How should the city of Huntsville integrate public transportation and development along one of its busiest corridors?

The city’s planning department wants input from residents as it continues its University Drive Transit Oriented Development Planning Study.

The city has scheduled two public meetings to extend the conversation with residents about integrating public transportation with development along the corridor.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, the city will hold a public meeting for the University-Medical TOD study at Cavalry Hill Community Center Community Room from 6-8 p.m.

The meeting will focus on sharing findings in the study so far for the Northwoods community and surrounding areas.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the city will hold a public meeting to discuss findings on the study area as a whole – including the Northwoods community. The meeting will be from 6-8 p.m. in Room 621, Huntsville City Hall.

“The information we have received from the public has been tremendous and is helping to guide this study,” Manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning Dennis Madsen said in a news release.

“At this point, we want to capitalize on the momentum on that feedback and share those insights with residents. Continuing the discussion will shape the best strategies going forward.”

TODs, conceived by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, are an approach to urban development designed to bring people, services and activities together with quality public transit supported by walking and cycling conditions to facilitate shorter trips, better lifestyles and more efficient use of city resources, the city said.

The University-Medical TOD Planning Study will identify three clusters along University Drive as the primary focus for quality, transit-supportive development: Northwoods, UAH and MidCity.

The clusters present unique opportunities for residential development, including housing for essential workers, students and families.

The study will also examine a variety of affordable housing policies for different needs and conceptualize designs of station areas and first/last mile connections to visualize how TOD might appear along the corridor and link to nearby areas.

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