Developing TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) for Bien Hoa city.

Metro lines, including the extension of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the Provincial Administrative Center and Long Thanh Airport, open up opportunities for TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) in Bien Hoa city. Photo: archival material.

TOD - Transit-Oriented Development is an urban model that bases urban development and planning on the development of high-capacity public transportation.

Solving the pressing problems of urban areas.

According to the draft revised master plan for Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province, until 2045, regarding the technical infrastructure system, the consulting unit has proposed planning five elevated urban railway (metro) lines, including: a line connecting the new administrative center of Dong Nai province with Bien Hoa Airport; the Bien Hoa - Nhon Trach - Long Thanh line; the Bien Hoa - Trang Bom - Long Khanh line; and the metro line extending the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the provincial administrative center and Long Thanh Airport.

Among the proposed metro lines, the project to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the Provincial Administrative Center and Long Thanh Airport is currently being implemented through a collaborative investment process between Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City.

With the proposed elevated metro lines, Bien Hoa's public transportation infrastructure will be supplemented with a new type of transport. This also opens up opportunities for the development of the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) urban model in Bien Hoa.

According to the planning consultancy, urban development based on the TOD model is a shift from horizontal spatial development (around industrial zones) to vertical urban spatial development (compact cities). This involves using metro connections or other high-volume public transport hubs as focal points for residential areas, commercial services, and offices within walking distance of public transport. This aims to improve land use efficiency, public facilities, public health, reduce the use of private motorized vehicles, decrease environmental pollution emissions, and combine this with the preservation and promotion of cultural values.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Hoa, Head of the Department of Urban Geography, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities: Developing cities according to the TOD model will help solve the pressing problems in cities today, such as high transportation demand, traffic congestion, and social welfare and service issues.

Meanwhile, Bien Hoa city is currently one of the cities with a large population, a high population growth rate, and is facing almost all the challenges in the process of urban development.

Speaking at a working session with the consulting unit on the progress of preparing the overall adjustment plan for Bien Hoa city until 2045, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Van Ut, suggested: For Bien Hoa city, in addition to the elevated metro system, it is also necessary to plan the development of a subway system, suitable to the context of small area and large population.

Proposed plan for 10 TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) zones.

For Bien Hoa city, in the Draft Master Plan for the adjustment of the general planning until 2045, the consulting unit proposed planning 10 TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) zones, each with a scale of approximately 25-60 hectares. These zones have an average capacity of about 25,000 people each. Regarding spatial development orientation, the proposed TOD zones prioritize mixed-use development of high-rise buildings and urban development according to the compact city model.

Since TOD is an urban development model based on the development of high-capacity public transportation, the consulting unit also proposed planning TOD development areas in Bien Hoa city in conjunction with transportation hubs such as Bien Hoa Airport, railway stations, etc.; central city areas including the Dong Nai Provincial Administrative Center and areas with high population density, lacking land for public service development, and new urban development areas such as Hiep Hoa Island, Phuoc Tan and Tam Phuoc wards.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hong Tien, former Director of the Department of Technical Infrastructure, Ministry of Construction: Planning for TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) in Bien Hoa city, which has a population of over 1 million people, is necessary.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ngo Viet Nam Son, an architect and scientist, believes that in the future, residents of Bien Hoa living near TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) development axes—that is, near public transportation systems—will not need to use private vehicles to travel to the city center or neighboring provinces and cities. This is a very advanced development direction, and Bien Hoa has suitable land and the advantage of being located on high ground for development.

Pham Tung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202602/phat-trien-tod-cho-do-thibien-hoa-e457566/