office, commercial, retail, amenities… integrated into a walkable neighborhood with access to high quality, high frequency public transportation.” The forum invited four

Published on December 6, 2018
By Steve Ahlquist

“What is TOD?,” asked John Flaherty, Deputy Director of GrowSmart Rhode Island at a workshop to discuss Making Transit-Oriented Development a Reality. “At it’s core, Transit-Oriented Development is a type of development that includes a mixture of housing, office, commercial, retail, amenities… integrated into a walkable neighborhood with access to high quality, high frequency public transportation.”

The forum invited four experts to talk about their ideas, plans and experiences in bringing TOD concepts into reality here in Rhode Island.

Here’s Flaherty’s introduction:

Dan Geagan is the Principal Planner and Geographic Information Systems Coordinator for the City of Warwick. He’s been involved with the TF Green Airport expansion, the Rocky Point Park acquisition and development, hazard mitigation, zoning ordinance rewrites and City Centre Warwick.

Greg Nordin is the Director of Planning at the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA). Nordin oversees RIPTA’s farebox upgrade, development of a multimodal transportation center in Pawtucket and the Providence Downtown Transit Connector.

Drew Pflaumer is a planner with the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning specializing in bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects. His recent work includes the State’s first Bicycle Mobility Plan and Transit Master Plan.

Ginette Wessel joined the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation at Roger Williams University in 2016 and teaches architecture and urban planning courses. Her primary research interests include contemporary issues of urban development with an emphasis on sustainability, social equity and communication technology.

Here’s the question and answer portion, followed by closing comments from John Flaherty.


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