US High Speed Rail launches TOD Institute, conference
Will work to increase the supply of new TODs and rail systems across America and will be holding a series of national and local events bringing together business and political leaders with planners and experts to advance knowledge sharing and project deal making.
The US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) is launching the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Institute — a national planning initiative to promote and accelerate the roll-out of walkable, mixed-use communities around rail stations.
The institute will be working to increase the supply of new TODs and rail systems across America and will be holding a series of national and local events bringing together business and political leaders with planners and experts to advance knowledge sharing and project deal making.
Ad Loading...
The institute will also be working to spread the ideas and lifestyles of TOD to a wider audience helping to increase excitement across America.
The Transit Oriented Development Institute builds upon the extensive TOD work of others to help spread the word and promote the concept far and wide and will promote increased TOD as well as high quality design standards that deliver the best results for the users, the community, the developers and the rail systems.
The first national conference of the TOD Institute will take place this October in Washington D.C. The conference will focus on successful projects, best practices, and the steps to get projects going both from a public and private perspective. A number of project tours will be included in the conference for a first-hand look at exemplary successful projects. For more on the institute and the event, click here.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
The Maryland Transit Administration is advancing the nearly $1.4 billion Light Rail Modernization Program, which modernizes the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with new, low-floor vehicles and upgrades to all light rail stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently met for a budget workshop, during which staff outlined the significant service reductions Caltrain could be forced to make without new external funding.
Funding for the purchase of the railcars comes from the nearly $220 million in additional capital dollars Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated in November 2025 to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
With major events and increased travel expected across the state this summer, the Administration is focused on making sure people have a reliable, affordable alternative to driving so we can reduce congestion, support daily commuters, and keep Massachusetts moving.
