Transit-Oriented Housing: A Pathway to Rebuild Lives

Thu Nov 13 2025 09:38:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Cities across the U.S. are embracing transit-oriented development as a solution to housing shortages, providing essential access to public transportation while revitalizing neighborhoods.

Transit-oriented housing initiatives are gaining momentum in cities like Los Angeles and Boston, offering affordable living options and direct access to public transportation. This approach not only supports those in need but also addresses broader issues of traffic congestion and environmental sustainability.

BOSTON (AP) — After years of living on the street, Quantavia Smith moved into a studio apartment in Los Angeles, enjoying easy access to public transit, which she calls a lifeline. It is more a sense of relief, a sense of independence, she reflected. She now pays only $19 a month, dramatically less than the actual market value of the apartment.

Municipal officials across the country, from Los Angeles to Boston, are increasingly supporting housing development linked to public transit to energize neglected neighborhoods, provide affordable housing options, and decrease traffic congestion.

According to Yonah Freemark, research director at the Urban Institute's Land Use Lab, transit-oriented developments might be the key to addressing housing shortages. His advocacy suggests that if projects are executed without leveraging the transport infrastructure, it could result in inefficiencies.

In a national trend, transit authorities are collaborating with developers to provide low-cost housing projects near public transport hubs. In Line with this initiative, Los Angeles aims to introduce 10,000 housing units by 2031 offering land discounts for affordable housing. Similar efforts in Washington, D.C. have already led to the completion of multiple projects that added residential units adjacent to transit routes.

Bostonians are also seeing the benefits; developments like the Pok Oi Residents are easily accessible to subway stations, enhancing the living experience for many. Families, like that of Bernie Hernandez, have found these neighborhoods attractive due to their walkability and reduced dependency on vehicles.

States are actively revising restrictive zoning laws linked to housing shortages. California and Massachusetts, for instance, are spearheading legislation to encourage multi-family housing in transit-adjacent areas, aiming to balance urban development with sustainability.

While advocates maintain hope for transit-oriented housing's potential, challenges such as local resistance and funding issues persist. Nonetheless, initiatives like those seen in Los Angeles, where smith now resides with 300 neighbors in new housing, are also enabling formerly homeless individuals to regain stability and independence.