The Transit MetropolisThe Transit Metropolis

What is a Transit Metropolis?What is a Transit Metropolis?

Transit metropolis is a region where a Transit metropolis is a region where a ‘workable fit’ exists between transit ‘workable fit’ exists between transit services and urban formservices and urban form

Perhaps compact mixed use development Perhaps compact mixed use development well suited to rail well suited to rail

Perhaps flexible bus services well suited to Perhaps flexible bus services well suited to dispersed developmentdispersed development

Viewed as a paradigm for sustainable Viewed as a paradigm for sustainable regional development regional development

Types of Transit MetropolisesTypes of Transit Metropolises

Adaptive Cities-Adaptive Cities- transit oriented cities that transit oriented cities that have invested in rail systems to guide urban have invested in rail systems to guide urban growth and achieve larger societal growth and achieve larger societal objectivesobjectives

Such as preserving open space, producing Such as preserving open space, producing affordable housing in rail served affordable housing in rail served communitiescommunities

All feature compact mixed use suburban All feature compact mixed use suburban communities and new towns concentrated communities and new towns concentrated around rail nodesaround rail nodes

Examples: Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore and Examples: Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore and CopenhagenCopenhagen

Types of Transit MetropolisesTypes of Transit Metropolises

Adaptive Transit-Adaptive Transit- places that have places that have accepted spread out low density patterns accepted spread out low density patterns of growthof growth

Seek to appropriately adapt transit Seek to appropriately adapt transit services and new technologies to these services and new technologies to these environmentsenvironments

Karlsruhe (dual track systems); Adelaide Karlsruhe (dual track systems); Adelaide (track guided buses) and Mexico City (track guided buses) and Mexico City (small vehicle entrepreneurial services)(small vehicle entrepreneurial services)

Types of Transit MetropolisesTypes of Transit Metropolises

Strong Core Cities-Strong Core Cities- integrating transit and integrating transit and urban development within a more urban development within a more confined central city contextconfined central city context

Provide integrated tram services around Provide integrated tram services around mixed traffic tram and light rail systemmixed traffic tram and light rail system

Trams designed into streetscapes and Trams designed into streetscapes and coexist with pedestrian and bicycle trafficcoexist with pedestrian and bicycle traffic

Examples: Zurich and MelbourneExamples: Zurich and Melbourne

Types of Transit MetropolisesTypes of Transit Metropolises

Hybrid:Hybrid: adaptive cities and adaptive transitadaptive cities and adaptive transit Create workable balance between Create workable balance between

concentrating development along main line concentrating development along main line transit corridors and adapting transit to transit corridors and adapting transit to serve their spread out suburbs and exurbsserve their spread out suburbs and exurbs

Munich-heavy rail trunk line services, light Munich-heavy rail trunk line services, light rail and conventional bus services have rail and conventional bus services have strengthened central city while also strengthened central city while also serving suburban growth axes serving suburban growth axes

Forming the Transit Metropolis: Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side ApproachesComplementary Demand Side Approaches

Transportation Demand Management-Transportation Demand Management- aims to make more efficient use of aims to make more efficient use of transport resources already in place by transport resources already in place by shifting demand (to carpools) or shifting demand (to carpools) or eliminate trips (telecommuting); eliminate trips (telecommuting); inefficient parking space- more inefficient parking space- more efficient management; parking efficient management; parking availability dissuades use of public availability dissuades use of public transittransit

Forming the Transit Metropolis: Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side ApproachesComplementary Demand Side Approaches

Restraints on Automobile Use-Restraints on Automobile Use- ‘traffic ‘traffic calming’ –local streets belong to calming’ –local streets belong to residents- barriers, etc residents- barriers, etc

Banning traffic from downtown areasBanning traffic from downtown areas License plate will determine when License plate will determine when

auto can enter the CBDauto can enter the CBD

Forming the Transit Metropolis: Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side ApproachesComplementary Demand Side Approaches

Regulation of Auto PerformanceRegulation of Auto Performance- - improve performance rather than improve performance rather than attempt to change travel behaviorattempt to change travel behavior

Re-engineer cars to improve fuel Re-engineer cars to improve fuel efficiency (GM, etc and move to efficiency (GM, etc and move to hybrid vehicles)hybrid vehicles)

Lower emissions- Clean Air ActLower emissions- Clean Air Act

Forming the Transit Forming the Transit MetropolisMetropolis: : Complementary Demand Side ApproachesComplementary Demand Side Approaches

Setting the Right Prices- Setting the Right Prices- Proper pricing Proper pricing eliminates the need for heavy handed eliminates the need for heavy handed controls over car use and public controls over car use and public intervention into private land marketsintervention into private land markets

Congestion fees, carbon taxes and parking Congestion fees, carbon taxes and parking surchargessurcharges

Higher motoring fees –will people over Higher motoring fees –will people over time move closer to jobs and transit stops time move closer to jobs and transit stops to economize on travel?to economize on travel?

Elitist view and unrealistic to charge Elitist view and unrealistic to charge more?? more??

Forming the Transit Forming the Transit MetropolisMetropolis: : Complementary Supply Side ApproachesComplementary Supply Side Approaches

Advanced Technologies-Advanced Technologies- GPS systems GPS systems to avoid congestion spots and eliminate to avoid congestion spots and eliminate need to travel; smart roadways-need to travel; smart roadways-automatically adjust traffic signals automatically adjust traffic signals

TelecommunicationsTelecommunications- e-commerce and - e-commerce and virtual shoppingvirtual shopping

Nonmotorized transportNonmotorized transport- bicycle - bicycle facilities and provisionsfacilities and provisions