3.
Urban Transportation Planning process and tools
3.1 defining goals and objectives
3.2 assessing current conditions and future demands
3.3 developing solutions
What is urban transportation planning, and how does the process work?
Delivering the Goals and Objectives of Urban Transportation Planning
Urban transportation planning, a centuries-old concept, is becoming increasingly urgent due to
rapid city growth and space pressure.
Transportation systems, like roads, rail, trams, bike paths, and sidewalks, support people and
economy.
Goals and objectives of urban transportation planning
Urban transportation planning is a challenge that has been studied extensively. The goals and
objectives of urban transportation planning include to:
Deliver sustainable roads
Reduce traffic congestion
Improve air quality
Make sustainable mobility available to all
Create attractive, livable urban communities
Achieving these goals requires an understanding of the urban transport system and its
components. It also means understanding how people use different modes of transport to move
around in cities.
Urban transportation planning processes and tools
Urban transportation planning is a complex process involving various stakeholders, including
government agencies, private companies, and community members, to balance objectives such as user
group needs, economic development, and sustainable environment, requiring collaboration and
understanding.
The process of urban transportation planning can be broken down into three main steps:
Defining goals and objectives
Planners establish goals and objectives for a city or region, determining
transportation system capacity, desired service levels, and desired service qualities.
Assessing current conditions and future demand
This stage involves collecting and analyzing data on current conditions like traffic
congestion and air pollution levels, while also forecasting future conditions to
predict their evolution without action.
Developing solutions
The fourth stage involves developing alternative solutions, such as increasing bus
routes or altering zoning laws, to address the problems and select the most
sustainable option.
Transport policy is a tool for sustainable development
Transport policy is a vital tool for sustainable development, aiming to mitigate environmental, societal,
and economic impacts and foster sustainable communities.
In the course of their work, urban transport planners will use various tools. These might include:
Urban transport networks analysis
Transportation demand management strategies
Transportation forecasting and modeling
Travel demand forecasting
Public transit planning
They may also use computerized systems like GIS (Geographic Information Systems). This allows
planners to map out different scenarios based on different variables.
How does urban transportation planning affect our cities?
Urban transportation planning enhances city quality of life, economic competitiveness, and
environmental sustainability by ensuring efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation systems
considering stakeholder needs. The process of urban transport planning is complex and includes:
Safety issues like traffic congestion and accidents
Environmental issues like air pollution and noise levels
Social issues like income disparities between different populations
Economic factors like the cost of transportation services for consumers
Political factors like how much power local governments have over the transportation network
in their city
Technological factors such as how quickly new innovations can be adopted by people in cities
Urban transportation planners coordinate urban transport functions. It’s a complex function, which
requires deep collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure an effective partnership between the
public and private sectors.
