Public Transport System in Toronto - Research Paper Example

? Transportation and Mobility under Urbanization Process Introduction Transportation and mobility has developed due to urbanization. In Toronto area, the population has attributed it to urbanization that took effect after World War II. Transport sector increased drastically and with it came problems that the city has to overcome. Most important is the developing of the area into a metropolitan city. Therefore, the city council has been facing with transport problems due to increase in automobiles. There is a big relationship between the urban transport structure and history. The residents of Toronto in particular have gained much access to personal cars due to developed infrastructure. This paper examines how urbanization has led to increased mobility and transportation. On the other hand, it reviews the problems associated with these developments. At the end of the day, the government has put up measures to counter problems associated to transport. This research paper comprehensively discusses the topic under question with reference to relevant sources that talks about case studies in similar situations. How transportation has developed in Toronto area Public transport system in Toronto has developed greatly after the year 1953 (Goodfellow et al., 2012, p.25). City is important in the North American state (Canada) since it is highly populated. This post war era saw urbanization across the world. In the same year, the Metropolitan Toronto made efforts of taking control of the public transit. The body did a good job of introducing two-tier system that improved the transportation system. The metropolitan’s government efforts extensively funded the project to become a success in the history of transportation (Kenworthy 2007, p.50). This funding reduced debts that the institution had. Despite digging deeper for the project, the institution realized great development that eased public transportation. This move would later form back born of transportation of the area. However, this development invited problems for the transportation and mobility. Car ownership increased which meant traffic snarl-ups. The number of households owing cars increased and the metropolitan government had to deal with problems like effects of automobiles on the environment, pedestrians. Since the Second World War, more vehicles have increased into the road (Renne & Fields 2013b, p.580). On the other hand, the public had to deal with long distances since the government had not provided incentives for constructing bypasses. Private car ownership increased. Traffic officials do have difficult time controlling private motorists. They always break the rules since and crackdown on them has proved hectic for the traffic police. In the post war era, mobility also proved difficult for the pedestrians. This mad the government to go back to the drawing table to salvage the situation. Pedestrians have equal rights to use the road. Motorists at this time were not considerate of this group of people and it resulted into numerous accidents (Kenworthy 2007, p.50). This resulted to traffic congestions, overcrowding at the public transport. In several occasions, the pedestrians were stranded in the city. Increase in car numbers also brought about parking problems in towns. There were many cars with limited parking space. The vehicles also affect environment. Comparable case studies Many case studies exist on transportation, which are comparable to the situations in Toronto (Renne & Fields 2013b, p.580). This book talks about case studies in major cities of the world that are metropolitan in nature. Cities like Tokyo, Moscow, Osaka Japan and New York have the same transportation features as Toronto. There is a case study on the transit system of Toronto. The system paves way for trolley buses and trams in the stations. It has really helped in improving mobility of city travelers. These modes of transportation and mobility are mostly popular in New York, a city that once faced mobility problems. Toronto Transit Commission developed the transit system. It was a good timing by the commission since the city was facing rapid immigration and high speed of development. These factors increased the demand for transportation. The metropolitan government introduced the commission to counter problems of urbanization. It led to developments in businesses, housing and job opportunities. Therefore, people were moving from sub-urban areas to greener pastures in the city. Population expanded and mobility increased. This transit system benefited the city. The top beneficiary was the real estate. Its value increased in the adjacent areas and many high-rise buildings developed. On the other hand, the central business district ridership increased up to 65 %. Accessibility into the CBD area gained momentum after the increase transportation. This research paper infers that urbanization improved the transport system of Toronto by providing business opportunities. Effects of transportation on the environment The use of automobiles has impacts on the environment (Nicolopoulou-Stamati, Hens & Howard 2006, p.133). The use of automobiles has effects on the environment. Some authors are against the use of cars due to the size of Toronto city. The size makes this city environmentally vulnerable to exhausts from the vehicles. Of all the transportations, automobiles receive most critics from critics and lobby groups. Transportation depends on urbanization and it needs to be sustainable. Automobiles have received outcries since they are not sustainable. They use gasoline, which authorities can reduce through proper transportation planning and strategic land use. If ignored, divers trample on land through drive offs, vegetation cover reduced and green house gases emitted from vehicle exhausts. Global gasoline consumption in the Asian countries seems to be ten times lower than in the North American states, which Toronto’ geographical position lies. Unlike these countries, Toronto still embraces the heavy use of gasoline in automobiles. Through proper planning, the metropolitan government can reduce impacts of automobiles on the environment (Miller & Shalaby 2003, p.1). Responses to transport problems After realizing transport hitches, the government of Toronto had to put up strategies to deal with these problems (Miller & Shalaby 2003, p.1). Before adopting any strategy, a team of experts is invited to give their views on how best the transport sector can be improved. The team has to counter problems like congestion, accidents, effects of automobiles on the environment, reducing gasoline consumption and sustainable development. Toronto city moved fast, through government support to save the city from mobility nightmares. Firstly, it attempted non-transportation solutions. These included encouraging the use of rides to town centers. Non-transport approaches depend on two factors: daily activity patterns and existing urban structures. Urban developers must consider them before adopting this approach. The city council on its part recognized cyclists in the central business center to carter for the growing population. The government went extra mile of introducing supply fixes. These include private vehicle ownership facilitation, public transport development and introduction of subsidies. All these efforts were geared towards serving the growing population due to urbanization. Sustainable urban development also addresses the problem