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Maryland Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Designation - Application Form

This application is the first step in the process for local jurisdictions or multicounty agencies with land use and planning authority for a relevant area to apply for State Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Designation. You can find a map of existing State TOD Designations here.

State TOD Designation comes with several benefits, including:

  • Eligibility to apply for MDOT's TOD Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund
  • Projects located in State TODs receive additional points in competitive application rounds for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
  • DGS awards additional points to sites located within State-designated TODs when evaluating requests for proposals to lease or purchase office or laboratory space.
  • Priority advocacy with MDOT and associate modes in supporting development.

The Sustainable Growth Subcabinet will take official action to approve or deny applications and may offer comments on how to better a TOD project and provide guidance on the use of State resources in support of the TOD. This will be embodied in a resolution issued by the Subcabinet. Once approved, a State TOD Designation is applicable for 10 years. Upon expiration, jurisdictions can apply to have their Designation extended for an additional 10 years.

Once a jurisdiction submits a complete application via this form and the local legislative body has adopted a resolution in support of a State Transit-Oriented Development Designation, MDOT will circulate the applicant's TOD Designation Plan to MTA, SHA and Sustainable Growth Subcabinet agencies for feedback. MDOT staff will work with the applicant to address any feedback before developing a recommendation to the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet for final deliberation.

Policy on Designation of TOD Corridors

Property adjacent to a planned or existing transit corridor is eligible to receive TOD Designation, as defined by State law (§ 7–101 Transportation Article):

  • “Transit corridor” means a geographically bound set of two or more contiguous subway, light rail, bus rapid transit or bus transit stations.
  • “Transit corridor” includes a geographically bound set of two or more contiguous bus transit stations that have fixed-route bus service that operates on a roadway dedicated to buses.

To be considered for TOD Corridor Designation, MDOT and the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet will look for applicants to share a comprehensive planning and development vision for TOD throughout the corridor. Applications should highlight planning both for station areas within the corridor and the parcels connecting station areas.

Local jurisdictions interested in TOD Designation for a transit corridor must request a pre-application meeting before applying by reaching out to Alex Walinskas, Policy and Partnerships Manager, at (awalinskas@mdot.maryland.gov).

TOD Planning and Application Resources

There are a number of State agency resources to support successful TOD planning:

  • The Maryland Transit Station Area Profile Tool is an interactive map that compiles key socio-economic, demographic, land-use and transit-access information for all of Maryland’s current and planned fixed rail stations.
  • The Maryland TOD Models and Guidelines Resources (Both developed and supported by MDP).
  • MDOT Office of Active Transportation and Micromobility (OATM) can help apply the Complete Streets policy and review bicycle and pedestrian plans for your TOD strategy. Applicants are encouraged to explore existing plans and programs and email completestreets@mdot.maryland.gov with specific questions about multimodal connectivity.
  • MDOT’s Bicycle Accessibility Mapping Application illustrates how readily available community amenities are located to a census block by way of the low-stress bicycle network.
  • MDOT MTA’s Designing for Transit: TOD Design Guidelines provides design Guidelines to illustrate transit access considerations for diverse station types.
  • MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), has a Context Driven Access and Mobility for All Users Guide to provide guidance on roadway enhancements appropriate to station areas.
  • The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) provides planning and design studies for many Metro Station areas.
  • Maryland EV has information on incentives for communities and local governments looking to install EV charging infrastructure.

If your jurisdiction has questions or seeks assistance with any part of this process, please contact TOD Coordinator Alex Walinskas at awalinskas@mdot.maryland.gov or 410.865.1304.

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1. Jurisdiction

2. Contact Information*

If Yes, please share the short text.

Please list and briefly describe any existing incentive designations that apply to the proposed TOD area (for example: Priority Funding Areas, Sustainable Community, local or national register historic district, Maryland Heritage Area, Enterprise Zone, Main Street, BRAC Zone, Arts and Entertainment District, federal Opportunity Zone, Just Communities, etc.).

If your site already has a specific development proposal in place, please be sure to incorporate that proposal into the responses below.

Land Use

Question 1: Please describe and provide documentation of the transit-oriented (if applicable) land use plans and policies, existing zoning and other development regulations (e.g., any TOD-favorable design standards, adequate public facility standards and permitting process), and/or development proposal if applicable for the proposed designation area. The land use plan should include a mix of uses and target densities. If there is any intention for land use or zoning changes for the site area, please share.

Question 2: Please explain how and provide documentation showing that proposed developments are transit-oriented and consistent with local and regional land use and comprehensive plans.

Question 3: Please describe and provide documentation of a rationalized parking strategy for the proposed designation area. This can include allowable parking under zoning or the amount of parking being proposed through a development proposal.

Modal Connectivity

Question 4: Please describe and provide documentation of any plans specific to people biking, walking, or rolling, within and to/from the proposed designation area in local comprehensive, transportation, or pedestrian and bicycle master plans.

Question 5: Please describe and provide documentation of a strategy for connectivity to different modes of transit within and to/from the proposed designation area.

Community Development and Infrastructure

Question 6: Please describe and provide documentation of goals for housing creation (number of intended units and type) and affordability within the proposed designation area.

Question 7: Please describe how current planning and/or planned development supports economic development in the proposed designation area, including any anchor employers, business attraction or expansion efforts, and financial incentives or investment. Describe how any proposed developments and/or placemaking projects will support the revitalization, development or redevelopment of sites within the proposed designation area, and what resources will be necessary to implement proposed developments.

Question 8: Please describe and provide documentation of plans, policies, or strategies for developing green infrastructure within the proposed designation area. Examples of green infrastructure include rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs and enhanced or restored natural landscape features.

Action Plan and Implementation

Question 9: Please summarize the jurisdiction's action plan for development during the 10-year designation period, including targeted milestones, community engagement strategy, enabling projects, TOD-supportive zoning, and potential funding sources and commitments for proposed development within the proposed designation area. Applicants can include community engagement work that has already occurred.

Has your local legislative body passed a resolution in support of a State Transit-Oriented Development Designation? (Note: applicants are strongly encouraged to share their proposed TOD Designation boundary with MDOT for feedback before including it in a final legislative resolution)

If yes, please share documentation.

If no, please share the timeline for a local legislative resolution.