Which statement best encapsulates the main features and outcomes of transit-oriented development (TOD)?

• A. Mixed-use development within walking distance of transit stations
• B. High-density development that increases car dependence
• C. Higher-density, reduced car dependence, increased walkability, and accessible housing
• D. Suburban single-use development far from transit

Answer: (C)

Transit-oriented development centers growth around transit stops to make living, working, and shopping feasible without heavy car use. It stacks higher density with a mix of uses—housing, shops, and offices—within a walkable distance of stations and designs streets to prioritize pedestrians and easy transit access. The statement that best captures TOD includes higher density near transit, reduced car dependence, increased walkability, and accessible housing. That combination reflects both how compact, mixed-use neighborhoods around transit function and the behavioral outcomes TOD aims for: more walking and transit use, less reliance on cars, livelier streets, and housing options that are easier to reach by means other than driving. The other options miss or oppose these elements: one notes mixed-use near transit but omits car dependence and housing access; another implies higher density yet more car dependence; and one describes suburban, single-use development far from transit, which is the opposite of TOD.