Strength and Weaknesses of Australian Transport System Design Approach - Essay Example

Running head: STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES OF AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM DESIGN APPROACH Strength and Weaknesses of Australian Transport System Design Approach Insert Name Insert Course Title Insert Instructor’s Name 20 September 2011 What are its main strengths and weaknesses for the design approach the used for transport system? Include examples of current ideas in transport and land use planning that show the influence of the design approach especially Australia (Victoria) Introduction Urban planning involves both the land use planning and transport planning to improve infrastructures that support the economic and social environments of communities. Urban planning further may include reconstruction and revival that involve planning methods being employed on cities have collapsed, or are suffering from lack of investments (Grogan & Proscio, 2001). Government and urban authorities formulate programs aimed at improving the urban environment and promoting given economic and social goals. Since ancient times, as depicted by the ruins of ancient cities, urban planning has been practiced with well-organized streets, water and sewage systems, and walls. For example, during the Renaissance, European city areas were carefully and scientifically planned to allow movement of the populace, and the city walls were strongly fortified for security reasons (Grogan & Proscio, 2001). Modern urban planning and reconstruction programs were largely shaped by the events of Industrial Revolution, especially the disorder and squalor of the slums. These events challenged governments and urban planners to come up with elaborate city plans that include water, sewage, transport systems, and other amenities. For example, during this period, people like William Penn, in founding the City of Philadelphia, developed the standard gridiron plan that involved laying out of streets and plots of land adaptable to rapid change in land use (Taylor, 2009). A new concept to urban planning and designing of transport systems is embracing the idea of sustainable development and sustainability. This concept involves adopting sustainable urban development that improves the long-term social and ecological health of cities and towns by using sustainable city structures and designs. These include compact and efficient land use, reduced automobile use but with better access, less pollution and waste, restoration of natural systems, better housing and efficient use of resources, and healthy and sustainable socio-economic environment (Wheeler, 2004). These developments require significant support from political and government structures, as they affect many areas and institutions. Thus, they are implemented in a collaborative and communicative manner that encompasses strategic programming, decision making and monitoring, to enhance accomplishment of the specific goals. Urban planning will therefore take into consideration all aspects of a town or a city. Good transport system planning is an essential urban planning component that anticipates how future growth will affect traffic flow and eliminates the trouble spots before they become a larger problem. Strength and weaknesses of Australian transport system design approach Transport is a basic component of developed economies such as the Australian by linking businesses to markets and supplies of raw materials and other inputs. Transport system generally involves road, rail, sea and air means and systems. It plays considerable economic, social, and environmental role on people of any country. Good transport systems contribute to economic prosperity and social achievements to the community through access to large employment and residential opportunities, increased variety of holiday and entertainment options. People also spend a considerable amount of their time and income while on transit to work, school, shopping, and various other activities. Information related to transport systems is crucial to support planning and investment decisions. Due to these aspects, Australia’s domestic and international transportation systems make a considerable contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). For example, this year, the transport and storage industry has contributed more than 4.4% of GDP (ABS, 2011). This represents a wide range of industries and activities, ranging from transporting and storage freight, to movement of people by public and private transport and use of pipelines. One of the major strengths of Australia’s transport system design is the use of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). ITS is application of information technology to the surface transportation system by including communications, sensors and computer hardware and software that enable the travelers and transporters to make more informed and effective decisions (Kisielnicki, 2002, p.222). ITS program applies to all modes of transport and seeks to use technologies that enhance and improve the movement of people and goods and increase capacity of the existing transport system. Through use of communication and information technologies, ITS improves safety, efficiency, and environmental friendliness of transport systems. This is achieved by addressing key transport systems’ problems such as reduction of congestion. Congestion normally increases energy costs, leads to loss of many manpower hours and increases environmental pollution. For example, in Australia, urban congestion costs more than $5 billion annually in travel time and vehicle operating costs of which, around 