Ever heard the phrase “transit-oriented development” and felt like you’d rather take a nice nap than learn what it means? Well, wake up and spend 3 minutes and 18 seconds watching this video from the Streetfilms crew. It shows how investment in excellent transit (light rail, buses, ferries, and commuter trains), along with some zoning changes, has made the New Jersey Hudson River waterfront a fine place to live and work — one where you don’t have to drive to enjoy shopping, dining, and just being.
The area has attracted some $5 billion in residential development since light rail came in. “That’s a testament to transit-rich development,” says Robert Cotter, director of city planning for Jersey City. “The communities that have access to fixed rail are going to be the richest in the coming century, I’m thoroughly convinced of it.”
