In late 2017, TriMet reconstituted its Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program under the leadership of Doug Kelsey, TriMet General Manager.  This presentation will cover the why of TOD, its objectives, their approach and the tools they're employing, planning studies, TriMet's previous TOD track record and their current projects, and  how they hope to collaborate with the UDP. Guy Benn, TOD Program Manager and Robert Hastings, Agency Architect, TOD will co-present.

TriMet is committed to helping make our region one of the world’s most inclusive, sustainable, and livable places. Trimet believes that TOD is a powerful tool to help achieve this goal by creating equitable development around transit station areas, which can support growth, sustain and build community, increase transit ridership and access, reduce congestion, and bring environmental benefits.

Guy Benn, TOD Program Manager

Guy Benn leads TriMet’s transit-oriented development program. He is responsible for promoting TOD projects by leveraging public and private partnerships to deliver equitable developments around TriMet’s transit infrastructure. Guy has a Masters in Real Estate from Aberdeen University in Scotland and previously set up the US office for The Collective, a UK-based residential developer. Focusing on coliving buildings, Guy was responsible for identifying and delivering projects across tier-one US urban markets via joint venture agreements with local partners. Guy also has deep experience in core, core plus, and value-add commercial real estate, having worked as an investment-sales broker in New York and London, where he worked on a wide range of office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use projects.

Robert W. Hastings, FAIA 
Agency Architect, TOD

Bob’s day job is TriMet’s Agency Architect for Transit Oriented Developments. Acting as the Agency’s “Imagineer” for transit-oriented development, and other initiatives he helps leverage the transit investment in the Portland Metropolitan Region to shape Livable Communities. 

He manages the TOD team’s station area planning, Smart City initiatives, architectural and urban design. He also is the agency’s champion for its sustainability initiatives, and renewable energy program. Also, he’s custodian for TriMet’s research and knowledge sharing activities with academic institutions, and coordinating opportunities for visiting national and international delegations. 

Bob is Director of Oregon| By Design- an independent initiative to develop a statewide support program for communities that utilizes the full suite of design disciplines that fosters economic, environmental, and social development. Oregon| By Design, in collaboration with the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, and the University of Oregon- Resource Assistance for Rural Enterprises (RARE), is helping numerous Oregon communities to realize their dreams to create livable communities. The Oregon| By Design initiative also collaborates internationally; most recently in Komatsushima, Japan (2018).