In 2004, Transform helped lead a regional coalition that released It Takes a Village, a report calling for stronger regional policies to support dense, walkable neighborhoods near transit. The report argued that transit investments should be paired with housing density, limits on excessive parking structures, and safer walking and biking access to stations. It found that Bay Area residents would save over $1.8 billion annually on transportation costs — an average of $600 per household — through transit-oriented development. We would save billions more indirectly from reduced health costs, less time lost to congestion, and a stronger tax base.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopted these ideas, creating the first Transit-Oriented Communities Policy in 2005. In 2026, Transform continues to advocate for strengthening MTC’s TOC policies, creating greater incentives for local governments to build affordable housing near transit.