Integrating the TOD and 15-Minute City Concepts in the Analysis of Rail Station Areas: A Methodological Approach for a Case Study in Palermo (Italy)

Transit-oriented development (TOD) and 15-minute city (15mC) are two planning concepts that, in different ways, have attempted to provide alternative solutions to the car-centered development model characterizing modern cities. This chapter presents a methodology that seeks to integrate the TOD and 15mC principles in an analytical perspective, with an application in a rail station area of Palermo, a Southern European city plagued by inefficient public transport and traffic congestion. The study defines the socioeconomic profile of the area, analyzes the state of the built environment with specific attention to accessibility to services and walkability, and identify strategies for future planning and design processes. The chapter is divided into five sections, including the work’s theoretical framework, the description of the case study, and a methodology section explaining the indicators used for the analysis. In the two final section, we present the findings from the analysis and critically outline the potential of this approach for future investigations.