The City of Richardson has developed its transit-oriented development strategy over almost two decades. The process began with visits to transit systems across the country and has involved a ULI Panel Study, station area planning and market analysis for the city’s three southern stations, the creation of the Spring Valley Station District, and the approval of zoning for a TOD style of development at the CityLine/Bush Station. The most recent effort, the Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development and Innovation District, completed the initial Vision study in 2018 with the entitlement phase currently underway (Spring 2019).

Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development and Innovation District

The Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development and Innovation District Study is a City-initiated visioning effort for an approximate 1,200-acre area, generally bounded by Central Expressway (US 75), Campbell Road, Plano Road, and Apollo Road. This area is the heart of the Telecom Corridor® and has been a job center and hub of technology and innovation in the region, and continues to be home to both local and international businesses. The Arapaho Center DART Station is located within this District and serves as a major opportunity site for new transit-oriented development.

• Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development and Innovation District Vision
• Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development and Innovation District Appendix

UTD Cotton Belt Station Master Plan

In 2008-2009, the City partnered with the University of Texas at Dallas on a land use study for a potential rail transit station along the future Cotton Belt Rail line. The plan resulting from the first phase of the project accommodates the University's long-term campus plan and presents development concepts for adjoining UTD land.

• UTD Cotton Belt TOD Phase 1 Report

University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research

Dr. Bernard Weinstein and Dr. Terry Clower of the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research have conducted two studies of the impact of DART’s light rail system on the value of land around light rail stations. Below are links to the reports created by Drs. Weinstein and Clower:

• The Initial Economic Impacts of the DART LRT System—1999 
• DART Light Rail’s Effect on Taxable Property Valuations and Transit-Oriented Development—2003 

Station Area Planning Effort

In 2002, the City of Richardson engaged several consulting firms to further refine the Urban Land Institute Panel Study and create station area plans for the City’s three southern stations—Spring Valley, Arapaho Center, and the proposed Main Street. In addition, a market analysis was conducted to designate the amount of development each of the stations could support through the year 2020. Below are the resulting reports from these studies.

• Richardson DART Station Area Market Analysis
• Spring Valley and Main Street Station Area Plan
• Arapaho Center Station Area Plan 

Urban Land Institute

During the summer of 2001, the City of Richardson hired the Urban Land Institute to conduct a panel study of the City’s section of the DART light rail corridor. The weeklong intensive review brought in real estate, development, transportation, and economic professionals from across the country. At the end of the week, the panel presented their results to the Richardson City Council and community and published a report of the findings and recommendations.

• Urban Land Institute Panel Study