What is ETOD?

Transit-oriented development, or TOD, refers to the development of transit stops within walking distance of clusters of different types of places, such as housing, shops, and offices.

Equitable transit-oriented development, or ETOD, acknowledges that not everyone has benefitted equally from traditional TOD planning.

By engaging with community in more meaningful ways and in all phases of the planning process, ETOD seeks to undo harmful planning practices and build communities in which all are safe, supported, and have the resources to thrive.

The City of Austin is working in partnership with Capital Metro (Austin's transit authority), the Austin Transit Partnership, and the community to support equitable transit-oriented development as the Project Connect transit system is built. Learn more about the multi-agency ETOD effort on the Project Connect ETOD website

 

The Station Area Planning Process

Capital Metro, in partnership with the City of Austin's Planning Department, is beginning Station Area Planning, which is the first step in making ETOD a reality. Station Area Planning is a community-driven approach to planning for areas around a bus or train station to make sure people can easily, safely, and comfortably access a station. It’s also planning for the vision of the neighborhoods around the station area to ensure that the station area meets the needs of current and future community members with options for housing, jobs, services, and more. The process began with a series of workshops with community members focused near the North Lamar and South Congress Transit Centers and will resume in the fall.

Visit the Project Connect ETOD website to watch recordings of those workshops, or learn more about the Station Area Planning process.

ETOD in the Policy Plan

The ETOD Policy Plan is a set of guidelines to help the Austin community equitably put transit-oriented development in place. These guidelines seek to support residents of all incomes and backgrounds, especially those who have been hurt by transportation and planning decisions.

The ETOD Policy Plan was created by the City of Austin's Planning Department, along with partners at CapMetro, the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), and the community. Together, staff and the public drafted the goals for ETOD in Austin, the tools that can help us reach those goals, and the actions we must take to make equity possible in the transit system and the neighborhoods around it. 

The ETOD Policy Plan was accepted by City Council by resolution at their meeting on March 9, 2023. For more information about what happened at this meeting, or at other public meetings, please see the Key Dates section. To learn more about how community engagement informed the ETOD Policy Plan, check out the Engagement Updates.  

Key Dates

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City Council

March 9, 2023

Watch: Action taken and discussion of amendments by Council 

Read: Resolution from Council, Amendment from Mayor Pro-Tem Ellis, amendment from CM Vela

Council Action: Accepted the ETOD Policy Plan as a resolution with amendments and directed City staff to:

  • Incorporate ETOD policy tools for 11 station areas in the upcoming Northeast Austin District planning process
  • Initiate amendments to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to adopt elements of the ETOD Policy Plan
  • Initiate amendments to City Code Title 25- Land Development Code
  • Begin the work to develop an ETOD Overlay and;
  • Begin the work to develop an Equity Scorecard

And, present an implementation plan that will include: 

  • tools prioritized for implementation
  • targeted outcomes for tool implementation
  • timeline for tool implementation
  • identification of funding sources and other resources for tool implementation; and
  • performance measures to assess tool implementation success
  • Update to be provided by May 26th, 2023 and full implementation plan by September 12th, 2023

Staff Action: Incorporate amendments by Mayor Pro-Tem Ellis and CM Vela to the ETOD Policy Plan. Begin steps as directed above by Council. 

 

 

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City Council Work Session

March 7, 2023

Watch: City staff briefing of Councilmembers at this meeting. 

Read: Memo from Housing and Planning Department Director to Mayor and Councilmembers. 

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Housing and Planning/Mobility Committee Joint Meeting

March 2, 2023

Watch: Recording of this meeting, including City staff presentation, community roundtable, and Councilmember questions. 

Review: Presentation City staff gave to Councilmembers

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City Council

February 23, 2023

Watch: Action taken and public comment on the draft ETOD Policy Plan.

Council Action: Voted unanimously to postpone action on the draft ETOD Policy Plan until Council Meeting on March 9.  

City Staff Action: Present to Housing and Planning and Mobility Committee Joint meeting on March 2. Return to City Council March 9. 

 

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City Council Work Session

February 21, 2023

Watch: Staff presemtation and Councilmember questions and comments at this meeting.

