SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORT IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A NEW AGENDA

This paper reviews quantitative and qualitative trends in urban transportation and environment, focusing on developing countries. Reviewing recent efforts, the paper adopts a definition of "sustainable transportation" that includes economic and environmental sustainability as well as equity as key criteria. It is further argued that governance sustainability is also important if policies and technologies are to reduce the main externalities from urban transport. An important identity is introduced to relate emissions to traffic, modal share, fuel use, and fuel characteristics, from which it is argued that transport policies must confront all of these components of the identity if emissions are to be reduced significantly. Focusing on why urban areas in developing countries have become the most polluted and congested cities in the world, the paper addresses major barriers to serious transport sector reform that would address these ills. The pessimistic tone is lifted by citing recent examples of policies and technologies that have permitted some regions in Latin America and Asia to begin to turn the corner. It is concluded that strong actions by cities, backed by national government formulation of equipment and fuel standards and supported by private sector initiatives are all needed--together with political will--to reverse the unsustainable trends in urban transport in the largest urban areas today.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conf/asilomar.pdf
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• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309085713
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Schipper, L
• Conference:
  • Transportation, Energy, and Environmental Policy: Managing Transitions
  • Location: Monterey, California
  • Date: 2001-9-11 to 2001-9-12
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: p. 42-62

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 21st century; Air pollution; Developing countries; Environmental policy; Exhaust gases; Sustainable development; Traffic congestion; Transportation policy; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers to reform
• Geographic Terms: Asia; Latin America
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962786
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309085713
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 2003 12:00AM