The video below, produced by Rob Sanders (Road Guy Rob), a journalist with a degree in civil engineering, provides an overview of transit-oriented development (TOD) that is sophisticated and yet engaging to a mass audience. The video covers projects in California and Utah, and focuses on Del Mar Station in Pasadena, designed by new urbanists Moule & Polyzoides. Sanders also highlights Mission Meridian Village in South Pasadena, another Moule & Polyzoides design. 

One issue raised by Sanders is the noise from trains experienced by TOD residents. As someone who lived for five years in an apartment next to a major freight train line, my experience was that I got used to the train noise very quickly. I soon learned to sleep through the loud but intermittent train whistles. I found that living by a busy road, however, is far more psychologically stressful because the noise is constant. 

The areas within a quarter mile of stations offer a great opportunity to densify suburbs and cities alike. Also, concentrated housing can be built on former large retail sites, another idea that is mentioned by Sanders in the video. I have a few minor quibbles with the video, but they are quibbles, and I will be watching more of Road Guy Rob. I especially like his choice of what to highlight—Del Mar Station and Mission Meridian are both Charter Award winners, and the TOD in the Salt Lake City region stems from the planning of another Charter winner, Envision Utah. Kudos, Road Guy.