Joint Development & Real Estate

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has a very active public/private Joint Development Program. Metro aggressively seeks partners to develop Metro-owned or controlled property in order to achieve the following goals:

• Promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) by giving priority to Joint Development proposals that contain the following smart growth principles: reduce automobile dependency; increase pedestrian/bicycle-originated transit trips; foster safe station areas; enhance surrounding area connections to transit stations, including bus access; provide mixed-use development with housing in compliance with local regulations; and offer the opportunity to obtain goods and services and enjoy active public spaces near transit stations.

• Attract new riders to the transit system by fostering commercial and residential development projects on Metro-owned or controlled land and on private properties adjacent to Metro stations.

• Create a source of revenue for the Authority to maintain the transit system by expediently negotiating Joint Development agreements between Metro and public or private development entities; and

• Assist Metro local area jurisdictions in recapturing a portion of their past financial contributions and continuing to make subsidy payments by augmenting the local property tax base, as well as other local revenue.

The Joint Development Program is governed by the Joint Development Policies and Guidelines (1.91 MB), approved in 2008.