Council Action: Announced they will be asking for postponement on further action until March 9 City Council meeting, following the briefing at the March 2 Housing & Planning and Mobility Committee.

City Staff Action: Present to Housing & Planning and Mobility Committee meeting on March 2. Return to City Council March 9. 

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Asian American Quality of Life Commission

December 20, 2022

Listen: Draft ETOD Policy Plan staff presentation and responses to questions/comments from commissioners.  

Commission Action: None. No formal recommendations or changes suggested to the draft ETOD Policy Plan.

City Staff Action: Review public comments and questions to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None 

 

 

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CapMetro Customer Satisfaction Advisory Committee

December 14, 2022

Commission Action: None. No formal recommendations or changes suggested to the draft ETOD policy Plan.

City Staff Action: Review public comments and questions to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None

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City Council

December 8, 2022

Watch: Action taken on draft ETOD Policy Plan.

Read: Suggested amendments from Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison

Council Action: After the addition of CM Natasha Harper-Madison’s amendments, Council voted unanimously to direct the City Manager, in coordination with CapMetro, to begin detailed station area planning processes in the North Lamar Transit Center and South Congress Transit Center station areas.  

City Staff Action: City Manager and CapMetro to begin detailed station area planning in the North Lamar Transit Center and South Congress Transit Center station areas. 

Next Steps: Bring back on February 23, 2023 a resolution that accomplishes the following:

  1. Accepts the ETOD Policy Plan; and
  2. Directs the City Manager to coordinate with Capital Metro to incorporate the ETOD Policy Plan tools for the Green Line and Metro Rapid Stations within the boundaries of the ongoing Northeast Austin District Planning Process; and
  3. Initiates necessary amendments to the Land Development Code to implement an ETOD Policy;
  4. Initiates amendments the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the ETOD Typologies. 

 

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Zoning and Platting Commission

December 6, 2022

Watch: Draft ETOD Policy Plan staff presentation and responses to questions/comments from commissioners.

Commission Action: None. No formal recommendations or changes suggested to the draft ETOD policy Plan.

City Staff Action: Review public comments and questions to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None

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Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission

December 6, 2022

Commission Action: None. No formal recommendations or changes suggested to the draft ETOD Policy Plan.

City Staff Action: Review public comments and questions to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None

 

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Planning Commission

November 15, 2022

Watch: Action taken on the draft ETOD Policy Plan at this meeting 

Commission Action: Indefinitely postponed action on draft ETOD Policy Plan.

City Staff Action: None.

Next Steps: City Staff will return to Planning Commission when specific code or plan amendments related to equitable transit-oriented development are necessary.

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Project Connect Community Advisory Committee

November 10, 2022

Commission Action: Action recommending City Council approve the draft ETOD Policy Plan by resolution.

City Staff Action: None.

Next Steps: Commission’s recommendation will be presented to City Council on December 8, 2022.

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City Council Housing and Planning Committee

November 10, 2022

Watch: Draft ETOD Policy Plan staff presentation and responses to questions from Councilmembers at this meeting.  

Commission Action: None. No formal recommendations or changes suggested to the draft ETOD Policy Plan.

City Staff Action: Review public comments and questions to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None.

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Early Childhood Council

November 9, 2022

Commission Action: Working group formed to make suggestions for changes to the draft ETOD Policy Plan. 

City Staff Action: Review suggested changes from working group to consider recommending any changes. 

Next Steps: Commission’s suggested changes will be presented as agenda backup for City Council action on December 8, including where staff supports the recommended change be incorporated.

 

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Planning Commission

November 8, 2022

Watch: Public comment and City staff answers to Commission questions on the draft ETOD Policy Plan at this meeting.

Commission Action: Item postponed to November 15 Planning Commission meeting.

City Staff Action: Catalog public comments made and questions from Commissioners to consider recommending any changes.

Next Steps: None.

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Joint Bicycle Advisory Council/Pedestrian Advisory Council

November 7, 2022

Commission Action: None. Questions from Council members with responses from staff. No recommendation on the draft ETOD Policy Plan.

City Staff Action: None.

Next Steps: None.