Smart Mobility and Transit-Oriented Development in Mid-Sized Cities: Assessing Accessibility, Equity, and Climate Resilience Through Integrated Land-Use and Transport Planning

Project Abstract

This study investigates how smart mobility and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) can be leveraged in mid-sized cities to enhance accessibility, promote equity, and bolster climate resilience through integrated land-use and transport planning. The research develops a multi-scalar framework that connects urban form, transport technologies, policy instruments, and community outcomes. It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining GIS-based accessibility analysis, urban form metrics, and micro-simulation of travel demand with qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews and participatory planning workshops. The core objective is to quantify how smart mobility interventions—such as e-mobility adoption, real-time multimodal routing, adaptive traffic management, and last-mile solutions—interact with TOD principles to reshape travel behavior patterns, land-value dynamics, and social equity in mid-sized urban contexts. The study begins with a diagnostic assessment of existing transport networks, land-use patterns, and demographic profiles in a representative sample of mid-sized cities. It then models potential TOD scenarios anchored by station-neighborhood intensification, mixed-use zoning, pedestrian-first street design, and transit service improvements, integrated with smart mobility services. Key indicators include transit accessibility (spatial and temporal), modal share shifts, time and cost savings for residents, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. A critical emphasis is placed on equity, examining differential impacts across income groups, people with mobility constraints, and historically underserved neighborhoods. The research also interrogates climate resilience by evaluating exposure to flood risks, heat islands, and extreme weather disruptions under different TOD-smart mobility configurations, and by assessing the redundancy and reliability of multimodal networks. Data are sourced from municipal GIS layers, transit agencies, mobility service providers, and household surveys conducted in multiple communities. Analytical methods include network analysis, accessibility scoring, before-after comparisons, scenario planning, and a policy-practice gap analysis to identify barriers to implementation. The study contributes a transferable toolkit comprising a set of metrics and decision-support models to guide planners in selecting, tailoring, and sequencing smart mobility and TOD interventions within resource-constrained mid-sized cities. It also analyzes governance arrangements, financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships necessary to sustain integrated land-use and transport planning. Expected outcomes include improved daily accessibility to essential services, enhanced equitable access to opportunities, and measurable reductions in vehicle miles traveled and emissions, achieved without compromising affordability or social inclusion. The research offers actionable recommendations for metropolitan planning organizations, city councils, transport authorities, and community organizations on designing holistic, resilient, and people-centered mobility networks that harmonize smart technology with TOD to create more livable, inclusive, and climate-resilient mid-sized urban futures.

Project Overview

What This Project Is About

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A plain-language overview of how cities connect transportation and nearby land use to help people travel easily and fairly in mid-sized cities. It looks at buses and trains, bike routes, and walking paths, and how these fit with where people live, work, and shop to create a transit-oriented plan that reduces car dependence and supports climate goals.

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The Problem It Addresses

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Mid-sized cities often struggle with accessible public transit, rising transport costs, and unequal access to jobs and services. Planning that links housing, workplaces, and transit is not always well coordinated, leading to gaps in service and places that are hard to reach for some residents. The project investigates how to close these gaps and make growth more sustainable and fair.

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Objectives of the Project

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1. Explain what transit-oriented development means in a mid-sized city context. 2. Assess how accessible transit is for different neighborhoods and income groups. 3. Identify equity gaps in transport access and propose improvements. 4. Evaluate how land-use plans influence climate resilience and emissions. 5. Propose an integrated strategy linking housing, jobs, and transit.

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What You Will Do Step by Step

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1. Review simple, existing plans and data on housing, transit, and land use. 2. Map who can reach key services by public transport and walking. 3. Interview or survey residents to learn barriers and needs. 4. Analyze data to find areas with the greatest access gaps. 5. Develop practical TOD ideas that boost accessibility and reduce car use. 6. Present a clear, low-cost plan with implementation steps.

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Expected Outcome

A clear set of recommendations for mid-sized cities to improve transit access, balance growth with housing and jobs, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts, with simple dashboards for decision-makers.