- Quality, user-friendly public transport systems provide a viable alternative to the private car and help build livable, accessible cities. Photo by Alejandro Luna/EMBARQ Mexico.
The “People-oriented Cities” series – exclusive to TheCityFix and Insights – is an exploration of how cities can grow to become more sustainable and livable through transit-oriented development (TOD). The nine-part series will address different urban design techniques and trends that reorient cities around people rather than cars.
Transport is inherently linked to urban development. The viability of transport systems relies on densely populated neighborhoods that allow for more convenient trips between urban communities. Despite this, relatively little effort is put into designing cities around transport systems, often the result of disjointed transport and urban planning practices in developing cities. The role of urban design is to make public transport not just viable, but effective in its implementation.
The human cost of disconnected cities: A cautionary tale
Mexico is one such country that has struggled to develop land patterns in a way that supports mass transport systems. According estimates from SEDESOL, the urban population in Mexico has doubled in the past 30 years while urban land areas have expanded sevenfold in the same time. So-called “urban” housing developments tend to be built far from the actual urban footprint. This is then compounded by low density in new developments. As a result, the cost of transport infrastructure – which has to cover much greater distances – increases dramatically.
Transport services in these sprawling areas are then unable to deliver on quality and accessibility. These systems are poorly maintained – or not maintained at all; routes, fees, and schedules are irregular; stops are spread out and disconnected from the city center; and public transport infrastructure is poorly designed, creating significant delays and increasing the risk of traffic crashes.
These poor design choices disproportionately impact the most disadvantaged segments of society. For instance, poor residents living on the urban fringe of Mexico City have restricted access to jobs and commercial hubs, forcing many to spend 30% of their monthly incomes on transport. Sprawling urban development creates a culture where the rich have no choice but to travel by car while the poor aspire to car ownership.
Transit-oriented development can reverse these trends, rebuilding cities and transport systems around the needs of people and communities.
The capacity of public transport services should be designed according to the population density of the corridor they serve. While low-demand bus services can meet their users’ basic mobility needs, mass transport services are more environmentally and economically efficient and more user-friendly. Image by EMBARQ.
Three key elements of urban design support quality public transport, and can help cities move towards a transit-oriented development model. City leaders must reshape the roadways connecting communities within cities; create density around public transport to fuel demand; and design facilities that ensure safe and user-friendly transport systems.
1. Bring communities closer through transport
In order to increase access to public transport, urban communities must connect to one another. This means that cities cannot depend entirely on regional, high-speed, car-oriented roads (like federal or state highways). These roads are typically not viable for public transport, and they create both physical and social divisions between communities.
Roads in urban communities should be integrated into existing structures and neighborhoods. The majority of these roads should be local roads that connect to larger, high capacity corridors with frequent public transport services.
2. Keep cities compact
To make quality public transport viable, cities must develop in such a way that fosters demand for public transport services. This means creating more compact neighborhoods and encouraging higher building density and mixed land use. Most unsubsidized public transport services can operate with densities of 20 residences per acre that are within half a mile (0.8 km) of transport hubs.
Cities can create demand for public transport by encouraging density and mixed land uses through urban codes and zoning regulations. Fostering the development of multi-family residences, public service facilities, commercial ground floors, and mixed-use buildings around transport hubs can increase the number of trips taken along the corridor.
Furthermore, connecting to public transport stops to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure provides residents access to the rest of their city via a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bike ride, increasing physical activity while solving the problem of last-mile connectivity.
3. Design transport around people
Neighborhood design can support public transport systems while acting as a catalyst for more cohesive and sustainable urban communities. Street design must accommodate transport needs – like where to locate stops – but it also must be safe and accessible for all populations. This can be achieved through the following urban design strategies:
Streets and roadways can support safe access to transport for pedestrians, if designed correctly. Image by EMBARQ.
- All main roads should have a right-of-way for public transportation, preferably with dedicated lanes.
- All public transport lanes must have a minimum width of 3.5 meters, with clear road markings identifying its separation from general traffic.
- Public transport stops should be sheltered, with clear signage, and should provide up-to-date route information. They should also have lighting, seating, and a wide sidewalk space to minimize interference with pedestrian walkways.
These design principles, combined with high densities and connected cities, can create public transport systems that are accessible and attractive for people and financially viable for cities. Now is the time for transport planners in developing cities to recognize the link between urban development and sustainable transport. Just as city planners have embraced people-oriented cities, transport planners must embrace people-oriented transport as a win-win strategy for sustainable urban development.
Stay tuned for the next entry in the “People-oriented Cities” series, which will address the role of non-motorized mobility in effective transit-oriented development. For more on the transit-oriented development paradigm, download EMBARQ’s Transit-oriented Development Guide for Urban Communities.
