Abstract

Although urban development around transit stations doesn’t lead to a direct financial contribution for the Transit Agency (or other infrastructure or planning body) it is “absolutely essential” to the long term viability of the transit investment (SKMG 1996, p. 4). The transit accessible area around the stations is generally far larger than the Transit Company’s real estate can reach. Many studies have been undertaken to define the influence zone of transit stations, i.e. the probability that at a certain distance from the station an employee or resident is ready to use transit as a transportation alternative for commuting or other travel purposes. “Walking distance” is the general qualification, that means five to fifteen minutes walking time, depending on the travel purpose, the travel alternatives and the system performance. It is obvious that the attraction is more important at stations of highly performing transit systems. Frequent Rapid Transit service has potentially more impact then Light Rail Service, especially when the Light Rail line is short and/or when the station is less frequented. Document type: Book

Abstract

The paper explores the transportation-land use policy connection. More specifically, it considers the question, can land use policy be used to alter transportation behavior? The answer is of some importance. If the answer is yes, then there is hope that land use policies can be designed and implemented that will bring some relief to the congestion and complex transportation problems that are facing US metropolitan areas. This is the underlying assumption behind most smart growth policy reforms. If the answer is no, then land use policy may still be important, but is not likely to play an important role in resolving transportation issues. The paper then offers a schematic that identifies necessary conditions for land use policy to play a role in addressing transportation issues. Specifically, the paper argues that for land use policy to play an effective role, three conditions must hold. First, land use must be able to alter transportation behavior; secondly, transportation infrastructure must not fully determine land use; and thirdly, the condition on which the authors consider most extensively, land use policy must significantly and constructively affect land use. After presenting the schematic, the paper considers the evidence on each of these conditions. Based on the review of the evidence, the paper concludes that land use policy can play an effective role in transportation issues, but that the role is likely to be small, often counter productive, and most effective at the neighborhood scale. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

Urban sprawl creates serious traffic congestion. Alternative land use patterns may be the best solution. New Urbanists claim that, by placing frequently-visited sites within walking distance of homes and creating a pleasant walking environment, people are more willing to choose non-motorized transportation mode to do such activities. Part I of this study investigated the ability of travel demand models to estimate the impacts of alternative land use patterns. Part II conducted an economic viability analysis for a mixed land use neighborhood and collected land use preferences at meetings of neighborhood associations. The objective in Part III was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing mixed land use neighborhood, based upon public acceptance, actual impacts on travel behavior and observed trip making patterns. Surveys were conducted and analyzed for this report. A brief summary of the principal findings of this study will be posted on a website – either JTRP or INDOT. The findings will include brief numerical examples of the analyses that led to the report’s conclusions. Figures and photos will be used to illustrate the alternatives and performance measures that support the project’s findings.

Abstract

Urban sprawl creates serious traffic congestion. Alternative land use patterns may be the best solution. New Urbanists claim that, by placing frequently-visited sites within walking distance of homes and creating a pleasant walking environment, people are more willing to choose non-motorized transportation mode to do such activities. Part I of this study investigated the ability of travel demand models to estimate the impacts of alternative land use patterns. Part II conducted an economic viability analysis for a mixed land use neighborhood and collected land use preferences at meetings of neighborhood associations. The objective in Part III was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing mixed land use neighborhood, based upon public acceptance, actual impacts on travel behavior and observed trip making patterns. Surveys were conducted and analyzed for this report. A brief summary of the principal findings of this study will be posted on a website – either JTRP or INDOT. The findings will include brief numerical examples of the analyses that led to the report’s conclusions. Figures and photos will be used to illustrate the alternatives and performance measures that support the project’s findings.

Abstract

Climate change is one of the main environmental issues challenging cities in the 21th century. At present, more than half of the world population lives in cities and the latter are responsible for 60% to 80% of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are the main causes of the change in climate conditions. In the meantime, they are seriously threatened by the heterogeneous climate-related phenomena, very often exacerbated by the features of the cities themselves. In the last decade, international and European efforts have been mainly focused on mitigation rather than on adaptation strategies. Europe is one of the world leaders in global mitigation policies, while the issue of adaptation has gained growing importance in the last years. As underlined by the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change, even though climate change mitigation still remains a priority for the global community, large room has to be devoted to adaptation measures, in order to effectively face the unavoidable impacts and related economic, environmental and social costs of climate change (EC, 2013). Thus, measures for adaptation to climate change are receiving an increasing financial support and a growing number of European countries are implementing national and urban adaptation strategies to deal with the actual and potential climate change impacts. According to the above considerations, this paper explores strengths and weaknesses of current adaptation strategies in European cities. First the main suggestions of the European Community to improve urban adaptation to climate change are examined; then, some recent Adaptation Plans are analyzed, in order to highlight challenges and opportunities arising from the adaptation processes at urban level and to explore the potential of Adaptation Plans to promote a smart growth in the European cities.