"This might seem a bit irrational in the current climate, but our
members have concrete plans for this," says the UITP's secretary
general, Mr Hans Rat. He says this is a clear signal that the world
should change, with mobility based on public rather than private
transport. "We are trying to encourage members to take the challenge
and not to sit back," says Rat.
He believes that urban operators are
"surfing the crisis a little" so that although traffic growth may have
stopped, very few cities are reporting real drops in ridership. While
traffic may be holding up, the crisis is having other effects.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (Apta),
more than 80% of US operators face stagnant or decreasing public
funding, with 89% of these operators being forced to increase fares or
cut services.
"surfing the crisis a little" so that although traffic growth may have
stopped, very few cities are reporting real drops in ridership. While
traffic may be holding up, the crisis is having other effects.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (Apta),
more than 80% of US operators face stagnant or decreasing public
funding, with 89% of these operators being forced to increase fares or
cut services.
Such actions threaten to undo a lot of the hard work by
operators over recent years to encourage Americans to leave their cars
at home and take public transit. As a result, Apta is calling on the US
Congress to provide new sources of funding for public transit.
operators over recent years to encourage Americans to leave their cars
at home and take public transit. As a result, Apta is calling on the US
Congress to provide new sources of funding for public transit.
The US
transit funding crisis runs contrary to President Obama's plan to
increase capital spending in rail. There is little point in building
new lines while at the same time starving existing lines of funds for
operation and maintenance.
transit funding crisis runs contrary to President Obama's plan to
increase capital spending in rail. There is little point in building
new lines while at the same time starving existing lines of funds for
operation and maintenance.
The UITP's new president, Mr Alain Flausch,
who is CEO of Brussels Transport (Stib), is keen to encourage
politicians to adopt a consistent approach which gives priority to
public transport. But such an approach needs to be applied in both the
good and the bad times, to avoid making damaging short-term decisions,
as is happening in the United States.
who is CEO of Brussels Transport (Stib), is keen to encourage
politicians to adopt a consistent approach which gives priority to
public transport. But such an approach needs to be applied in both the
good and the bad times, to avoid making damaging short-term decisions,
as is happening in the United States.
Urban public transport will only
be successful if it is seen by politicians and planners as a vital part
of the overall development of the city. Vienna is a good example of a
city which drew up a plan to develop its rail network covering the
period 1969-93 initially. While the plan was amended to take account of
changes in demand, it has largely been realised step-by-step with the
result that it is now very easy to move around Vienna by public
transport, and the city does not suffer the high levels of congestion
of other cities of a similar size such as Rome, where investment has
been sporadic.
be successful if it is seen by politicians and planners as a vital part
of the overall development of the city. Vienna is a good example of a
city which drew up a plan to develop its rail network covering the
period 1969-93 initially. While the plan was amended to take account of
changes in demand, it has largely been realised step-by-step with the
result that it is now very easy to move around Vienna by public
transport, and the city does not suffer the high levels of congestion
of other cities of a similar size such as Rome, where investment has
been sporadic.
Many of the large urban operators, such as LondonUnderground and Moscow metro, already have market shares during the
peak periods well in excess of 50%. Further growth can only be
accommodated on the existing networks during the off-peak periods, or
by building new lines. In cities with well-established and
comprehensive metros, the trend must be towards building express lines
which serve only the major hubs, such as the highly-successful Paris
RER network. London, for example, is finally building its long-planned
east-west Crossrail line, which will relieve capacity on existing
east-west metro lines and provide direct links from the suburbs to the
central area.
While most cities have or are developing good radial rail
links, it is often difficult to travel suburb to suburb by public
transport, and this is where the car often holds sway resulting in
worsening congestion and pollution. Some cities are starting to
recognise this by building suburb-to-suburb or circular lines. Paris is
a good example, where inter-suburb LRT lines built during the last
decade are to be supplemented by more lines to create an outer circle
line.
links, it is often difficult to travel suburb to suburb by public
transport, and this is where the car often holds sway resulting in
worsening congestion and pollution. Some cities are starting to
recognise this by building suburb-to-suburb or circular lines. Paris is
a good example, where inter-suburb LRT lines built during the last
decade are to be supplemented by more lines to create an outer circle
line.
Light rail clearly has a bright future, either as a complement to
existing heavy rail networks or in its own right in smaller cities.
Alstom estimates that there are currently more than 60 cities around
the world with LRT projects and says this number could grow to 80 or
even 100 in a few years' time.
existing heavy rail networks or in its own right in smaller cities.
Alstom estimates that there are currently more than 60 cities around
the world with LRT projects and says this number could grow to 80 or
even 100 in a few years' time.
Public transport operators need to tick
all the boxes when it comes to providing reliable, high-quality
services that are easy and pleasant to use. People have increasingly
high expectations, and will not tolerate mediocre or poor services. An
urban network must be clearly signposted with simple-to-use ticket
machines, and must not act like a private club for the exclusive use of
its regular commuters.
all the boxes when it comes to providing reliable, high-quality
services that are easy and pleasant to use. People have increasingly
high expectations, and will not tolerate mediocre or poor services. An
urban network must be clearly signposted with simple-to-use ticket
machines, and must not act like a private club for the exclusive use of
its regular commuters.
Operators also need to be innovative in the way
they keep their passengers informed. Whichever way the information is
displayed or disseminated, it must be accurate, up-to-date, and easy to
comprehend. More innovation is needed in the way tickets are sold to
make the best use of the technology available. For example, it should
be possible to buy online a one-day pass for a city you plan to visit,
and then download the electronic ticket to your mobile phone. Some
airlines and railways are already doing this.
they keep their passengers informed. Whichever way the information is
displayed or disseminated, it must be accurate, up-to-date, and easy to
comprehend. More innovation is needed in the way tickets are sold to
make the best use of the technology available. For example, it should
be possible to buy online a one-day pass for a city you plan to visit,
and then download the electronic ticket to your mobile phone. Some
airlines and railways are already doing this.
The ultimate objective
for urban transport operators and planners should be to make the public
transport network so attractive that for most people a car is
unnecessary. While some cities, such as Vienna, Madrid and Singapore,
are well on the way to achieving this goal, others like Rome, Athens,
and Bangkok have a very long way to go.
for urban transport operators and planners should be to make the public
transport network so attractive that for most people a car is
unnecessary. While some cities, such as Vienna, Madrid and Singapore,
are well on the way to achieving this goal, others like Rome, Athens,
and Bangkok have a very long way to go.
