The Transit Metropolis

1. The Transit Metropolis

2. What is a Transit Metropolis? • Transit metropolis is a region where a ‘workable fit’ exists between transit services and urban form • Perhaps compact mixed use development well suited to rail • Perhaps flexible bus services well suited to dispersed development • Viewed as a paradigm for sustainable regional development

3. Types of Transit Metropolises • Adaptive Cities- transit oriented cities that have invested in rail systems to guide urban growth and achieve larger societal objectives • Such as preserving open space, producing affordable housing in rail served communities • All feature compact mixed use suburban communities and new towns concentrated around rail nodes • Examples: Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore and Copenhagen

4. Types of Transit Metropolises • Adaptive Transit- places that have accepted spread out low density patterns of growth • Seek to appropriately adapt transit services and new technologies to these environments • Karlsruhe (dual track systems); Adelaide (track guided buses) and Mexico City (small vehicle entrepreneurial services)

5. Types of Transit Metropolises • Strong Core Cities- integrating transit and urban development within a more confined central city context • Provide integrated tram services around mixed traffic tram and light rail system • Trams designed into streetscapes and coexist with pedestrian and bicycle traffic • Examples: Zurich and Melbourne

6. Types of Transit Metropolises • Hybrid:adaptive cities and adaptive transit • Create workable balance between concentrating development along main line transit corridors and adapting transit to serve their spread out suburbs and exurbs • Munich-heavy rail trunk line services, light rail and conventional bus services have strengthened central city while also serving suburban growth axes

7. Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side Approaches • Transportation Demand Management- aims to make more efficient use of transport resources already in place by shifting demand (to carpools) or eliminate trips (telecommuting); inefficient parking space- more efficient management; parking availability dissuades use of public transit

8. Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side Approaches • Restraints on Automobile Use- ‘traffic calming’ –local streets belong to residents- barriers, etc • Banning traffic from downtown areas • License plate will determine when auto can enter the CBD

9. Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side Approaches • Regulation of Auto Performance- improve performance rather than attempt to change travel behavior • Re-engineer cars to improve fuel efficiency (GM, etc and move to hybrid vehicles) • Lower emissions- Clean Air Act

10. Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Demand Side Approaches • Setting the Right Prices- Proper pricing eliminates the need for heavy handed controls over car use and public intervention into private land markets • Congestion fees, carbon taxes and parking surcharges • Higher motoring fees –will people over time move closer to jobs and transit stops to economize on travel? • Elitist view and unrealistic to charge more??

11. Forming the Transit Metropolis: Complementary Supply Side Approaches • Advanced Technologies- GPS systems to avoid congestion spots and eliminate need to travel; smart roadways-automatically adjust traffic signals • Telecommunications- e-commerce and virtual shopping • Nonmotorized transport- bicycle facilities and provisions