Central to the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a retail core situated around stations. However, successful retail near light rail transit stations has been elusive. Despite significant implications for land use, transportation, and economic development planning, little research exists to explain the gap between TOD concept and reality. We hypothesize that the density, diversity, and design characteristics central to the theory of TODs drive retail success. We implement a TOD Index proposed in the literature to score 474 light rail station areas in 11 metropolitan areas according to the presence and magnitude of those density, diversity, and design characteristics. A series of robustly-developed multilevel models support our hypothesis: TOD Index scores significantly predict station area retail employment, ceteris paribus. An evaluation of its subcomponents individually (block size, which relates to walkability; land use mix; and activity density) suggests activity density may be the driving force in this relationship. Our research works to move the conversation away from an assumption that transit stations and retail naturally co-exist and toward more intentional station area design choices demonstrated to drive retail employment.

面向公交的开发（TOD）概念的核心是位于车站周围的零售核心。但是，在轻轨运输站附近成功的零售已难以捉摸。尽管对土地使用，运输和经济发展计划有重大影响，但很少有研究可以解释TOD概念与现实之间的差距。我们假设TOD理论的核心是密度，多样性和设计特征，这将推动零售业取得成功。我们采用文献中提出的TOD指数，根据密度，多样性和设计特征的存在与严重程度，对11个大城市地区的474个轻轨站区域进行评分。一系列稳健发展的多层次模型支持我们的假设：TOD指数得分可显着预测车站地区的零售业就业，ceteris paribus。对其子组件的单独评估（块大小，与步行能力，土地使用混合以及活动密度有关）表明，活动密度可能是这种关系的驱动力。我们的研究旨在使对话从假定中转站和零售自然共存的角度出发，朝着旨在推动零售业就业的更有目的的站区设计选择过渡。