MODAL CHOICE AND PUBLIC POLICY IN TRANSPORTATION

The challenge in transportation planning in the 1970s is to obtain the proper types, locations, and amounts of transportation investments that reflect each urban area's actual and perceived needs and values. The rapidly growing scale of federal and state governments will accelerate and sustain the growth of many cities. Some national factors that influence urban transport policy formulation and modal usage include the following: national urban growth policy, metropolitanization of government functions, accelerated urban housing and renewal programs, multimodal transportation funding, and automobile restraint policies. Implicit in many transport and development options available to the modern metropolis are answers to these questions: (1) What type of community development is desired, and how can it best be achieved? (2) What amount and form of mobility are desired? A clear set of transport options as they relate to various land use alternatives is also needed: (1) Should we improve transportation at all? (2) Should the emphasis be placed on highways or transit; more specifically, how much of each should be provided and in what locations? (3) What amount of resources are we willing to commit to improve transportation, and how will these funds be obtained? The use of autos and public transit for travel to the center city depends on many factors, including center city employment, trip purpose, parking availability, approach highway capacities, and public attitudes. A storng interdependence exists between public transport and the center city. As employment density increases, there is a greater reliance on public transport; a major reduction in peak-hour transit riding could create serious congestion. Commuter travel by public transport should be encouraged in large urban centers. A more complete mix of rail and road facilities and multimodal terminals will become available. Peak-hour motorists will have a choice of travel modes. That choice suggests giving priority to public transport, intercepting and diverting automobiles, inhibiting automobile travel, staggering work hours, and the development of new towns. The challenge in urban transportation is to provide the proper mix of highway and public transport services--to improve arterial streets, to modernize traffic controls, to keep bus systems operating at reasonable fares, and to expand the system to meet changing social and community needs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Published in Urban Transportation Perspectives and Prospects.
• Corporate Authors:

  Newcastle University, Australia

  Department of Community Programmes
  Newcastle, New South Wales 2308,   Australia 

  Eno Transportation Foundation

  P.O. Box 2055, Saugatuck Station
  Westport, CT  United States  06880-0055
• Authors:
  • Levinson, H S
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 149-154
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Newcastle University, Australia
  • Publisher: Newcastle University, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; Finance; Financing; Housings; Mode choice; Needs assessment; Policy; Transportation planning; Urban growth; Urban renewal
• Old TRIS Terms: Government policies; Modal selection
• Subject Areas: Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399702
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 987
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM