While briefing city council members, a planning director has gathered the following data:Transit-oriented development (TOD) concentrates residential a...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While briefing city council members, a planning director has gathered the following data:
- Transit-oriented development (TOD) concentrates residential and commercial buildings around public transportation hubs.
- This approach reduces car dependency and promotes sustainable urban growth patterns.
- The Metro Planning Commission implemented TOD guidelines in three downtown districts last year.
- Initial assessments indicate increased ridership and reduced parking demand in these areas.
- Property values near transit stations rose by an average of 12% following implementation.
The planning director wants to present a comprehensive overview that synthesizes the implementation results with the underlying TOD benefits.
Which choice most effectively combines this information?
The Metro Planning Commission's TOD guidelines promote sustainable growth by concentrating development around transportation hubs to reduce car dependency.
Transit-oriented development guidelines were implemented in three districts, with results showing increased ridership and reduced parking demand.
The Metro Planning Commission implemented TOD guidelines in three downtown districts last year, achieving the intended benefits of increased ridership, reduced parking demand, and higher property values.
Property values increased 12% near transit stations after TOD implementation, demonstrating the effectiveness of concentrating development around public transportation.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Transit-oriented development (TOD) concentrates residential and commercial buildings around public transportation hubs.' |
|
| 'This approach reduces car dependency and promotes sustainable urban growth patterns.' |
|
| 'The Metro Planning Commission implemented TOD guidelines in three downtown districts last year.' |
|
| 'Initial assessments indicate increased ridership and reduced parking demand in these areas.' |
|
| 'Property values near transit stations rose by an average of 12% following implementation.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Metro Planning Commission's implementation of TOD guidelines achieved the intended benefits of reduced car dependency and sustainable growth.
Argument Flow: The information first defines TOD and its theoretical benefits, then describes the specific implementation by Metro Planning Commission, and finally presents evidence that the implementation achieved multiple positive results.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should include both the underlying benefits of TOD and the actual implementation results
- Should connect the Metro Planning Commission's specific implementation to the outcomes
- Should show how the results demonstrate that the intended benefits were actually realized
The Metro Planning Commission's TOD guidelines promote sustainable growth by concentrating development around transportation hubs to reduce car dependency.
✗ Incorrect
- Only describes theoretical benefits and general approach of TOD
- Completely ignores the implementation results
- Doesn't synthesize implementation results with benefits as requested
Transit-oriented development guidelines were implemented in three districts, with results showing increased ridership and reduced parking demand.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions implementation and some results but fails to connect these results to the underlying TOD benefits
- Doesn't explain how the results demonstrate that TOD's intended benefits were achieved
The Metro Planning Commission implemented TOD guidelines in three downtown districts last year, achieving the intended benefits of increased ridership, reduced parking demand, and higher property values.
✓ Correct
- Includes the specific implementation details
- Lists the concrete results
- Most importantly connects these results to achieving the intended benefits
- Synthesizes the implementation results with the underlying TOD benefits
Property values increased 12% near transit stations after TOD implementation, demonstrating the effectiveness of concentrating development around public transportation.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses only on one result (property values)
- Doesn't mention the other implementation results or connect them to broader TOD benefits
- Too narrow to represent a comprehensive overview as requested