CARACAS METRO: A LUXURY? (ABRIDGMENT)

Concentration of population is increasing in less developed countries, bringing with it paralyzing traffic congestion. Many cities have responded by designing and constructing expensive rail rapid transit systems. One of those cities is Caracas, Venezuela. In many ways Caracas approximates the ideal city for fixed-rail rapid transit: Linear land use patterns, rapid growth, lack of expansion space, and excessive congestion all seem to reinforce that observation. In this paper, the rationale for the Metro is explored as to its validity in terms of urban form, costs, benefits, and possible alternatives. Metro's route layout will best serve the more affluent and not the poor, accessibility to jobs will not be increased significantly, and Metro's design conflicts with the city's more recently articulated objectives of spatial and economic decentralization. Concerns for rational planning and judicious public spending were shunted aside, and the notion of a prestigious public work and availability of easy financing was allowed to dictate the decision to construct. Commitments to inflexible and costly underground rail systems, especially in countries of the Third World, may not be advisable in many cases. Many low-cost and moderate-cost strategies could provide equivalent or greater benefits at much lower cost. Strategies for expanding transportation opportunities and efficiencies could benefit from greater imagination, expertise, and political will. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/797/797-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CARACAS+METRO%3a+A+LUXURY%3f+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=D.+Sperling&publication_year=1981
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309032113
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development. 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.
• Authors:
  • Sperling, Daniel
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References;
• Pagination: pp 27-31
• Monograph Title: Transit planning and management
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 797
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Cost effectiveness; Developing countries; Feasibility analysis; Land use; Low income groups; Population; Rapid transit; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Disadvantaged persons
• Geographic Terms: Caracas (Venezuela)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341777
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032113
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM