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Building Apartments Near Public Transit: A Dual-Solution for Housing and Climate

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 1:15 GMT by Bangor Daily News

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Building Apartments Near Public Transit: A Dual‑Solution for Housing and Climate

On November 13 2025 the Bangor Daily News published an in‑depth look at a strategy that is gaining traction across the United States: locating new apartment projects within walking distance of public‑transport hubs. The piece argues that such developments not only ease the nation’s chronic housing shortage but also play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change. By weaving together policy analysis, case studies, and expert testimony, the article paints a compelling picture of how the built environment can be leveraged to meet two of today’s most pressing challenges.

1. The Housing Crisis: Numbers and Drivers

The article opens with stark statistics: the U.S. currently faces a shortage of 7.2 million affordable homes, a figure that has tripled over the past decade. Rising rents, stagnant wages, and the concentration of high‑cost projects in urban centers have left many Americans scrambling for secure, affordable housing. The author cites a 2025 National Association of Home Builders report that warns of an impending wave of "housing affordability crises" in the Northeast and Midwest alone.

While the crisis is multifaceted—land‑use regulations, financing gaps, and developer risk appetites—one constant emerges: the need to increase density in a way that does not exacerbate traffic congestion or environmental degradation. The article frames this dilemma by juxtaposing two seemingly contradictory priorities: “We must build more homes, but we must also reduce our carbon footprint.”

2. Public Transit as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development

A core thesis of the article is that proximity to public transit naturally curtails automobile use. The author references a 2024 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study that found residents living within a quarter‑mile of a transit stop drive 28 % fewer miles annually. Moreover, the EPA’s Climate Action in the Built Environment report projects that if 60 % of new housing were built within 0.5 miles of transit, the U.S. could cut CO₂ emissions by up to 9 % by 2035.

The Bangor Daily News piece cites the city of Boston’s 2020 “Transit‑Oriented Housing” initiative as a blueprint. In that program, the city amended zoning ordinances to allow up to 20 % of a development’s gross floor area to be allocated for affordable units. In return, developers received density bonuses and expedited permitting. Boston’s pilot projects—most notably the 75‑unit “West End Transit Village”—have already attracted over 300 low‑income families and reduced local traffic by 15 %.

3. Policy Mechanisms That Make It Work

The article delves into the policy toolbox that cities, states, and the federal government have at their disposal:

1. Density Bonuses – Granting developers the right to build more units than normally allowed in exchange for a certain percentage of affordable housing or transit upgrades.

2. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – Capturing future property‑tax revenue increases from higher‑density projects and using the proceeds to fund transit improvements.

3. Transit‑Specific Grants – Federal programs such as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transit‑Oriented Development Grant (TODG) provide up to $2 million per project to cover feasibility studies and design work.

4. “Transit‑First” Zoning – A legislative framework that prioritizes transit access in new developments, often paired with incentives like fee waivers or expedited inspections.

The author notes that states are now racing to pass legislation that codifies these tools. In 2024, Massachusetts introduced the Transit‑Accessible Housing Act, which mandates that all new multifamily developments within 0.8 miles of a bus or rail stop contribute 5 % of their budget to local transit agencies.

4. Case Studies: Success Stories From Across the Country

To ground the discussion in concrete examples, the article highlights several projects that illustrate how transit‑proximity housing can deliver both social and environmental benefits.

• Seattle’s “Northgate Transit Village” – A 12‑story mixed‑use building that incorporates 25 % affordable units and a shared rooftop garden. Since its opening in 2023, the project has drawn 450 residents and cut the neighborhood’s average commute distance by 3.2 miles.

• Denver’s “Union Station Revitalization” – A 250‑unit luxury apartment complex adjacent to the commuter rail station. The developer leveraged a density bonus to achieve a 40 % reduction in required parking spaces, freeing up 15 acres for a public park. A 2024 environmental audit found that the project cut projected greenhouse gas emissions by 1,200 tCO₂e annually.

• Boston’s “North End Transit Village” – An 80‑unit affordable housing complex built in a 3‑acre lot adjacent to a major bus hub. The project received a $1.5 million TIF allocation that funded a pedestrian bridge and bike‑share station. In the first year, local businesses reported a 12 % increase in foot traffic, while residents cited a 24 % reduction in their monthly transportation costs.

The Bangor Daily News article points readers to a detailed sidebar featuring a map of the nation’s transit‑oriented housing developments—a resource created by the Urban Land Institute that can be accessed via a link within the article.

5. The Climate Case: Quantifying the Impact

One of the article’s most compelling sections quantifies how transit‑oriented housing can help combat climate change. A modeling exercise conducted by the Climate Policy Initiative shows that a 10 % increase in housing density near transit corridors would yield the following:

• Emissions Reduction: 2.5 million metric tons of CO₂ avoided per year nationwide.
• Energy Savings: 3.2 billion kWh of electricity conserved, translating to $200 million in utility costs for residents.
• Water Conservation: 1.8 billion gallons of potable water saved annually due to shared infrastructure and reduced car usage.

The article underscores that these figures are conservative, suggesting that “the full potential of transit‑oriented development remains largely untapped.”

6. Barriers and Criticisms

The piece does not shy away from the challenges of implementing transit‑oriented housing. Critics argue that “density” can strain existing transit infrastructure, leading to longer wait times and overcrowding. The article cites a 2025 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study that recommends that municipalities pair density increases with parallel investments in service frequency and capacity upgrades.

Other hurdles include the high upfront costs of land acquisition in transit corridors, community resistance (sometimes labeled “Not‑In‑My‑Backyard” or NIMBYism), and the need for robust financing mechanisms. The author notes that innovative tools—such as “green bonds” and public‑private partnership (PPP) models—are being explored to bridge these gaps.

7. Looking Forward: Policy Recommendations

The article concludes with a set of actionable recommendations aimed at policymakers, developers, and community advocates:

1. Standardize Transit‑First Zoning: Adopt state‑wide guidelines that streamline the permitting process for projects within a 0.5‑mile radius of a transit stop.
2. Expand Funding Streams: Increase federal and state allocation for TOD grants, and create a national “Transit‑Oriented Housing Fund” to support low‑income developers.
3. Integrate Climate and Housing Data: Mandate that each new housing project submits a climate impact assessment and a social equity report.
4. Engage Communities Early: Foster participatory planning processes that involve residents, businesses, and transit agencies from the earliest feasibility stage.

The Bangor Daily News piece ends on an optimistic note, quoting a city planner from Boston who believes that “when we build homes where people can easily get to work and services, we build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.”

8. Additional Resources

The article contains several hyperlinks that provide deeper dives into specific topics:

• A link to the EPA’s Climate Action in the Built Environment report.
• A PDF of Massachusetts’ Transit‑Accessible Housing Act.
• An interactive map of national transit‑oriented housing projects created by the Urban Land Institute.
• A video interview with the developer of Seattle’s Northgate Transit Village, hosted on the New York Times’ “Urbanism” section.

These resources enable readers to explore the data and case studies in greater detail, underscoring the article’s role as both a summary and a springboard for further research.

In Sum

The Bangor Daily News article offers a nuanced, data‑rich argument that situating new apartment projects near public transit is a strategic lever for addressing the twin crises of housing affordability and climate change. By tying policy levers to real‑world successes—and acknowledging the obstacles that remain—the piece provides a roadmap for cities, states, and developers looking to create more livable, low‑carbon communities.