New Regional Resource to Help Shape Thriving Transit Communities

March, 2026

Announcing the Transit-Oriented Development Toolkit

Transit-oriented-development creates vibrant, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods surrounding transit stations, and is fundamental to the regional policy that sustains thriving transit communities. In support of this vision, Sound Transit and the Model Code Partnership, together with the cities of Everett and Lynnwood, Snohomish County, Puget Sound Regional Council, and other partners, are proud to announce the recent completion and publishing of the Transit-Oriented Development Toolkit.

Otak planners and designers were an instrumental part of the consultant team that developed this comprehensive, state-of‑the‑practice guidance, working alongside Kimley‑Horn (project manager), Mithun, and EnviroIssues.

Best Practices Visualized

The Toolkit includes chapters on urban design and placekeeping, land use and built form, multimodal streets, as well as resilient infrastructure and green buildings. It goes on to cover implementing regulations in these areas that can be integrated into local codes. Heavily illustrated, the guide presents best practices, policy considerations, design concepts, and regulatory language to support local adoption.

In addition to content development, Otak facilitated multiple workshops with the Model Code Partnership throughout the process. The work was funded primarily by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s TOD Pilot Program under the direction of Miranda Redinger, AICP, with Sound Transit. Otak’s team was led by Mandi Roberts, AICP, PLA, with key contributions from a multidisciplinary team of planners, designers, and technical specialists.  That team included Ben Schneider, PLA; Mark Shelby, PLA; Cristina Haworth, AICP; Emily Larson; Samantha Cornejo; Brendan Wedderspoon; Marissa Chargualaf; Christopher Green; Casey McKenna; and Matt Neish supporting the work.