75% occurs in Victoria and Sydney (Kisielnicki, 2002). However, with introduction of ITS program, these costs have significantly reduced. Studies have further revealed that introduction of ITS in urban areas can confer the following benefits. First, the arterial management systems can potentially reduce delays between 5% and 40% with the implementation of advanced control systems and traveler information dissemination. Additionally, the free management systems can reduce the occurrence of crashes by up to 40% and increase transport capacity. Lastly, transit management systems may reduce travel times by up to 50% and increase reliability significantly with automatic vehicle location and transit signal priority implementation (Bertini & Monsere, 2005). ITS programs also can result in higher travel speeds, improved traffic flow and more satisfied travelers for all modes of transport. Another major strength of Australia transport system design is its advanced ticketing systems, for example, Perth boosts of having adopted the noble idea of integrated ticketing for many years. Integrated ticketing allows one ticket to be valid for a bus trip and a train trip at the same time, thereby aiding people using public transport. Overall, the Australia’s transport system and urban planning is quite advanced and it receives much needed support from both private and public sectors, leading to state of art infrastructures. For example, Melbourne’s public transport (the Met) is one the Australia’s best with over 750 trams that operate as far as 20 km out of the city, forming the basis of the system, while buses form the second means of public transport (Insight Guides, et al, 2005). The trains connect an underground loop to the outer suburbs. There is also a wide range of tickets that enhance traveling over various periods and throughout the different city zones. Additionally, Melbourne is fairly flat, thus, cyclist can enjoy a number of good long tracks. Finally, the Melbourne city taxis supplement the above public transport especially during late nights. One of the main weaknesses of the Australia’s transport system design is lack of preparedness towards natural disaster events. For example, in 2001, ten of the 31 major events were estimated to have exceeded $10 million in direct costs (COAG, 2004). These events and similar events in that period show the need for a better national mechanism for dealing with natural disasters. Throughout Australia, the modern infrastructure and people continue to grow in disaster prone areas. Some of the major urban developments especially in coastal and river valley areas have sometimes been undertaken without reference to disaster risk assessment and consideration of the appropriate mitigation measures, with the result that some urban developments and essential infrastructure that support large populations being at risk of damage from natural disasters (COAG, 2004). In other areas, transport systems such as roads and rail links are flooded each year, hampering transport for local communities and tourist, and the carriage of goods for communities, businesses, and industries. For example, Melbourne “has a reputation for bad weather; the climate is totally unpredictable, and it is possible to experience all four seasons in one day” while some of transport infrastructure found here might have not been evaluated for disaster hazard risks (Insight Guides, et al, 2005). Political influence is another major weakness of the Australian transport system design approach. With changing political will, after every election, new transport policies can be affected, leading to poor system that lacks some crucial insight. For example, the public transport systems in Perth and Melbourne are on different paths, with the Perth system a centrally planned network delivering consistent patronage growth for more than a decade, while in Melbourne recent demographic shifts and petrol prices have triggered transit demand that took the fractured management of the privatized system by surprise (Stone, 2009). These differences have largely attributed to different public transport systems and urban planning policies that were introduced in each city by the governments of 1980s. Thus, political influences can lead to problems in transport systems, as is the case of Melbourne. Reference list Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2011, 5206.0 - Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, Jun 2011, ABS, viewed 20 September 2011, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5206.0/ Bertini, RL & Monsere, CM 2005, Benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies in Urban Areas: A Literature Review, Portland State University, Portland. Council of Australian Governments (COAG) 2004, Natural Disasters in Australia: Reforming mitigation, relief and recovery arrangements, COAG, Australia Government Department of Transport and Regional Services. Grogan, PS & Proscio, T 2001, Comeback cities: a blueprint for urban neighborhood revival, Westview Press, NY. Insight Guides, Pikes, J, Bell, B & Discovery Channel 2005, Australia, Langenscheidt Publishing Group, NY. Kisielnicki, J 2002, Modern organizations in virtual communities, Idea Group Inc (IGI), NY. Taylor, DE 2009, The environment and the people in American cities, 1600-1900s: disorder, inequality, and social change, Duke University Press, NY. Stone, J 2009, ‘Contrasts in Reform: How the Cain and Burke Years Shaped Public Transport in Melbourne and Perth’, Urban Policy and Research, vol. 27, no. 4, pp419–434. Wheeler, ST 2004, Planning for sustainability: creating livable, equitable, and ecological communities, Routledge, New York. Read More