Leander's TOD
Leander's current population is just over 30,000 but is predicted to be at least 250,000 with some estimates as high as 350,000 as Leander becomes further linked to Austin via commuter light rail & other mass transit. In the next 5 years Leander's population is expected to double. The City of Leander has courageously planned for this growth, with the plan including a TOD or Transit Oriented Development. Gateway Planning Group was instrumental in this plan. A Market Study and resultant Charette Plan were done for the Capital Metro Rail Station area at Leander.
Leander Capital Metro Train Station
Eventually, Highway 183 will be a boulevard adjacent to the TOD instead of a rural highway as it is currently. See Leander Transit Village and Gateway Planning Group's section on the Leander TOD for more information on this development.
Light Rail into Austin, TX
The new commuter rail Capital MetroRail was scheduled to start running earlier but has experienced several delays. Leander's Mayor Cowman said that 1 delay in May of 2009 was due to a machine that had to be shipped in from Europe to scrape the tracks.
Bus Service & Toll Roads
Express Bus at Leander Park and Ride, Leander, TX
The new 183A Toll Road has made getting to downtown Austin in only 30 minutes or less by car from Leander a reality. Currently the Leander Park and Ride has Express Bus Service into Austin operating from the TOD site. The new commuter rail line was planned to be officially opened on March 30th, 2009 but has been delayed. The Leander Station shares the new Park & Ride on 183, just past HEB Plus. The Capital Metro Park & Ride is on approximately 13 acres in the TOD. The Park & Ride was previously located in the Church of Christ parking lot on Crystal Falls Parkway but outgrew that lot.
Governed by the Leander Smart Code, the TOD District is comprised of 2300 acres. The geographic area includes "Old Town" west of old 183 & south of 2243 and extends northward to the South San Gabriel River. The rest of Leander is governed by David Hutton's award winning Composite Zoning Ordinance (2006 "Current Planning Award" from Texas Planning Association).
What's really interesting is that Transit Oriented Development tends to increase property values 5-15% according to many studies. Because of this, Real Estate developers find TOD's to be profitable investments as Transit Oriented Mixed Use Developments.
The first concept plan for new development in the TOD was approved by the Leander Planning & Zoning Commission at a special meeting and then by the Leander City Council both held on Thursday March 19th, 2009 at Leander's Pat Bryson Hall.
Sell Your Land or Home in The Leander TOD NOW!
Annual Bus Rodeo
The Capital Metro Bus Roadeo team practices & holds their Bus Roadeo at the Leander Park & Ride in the TOD since it is a large expanse of pavement with little use on the weekends. The 2009 Roadeo was held April 5th (Palm Sunday) at the Capital Metro Park & Ride lot. The public is always invited to come and see the skills of these highly trained bus drivers. There will be activities for kids. Mayor Cowman has participated as well. Come support these great drivers who keep bus riders safe. Bus Roadeos are a fun way for drivers to show off as well as further improve their bus driving skills. There are Texas as well as national competitions.
Leander's Urban & Planning Awards:
The Leander Smart Code & the Leander TOD were winners of the 2006 Envision Central Texas Public Planning & Policy Community Stewardship Award, 2006 Envision Central Texas Stewardship Award for Best Planning Effort and the 2007 Congress on New Urbanism Inaugural Driehaus Form-Based Codes Award.
