Sunday, February 10, 2013

Challenges of the modern transit planners

Studies show Torontonians commute an average of 80 minutes a day - or when you crunch the numbers, a month in a car.  Thanks to the suburban sprawl or work places out in the boonies :) we now have to spend more time getting to work than before.  We are more involved in extracurricular activities.  We volunteer.  We want to stay employed longer so we take continuing education courses.  We want to live a healthy life so we go to the gym.  We want our kids to learn how to swim, do karate, dance, play hockey, play music, etc., and so we chauffeur them from school to class to home, etc.

In short: we move around a lot.

It is important for us to have access to a good transit system that guarantees safe, efficient, and fast transportation.  Also, it is important for us to have an integrated transit system that enables us to drive, walk, cycle, or take the train or the bus to our destination.  When we are in rush, we want to have access to a rapid transit.  When we are not in a rush we can afford to sit back and enjoy the ride.  We want to be in control of what to choose and when to choose it.  If there is a traffic jam we want to know about it and to know an alternate route to avoid it.


The transit architect has to take all the above into consideration in the planning.


Resources:
TheCityFix.com is an online resource for sustainable transport news, research and “best practice” solutions from around the world    http://thecityfix.com/blog/pedestranged/ 

With the York Region Rapidways project new express lane is being built in the middle of the street for the buses
www.vivanext.com

Efficient sustainable mobility
http://www.frame-online.net/sites/default/files/first-view/further-reading/PlanningGuide.pdf

Other resources provided by the "Global Engineering Innovation" web site.
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