of transportation and mobility. The government introduced urban sprawls but it later dropped it owing to the pressure from anti-sprawl advocates. The government also introduced leap forging along Highway 400 as an initiative towards sustainable development. Economic externals are also a way dealing with the problem of urban transportation. These economic ideologies serve to maintain the city its original status thus embracing sustainability. The government can also introduce the concept of new urbanism. This concept reviews the urban planning system in the world. In this type of intervention, the authorities employ strategies to decrease the number of automobiles on the roads as well as reducing gasoline consumption. The concept of new urbanization aims to manage the transport system. Usually, governments make efficient use of existing networks (Nieuwenhuis, Vergragt & Wells 2006, p.43). The planners can achieve it through awareness and education. Awareness comes in form of billboards that discourage motorist against unethical behaviors on the road. On the other hand, the stakeholders have to provide commuter buses that have high carrying capacity. The buses with increased carrying capacity reduces mobility problem as a bus can accommodate many people. The use of fast electric trains like the ones used in the United Kingdom is a great remedy to transportation headache. Road pricing is another strategy that helps to manage the transport. Relevant authorities must put in heavy penalties for traffic defaulters to discourage such acts. The transit commission board must employ individuals who are dedicated and innovative. This helps to come up with new ideas and strategies that can replace the old ones. Stakeholders in the transport sector should embrace technology. The world is going becoming a technological hub with new advances easily available. Technology has been a solution to every problem. The same can apply to transportation. Dependent on cars can never be a solution to urban transportation problem of congestion. City developers can use technology to build city centers that allows for easy walking and cycling to places of work, home or school (Veneza 2011, p.120). This initiative reduces dependence on cars because they bring about congestion. Toronto metropolitan government introduced eco-cars, which are sustainable. This was never a solution to the biting transportation problem since the cars did not address the issues of congestion. Technology solves the problem since the planners can incorporate it into their strategies and models. Sustainable development and the society The city has a population, which comprises its society. The whole society should develop sustainability of their transport system by upholding ethically sound practices (Macario 2011, p.298). They should encourage the government to ensure proper planning. They should also encourage the planners to consider various elements of society and the agenda for sustainability. The urban planners have ethical duties to uphold but they can only do them if the society gives them pressure to do so. Toronto has a large population that when marshaled, the authorities will attend to their duties. Ethically, the metropolitan government must provide transportation management strategies that recognize all the users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. No traffic rules and regulations must favor a certain group of road users (Veneza 2011, p.120). Transport and urban structure Toronto metropolitan government has put in measures to ensure better transport and urban structure. They have developed a four-strategy model to help improve urban transport structure (Perl & Gilbert 2010, p.34). The first strategy is full motorization. This entails encouraging individuals to own personal cars and increasing public transportation. This old strategy reduces traffic congestions but does not reduce the problem of heavy use of the automobiles. The other strategy is weak centre. This entails demarcating areas that require less traffic. These are mostly the areas in the central business district where people walk into offices. It should be spacious enough to allow mingling of people (Renne & Fields 2013a, p.262). Cyclists may access the area. This research paper strongly recommends the strategy for Toronto owing its huge population. On the other hand, the government can also adopt the strong centre. In most cities, it if found where the vehicles mostly park. It should be an open and spacious area (Perl & Gilbert 2010, p.34). This allows many cars to park. It should be located in areas where pedestrians are few to avoid accidents. The area should be in the exit areas of the city for easy exit and entrance into the city. Finally, the developers can use the strategy of low cost especially for the public transport. Public transportation discourages the use of cars and automobiles that use a lot of gasoline. If the commuters travel at low cost, they can get accustomed to it and the use of cars may not be a problem to encounter in the society. Toronto metropolitan government, with preference to weak areas and low cost strategies, can adopt all these four strategies. In conclusion, Toronto’s transportation and mobility has developed over the years under urbanization. It led to increased business opportunities since the year 1953 and up to date; the city’s transport sector has expanded with the population. However, with the increased mobility, transport sector has seen many issues and challenges that have led to the government changing its urban planning to address the problem. This research paper recommends incorporation of sustainable urban development in planning cities. Toronto city has a large population that has exceeded the carrying capacity of roads hence the need for sustainable development. The major issue is to reduce effects of automobiles on the environment. The paper finds out that it is a collective responsibility of both the authorities and the society. The paper recommends four strategies in developing and planning urban transport structures. References Goodfellow, M., Goodfellow, P., Malkin, H., Dunton, N. 2012. A guide book to contemporary architecture in Toronto. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre Kenworthy, J. 2007. Urban Planning and Transport Paradigm Shifts for Cities of the Post-Petroleum Age, Journal of Urban Technology, Volume 14, Number 2, pages 47–70 Macario, R. 2011. Managing Urban Mobility Systems. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing. Miller, E, & Shalaby, A. 2003. 'Evolution of Personal Travel in Toronto Area and Policy Implications', Journal of Urban Planning & Development, 129, 1, p. 1, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 June 2013 Nicolopoulou-Stamati, P., Hens, L., Howard, C.V. 2006. Environmental health impacts of transport and mobility. Oklahoma: Springer Nieuwenhuis, P., Vergragt, P., Wells, P.E. 2006. The business of Sustainable Mobility: From Vision to reality. Texas: Greenleaf publishing Perl, A., Gilbert, R. 2010. Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight without Oil. Gabriola Island: New Society Renne, J. L., Fields, B. 2013a. Transport beyond oil: policy choices for a multimodal future. Washington D.C: Island Press. Renne, J. L., Fields, B. 2013b. The impact of urban form on automobile travel: disentangling causation from correlation. Transportation, 34(5): 575-588. Veneza, E. ed., 2011. Urban Sustainable Mobility. Milano: Franco Angeli. Read More