Refining Transit‐Oriented Development Assessment: Ecological Conditions as a Critical Supplement

Abstract Existing transit‐oriented development (TOD) assessments rarely examine whether station environments also support everyday ecological functions, including recreation access, thermal moderation, restoration and biodiversity. We developed a Node–Place–Design–Eco (NPDE) diagnosis for 92 Hong Kong railway station areas, combining conventional TOD indicators with a multidimensional Eco construct. The four station profiles captured distinct combinations of transport, urban development, pedestrian design and ecological conditions. The results reveal two overlapping spatial patterns: ecological provision generally improves away from the intensive harbour core, yet stations with stronger network roles retain lower Eco scores when compared at similar distances from Central. The NPDE diagnosis links these patterns to station‐specific ecological and accessibility priorities for high‐density railway planning.