Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a powerful planning approach that can deliver multiple community benefits, including expanded access to jobs and services, reduced auto dependence, and stronger local economies. TOD can also be a driver for the displacement of existing residents and local businesses. In Prince George’s County, Maryland, these challenges intersect with a growing risk: many existing and planned transit stations sit in or are adjacent to floodplains. In fact, more than one-third of Prince George’s County’s metro stops are within floodplains, increasing the chances that development could exacerbate existing flood risk, raise costs for small businesses, and undermine the viability of transit-rich communities.
Leveraging the expertise, networks, and capacity of the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG), Environmental Finance Center (EFC), and Stormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice Lab (SIRJ), this project will assist local governments, small businesses, and community groups in capturing the benefits of TOD, while improving overall readiness to flood risk in the Anacostia Watershed and vulnerable transit stations across Prince George’s County.
Award funds will support a community-driven effort in Prince George’s County to:
- Engage community partners, including community-based organizations and small businesses, to address concerns about the impacts of development/redevelopment;
- Analyze flood and related hazards and associated displacement risks to low- and moderate-income communities and small businesses near transit;
- Produce public-facing tools for government, community, and small business partners; and
- Develop and launch a toolkit for community-based planning paired with technical assistance to support local adoption and implementation of common-sense solutions for advancing sustainable economic development.
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