During an afternoon visit yesterday to Baltimore’s State Center, Gov. Martin O’Malley touted a new law that encourages “transit-oriented development” around commuter trains, buses stops and other public transportation outposts.

State Center, home to 3,500 Maryland employees, right on the Light Rail and Baltimore Metro, is targeted for an office, residential and retail project. O’Malley wants to see more of this.

The O’Malley-backed law drew relatively-little opposition during the just-concluded legislative session, probably because it didn’t cost anything. It establishes transit oriented development as a transportation goal, but that’s about it. Some Republicans had fun with that in the Senate, trying to get an explanation for how exactly it would achieve anything.

But putting the goal in policy can open up funding opportunities, and also clears up legal confusion over whether train and bus stations can be part of development plans.