What are the characteristics of a good candidate for TOD Designation?
Although it is difficult to anticipate all the characteristics of a good TOD candidate, the following are important:
- Located within a mile of a transit station (this is required by the law)
- Demonstrates the potential to significantly increase transit ridership and reduce car usage
- Includes a significant-sized parcel of developable land
- Has appropriate density for the locality and site
- Includes a mix of uses including housing, retail and commercial office space
- Is located and designed in such a way to improve access to the transit station and is pedestrian and bicycle friendly
- Incorporates substantial green design features
- Includes a State role that is important for the success of the project (including in some cases, the use of State property)
- There is a market for rental or purchase of the development components (housing units, office space, retail)
- The project is financeable by the private markets without excessive subsidy by government
- There is committed local government support for the project
- There has been substantial local community input to the project or plan
- There is a reasonable means for funding necessary infrastructure

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1. What does the term transit-oriented development mean?
2. Why is the State involved in transit-oriented development?
3. What does it mean to be a designated transit-oriented development (TOD) in Maryland?
4. Why designate some Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects and not others? Should all TODs be designated?
5. What are the benefits that designation brings to a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project?
6. What is the process for designating a TOD pursuant to Section 7-101(m)?
7. Do the State and local government designate a project, a zone, a planning effort, or something else?
8. Have any projects been designated TODs yet?
9. Is there a limit to the number of TOD designations that can be made?
10. What new financial tools did the 2009 TOD legislation grant to local governments for use solely at designated TODs?
11. What is tax increment financing (TIF)?
12. What is a Special Taxing District?
13. What is the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) and what role does it plan in TOD?
14. Are there dedicated funds in the State budget for TODs?
15. What are the characteristics of a good candidate for TOD Designation?
16. What types of transit stations make a TOD project eligible for designation?
17. Is there any new State legislation that might help support TOD projects?
18. How do Designated TODs relate to Smart Sites and other programs?
19. Whom do I contact to learn more about TOD and TOD Designations?