Evaluating TOD readiness of lebanese towns along the Northern Coastal Highway

Abstract

The concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) has been gaining noticeable appreciation in cities that pursue urban and transport sustainability. This term was coined in the late 1980s when the alarming outcomes of vehicle-dependent planning started to materialize. TOD is characterized basically by mixed land-use that fosters the use of transit services by minimalizing the walking distance to its service point. Thus, a transit station must be centered based on the neighborhood typologies to encourage the largest number of people who live or work near the station to use transit as a transport mode. Setting this objective at the onset of planning a development can result in a TOD with varying successes. But when introducing transit into an already developed and car- based city, realizing a TOD can be quite challenging. The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility of such an endeavor. Lebanon is planning to introduce its new mass transit system, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), where several alignments are proposed. Five cities housing the BRT stations along the northern corridor will be evaluated to study their adequacy to be transformed into a transit-oriented city. In this thesis, we will develop an evaluation methodology and implement it on five cities housing BRT stations. As a first step, the general TOD characteristics and objectives are discussed as well as the neighborhood typologies. Second, a method of how TOD concepts can be applied to an existing city is elaborated. Third, the evaluation methodology is chosen which is the 5Ds method. TOD characteristics are compared with the city’s existing characteristics; as a result, certain features are identified for necessary modifications, and new components are proposed. Finally, recommendations of priority-ranked interventions are developed that best satisfy the TOD required criteria along with general reflection on the process.