Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Transportation Systems
The New Age Urban
Transportation Systems
Cases from Asian Economies
Volume I
Sundaravalli Narayanaswami
The New Age Urban Transportation Systems: Cases from Asian Economies,
Volume I
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Keywords
bus rapid transit; light rail; metro railways; modern urban transit; urban
congestion; urbanization
Contents
Preface��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix
Acknowledgments�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������xi
Introduction
Urbanization
The recent trend in urban growth all over the world is unprecedented and
quite alarming. Recently it has been estimated that around three billion
people, amounting to 50 percent of the world population live in urban
regions. It was significantly different until, some 30 years ago, when there
was an even distribution of population in urban and rural areas. In the
future, the situation is projected to grow worse than the current levels
of urbanization. In the early 20th century, only 16 cities had more than
a million people, whereas today almost 500 cities have a million people
or more. Understandably, dynamism in urbanization is more rapid in
developing countries than developed countries, as they are the regions
of high economic growth and social development. Nearly 350 cities in
developing countries contain a population of one million or more. Cities
are centers of economic activities that contribute to the national growth
and socio-economic development by virtue of increased productivity and
huge employment opportunities. Expanding boundaries and increasing
population in urban regions impose a huge stress on existing urban ser-
vices and public utility, major of which are education, health care and
employment; mobility choice and urban transport are important com-
ponents of state jurisdiction that enables managing most of the public
services. Specifically, mobility is just not about building infrastructure
and making available modern automobiles. A good urban transportation
system should be built on bringing people closer to the places, so that
services are accessible in an easy manner. There are several dependencies
and enablers in providing and managing citizen accessibility.
Figure 1.1 depicts that urban population in developed countries is
gradually decreasing since 1970 to 1975 periods, whereas in developing
2 The New Age Urban Transportation Systems
80 China
India
70 Rest of Asia and the Pacific*
Average annual population increase (millions)
Africa
60 Latin America and the Caribbean
Developed countries
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970– 1975– 1980–1985– 1990– 1995– 2000– 2005– 2010– 2015– 2020– 2025– 2030– 2035– 2040–
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Years
80
60
70
50
Proportion of total population (percent)
60
40 30
30
20
20
10
10
2018
0 0
60
50
Proportion urban (percent)
40
30
20
10
2018
2018
90 80
70
60
20
20
10 10
2018
0 0
1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 1950 1975
Year
80
70
60
Proportion urban (percent)
50
40
30
20
10
2018
2018
0
2000 2025 2050 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050
Year Year
80
80
50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
2018
0 0
1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 1950 1975
Year
100
90
80
Proportion urban (percent)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
2018
2018
0
2025 2050 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050
Year
Infrastructure Development
Sustainability
Conclusion
Many countries face severe traffic congestions along with air and noise
pollution, road accidents and deteriorating quality of mobility for the
poor. Specifically India and China have been experiencing rapid pop-
ulation growth, urban sprawl, sharp increases in motor vehicle owner-
ship and low per-capita income. Both countries have relied on increased
motorization to stimulate their economies and also attempted to modern-
ize their transport systems, and to meet the growing demand for cars and
motorcycles among the middle and upper classes. An important policy
decision needs to be taken on mitigating the negative social and envi-
ronmental costs of increased motor vehicle use. The most rational and
pragmatic solution would be develop good quality, safe, affordable mass
transit systems that the people are encouraged to use. The Delhi Metro is
a standing testimony in improving the traffic conditions of New Delhi.
In summary:
References
Cohen, B. 2006. “Urbanization in Developing Countries: Current Trends, Future
Projections, and Key Challenges for Sustainability.” Technology in Society 28,
nos. 1–2, pp. 63–80.
Pucher, J.Z., R. Peng, N. Mittal, Y. Zhu, and N. Korattyswaroopam. 2007.
“Urban Transport Trends and Policies in China and India: Impacts of Rapid
Economic Growth.” Transport Reviews 27, no. 4, pp. 379–410.
Segel, A., and O.O. Hartleben. 2015. “Building Cities: A Technical Note.”
HBS/9-213-006.
Serafeim, G., and D. Freiberg. 2017. “The Future of Mobility: Economic,
Environmental and Social Implications.” HBS/9-118-008.
UN Report on World Population Prospects. 2017. Available online at https://esa.
un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf (accessed
on September 30, 2018).
UN-Habitat, Planning and Design for Sustainable Urban Mobility, United
Nations Human Settlements Programme Global Report on Human
Settlements 2013.
Index
Agglomeration, 12 corridors, 39–41
Ahmedabad cost estimates, 67–69
bus rapid transit system (see Bus cycle paths, 52–53
rapid transit system) economic evaluation, 68, 70
demographic trends, 14–16 exclusive corridor, 44
history, 14 factors involved, 12–13
occupational pattern, 19, 20 fare fixation policies, 55–61
population density, 16, 18 financial analysis, 70–71
spatial patterns of population genesis, 13–14
change, 16, 17 geometric design, 46–50
traffic generating activities, 25, 29 implementation, 9–10
transportation system implementation strategy, 71–72
accidents, 35, 36 insufficient demand, 72–74
pollution levels, 35, 36 median lanes, 43
public transit, 37–39 operational difficulties, 74–75
road networks, 32, 35 overtaking lanes, 66–67
system components, 30 parking facilities, 52
vehicles, 30–32 pedestrian facilities, 53
urban economy, 17–19 phases, 39
Ahmedabad Municipal Transportation public transit system, 75–76
System (AMTS) relocation of existing utilities, 54
auto-rickshaws, 11 RoW proposed cross-sections,
average daily passengers, 12 62–66
division of costs, 56, 58 services and routes, 41–43
fleet size, 11, 12 street lighting and furniture, 53
ticket units and revenue percentage, system operation, 55
58 treatment of intersections, 52
traffic problems, 12 Pune
Automatic vehicle location system advantages, 117
(AVLS), 45 vs. alternate travel modes, 118
Average urban population, 1, 2 basic features, 162–163
bicycle lanes, 143
Bus rapid transit system (BRTS) bus stops, 143
Ahmedabad category of streets planned, 139
access to bus stop, 51 central median markers, 146
advanced technology, 45–46 CIRT’s master strategy, 155
agglomeration, 12 corridors, 120
bus shelter position, 50–51 curb and slope ramp, 145–146
bus technology, 44–45 dedicated lanes, 143
capability system, 54 design lanes, 143–144
closed system, 43–44 feeder routes, 141
180 Index