The Dublin Transit Center is a planned transit-oriented development area directly north of the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. The land is currently owned by BART and Alameda County. The County prepared and received approvals for a Specific Plan covering the area, which currently serves as a surface parking lot for BART and also includes undeveloped parcels.

CD+A was hired by the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF), through their Livable Communities Initiative, to undertake two phases of work in relation to the Transit Center project. For the first phase, completed in 2002, CD+A prepared a critique of the proposed Specific Plan and EIR in regards to the Plan’s effectiveness in achieving high-quality transit-oriented development (TOD). CD+A found that the plan provided insufficient guidance for the design of the buildings in the plan area. There were no guidelines or standards to define the architectural design quality and character that is needed to create pedestrian supportive streets. Also, certain key aspects of the landscape and site design were not addressed.

Subsequent to the City Council’s approval of the Specific Plan, the Council invited EBCF to undertake the second phase of the project. EBCF hired CD+A to address the issues identified in the first phase and to work with City of Dublin staff and future developers through the development approvals process to improve the design quality of future development in the Specific Plan area. CD+A prepared design standards and guidelines that complemented and strengthened the Specific Plan’s own directives to create a transit- and pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighborhood by defining the desired façade and urban design character of future buildings. This will ensure that the Transit Center is a successful transit-oriented development rather than just high-density housing in proximity to transit.

The County and City of Dublin are currently working with Avalon Bay and D. R. Horton to develop the first phases of multi-family homes and commercial space in the Transit Center. CD+A has been assisting in the review of the submittals.