College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

City and Regional Planning Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in City and Regional Planning

Date

12-2020

Primary Advisor

Michael R. Boswell, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, City and Regional Planning Department

Abstract/Summary

Many California coastal communities lack a supply of housing, produce high levels of greenhouse gas emissions by daily auto commuters but have existing local and commuter rail stations with large fields of parking surrounding it. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) integrates the building of housing, retail, office, and public space together focused around transit stations. This infill of development locates people within comfortable walking distance, usually within a quarter-mile, of a public trail transit station reducing automobile dependence for local trips or commuting for work.

The Oceanside Transit Center (OTC) is a major railway interchange, serving as a gateway to the San Diego county and region, located just blocks south from the center of downtown Oceanside, California. The station is serviced regionally by Amtrak and Metrolink trains, service along the coast by the COASTER commuter rail, and locally by the SPRINTER light rail with annual station ridership close to 300,000. Bus service includes Greyhound Lines and BREEZE. The station and its surface parking lots consist of approximately +/- 10.2 acres owned by the North County Transit District (NCTD) and is located within a short walk from the Oceanside Civil Center, the heart of the downtown and community. Recently, Oceanside has experienced major growth through private investment and redevelopment in the downtown core due to its accepting government, beautiful beaches, casual lifestyle, and a great sense of community.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) can be used as a tool for ensuring efficient use of developing around and near transit stations, reducing environmental impacts (carbon emissions), creating vibrant places that contribute to the local economy, and building stronger communities that have a distinct sense of place. All these factors are important aspects of the redevelopment of cities formulated by city planners and urban designers.

The significant benefits of building adjacent to rail transit station through, Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs), has been proven worldwide with regards of strengthening local economic conditions, increase of transit ridership, improved social and health benefits, the increase of land-values and real estate impacts while creating a more sustainable community. The objective of this project is to analyze the existing conditions, refine the infill development potential for the underutilized surface parking lots owned by NCTD surrounding the Oceanside Transit Center and create a means to achieving that vision.

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