-A.CHAKRABARTI
URBAN TRANSPORT Influences City Efficiency and Welfare Linkage between Urban Development Opportunity for Synergy
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF URBAN TRANSPORT NCU Urban Transport is the Single Most Crucial Element in Shaping Urban Development and Living HABITAT-II : Transport system priorities should be given to reducing un-necessary travel through appropriate land use policies, developing transport policies that emphasize MOBILITY alternative than automobile. Improving environmental performance and adopting appropriate pricing and other policies and regulations
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF URBAN TRANSPORT (...contd) Exponential Growth of Travel Demand Doubling of Trip Lengths ; But Marginal Increase in Mobility Levels Lack of Landuse and Transport Integration Low Average Income Levels of Urban Residents Affordability State and User Lack of Mass Public Transportation System
PRESENT URBAN TRANSPORT SCENARIO-CHARACTERISTICS Obsolete Network Inequity of Access Poor Public Transport High intensity Traffic, Heterogeneous Traffic Low Journey Speeds & High Travel Times Increase in Vehicle Ownerships Unidirectional Flows Scarce Parking Space No co-relation with land use
PRESENT URBAN TRANSPORT SCENARIO-CHARACTERISTICS Unfavorable Operating Environment Risk of Safety in Travel High Consumption of Fossil Fuels High Pollution Levels Accessibility to Poor? Multiplicity of Authorities Rapid Decline in Productivity (contd )
PRESENT POSITION OF URBAN TRANSPORT Every one s Interest No one s Responsibility A small component in overall Transportation Scenario (in India) But of high importance Benign Neglect Multiplicity of Organization, dispersed functions and conflict in operations Deterioration in quality of life Reduction in output
PRESENT POSITION OF URBAN TRANSPORT No Capacity and Training Professionally Managed? Vision? Lack of Enforcement /Education/Awareness Needs Attention on Urgent Basis No Dedicated Fund
PRESENT POOR URBAN TRANSPORT SCENARIO Poor planning of mass transportation system for intra-city and inter-city movement Lack of priority accorded by Railways (Indian context) Lack of `decongestion measures Counter-magnet towns linked by rapid transport Bye-passes Locate fixed facilities at optimal locations
ROLE OF URBAN TRANSPORT Carry More People Quickly, Efficiently, Comfortably, Dependably and Affordably Provide Mobility to poor in form of Affordable Transport System Enable Access to Opportunities and Facilities Enable Higher Levels of Productivity and Efficiency
SOLUTIONS Maximising the Available Facilities (contd ) Transportation System management and Short Term Measures Encourage sharing of transport/mass Transportation Preferential treatment to mass public transport modes Proper geometry of road/intersection
SOLUTIONS Maximising the Available Facilities (contd ) One-way/Flexi lanes/bus lanes/reversible streets Proper on the street/off the street parking Proper Parking Policy Shift encroachments-both authorized and unauthorized Segregation of vehicular-pedestrian movements Pedestrianisation around major Shopping Complexes Park and Ride Facilities
SOLUTIONS Maximising the Available Facilities Transportation System management and Short Term Measures Segregation of fast and slow moving traffic Channelisation of Traffic Synchronized automatic Signalling Avoid Ribbon Development Enforcement Education Awareness...etc. (...contd)
SOLUTIONS Medium Term (contd ) Comprehensive Transportation Planning and its integration with Urban Development Planning Provision of Improved Buses (Low floor, fuel efficient, less polluting e.g. Urban Buses) Exclusive bus ways (Land reserved can be used for LRT/MRT in future)
SOLUTIONS Comprehensive legislation For planning coordination and funding of Urban Transportation Systems (UMTA Act) # At least set up Co-ordination Committees For construction, operation and maintenance of Urban Mass Transit Systems (UMTS Act) Dedicated levies (...contd) Construction of bye-passes, urban flyovers/bridges, Passenger & truck terminals
SOLUTIONS Long Term Augment Bus Transport System and Supply Levels Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) Development of counter magnet towns
SOLUTIONS Efforts at Planning Stage (contd ) Integrated Land use Transportation Planning Self sustaining zones to reduce trip lengths Dedicated lanes for Pedestrian and Non-motorised (slow moving) vehicles Adequate space for Mass Transportation, including interchanges Reserve RoW for road/rail as per ultimate requirement
SOLUTIONS Efforts at Planning Stage (...contd) Design systems to reserve land free from encroachment Provision of on-street and off-street parking spaces Space for multi-modal integration Terminus at Outer Cordon for long distance/inter-city passengers/freight Satellite Complexes
SOLUTIONS Institutional Arrangements Required Urban Transport to be a separate subject and separate infrastructure sector Entire responsibility including Technical Planning with the MUD Setting up professionally managed UT Directorate in Centre and State (e.g. DG(UT) in MOUD, DG(RD) in MOST) Setting up of Urban Transport Divisions/Ministries/Departments of Urban Development in Central, State and Local Governments Constitution of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTA)
MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS For an efficient Urban Transport System, Multimodal integration at city level is essential Various modes should be complementary and not competitive
FUNDING (contd ) State to be the stake holder for Mass Transport System Development, Operation and Management Historically urban rail transport systems constructed by Railways entirely out of Government funds Capital cost of the basic transport infrastructure to be borne by the Government
FUNDING (...contd) A suitable formula for sharing of costs between Central Government, State Governments and Local Bodies to be evolved A system of sharing costs of operations also to be evolved Encourage Private Sector participation in Construction and O&M Encourage Fuel Efficient Buses Develop Mass Transit System and Decide on Fare Policy Affordable to the State, Operators and Users
ACTIONS AND IMPERATIVES Need to Take Stock of Situation City Specific Solutions Decide on Dedicated Team of Professionals Create Awareness Amongst all Sections Development of Dedicated Funds for Urban Transport at Center/State/Local body level Create Institutions Responsible for Urban Transport Formulate an Urban Transport Policy Develop Urban Transport Information System