City Planning for Transport System Strategic Plan- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theCity Planning for Transport System Strategic Plan. Answer: Introduction: Identified Challenge Melbourne City is one of the largest cities in Australia. The city which serves as Victorias capital comes second among the most populous cities in the country. It covers an area of approximately 9,992 Km2 with a high level urban development buoyed by its fast growing economy. The infrastructural setting of the city is quite remarkable and is characterized by a good road, rail and communication networks. However, Grahams (2016) highlights the growing economy and the highly affordable nature of consumer products as one of the reasons behind the rise in the number of car users in the city. Despite the fact that the city also has tram and rail networks, research by the author indicates that these terminals exist in locations far away from where people stay or where they would love to go to which implies the modes do not help a good junk of the population. This implies that over two thirds of Melbournes population depends on road transport which has led to traffic congestions as a major transport challenge in the city. As pointed out in the citys annual report, the challenge load to a loss of about $23 million in 2015 and could double in the next ten years if no counter course is taken (Delbosc and Currie, 2011). The annual report released by the department of public transport (2017) further indicates that failures in signal strengths has in some cases delayed the rail services which would have acted as a better substitute to the overwhelmed road system. Addressing the challenge One of the most practical recommendations in this case would be to implement Currie and Shalabys suggestions regarding the modernization of road transport. Introducing smart cars would not only ease the congestion in the city roads but also raise the convenience levels to greater heights. Modernizing the street vehicles would make the departures and arrivals more organized and definite which would in turn make it easy for the relevant departments to control traffic. Currie (2016) research outlines practical examples of the daily lives of the working class and travelers in Melbourne. The smart cars would definitely be more spacious and comfortable and therefore likely to take in a good number of passengers in one go. Each modern street car would be designed to operate on a particular channel which would largely minimize collisions and any other transport related accidents. The other suggestion would be to establish more than one transport hubs especially in locations noted to have the highest congestion rates (Currie, 2010). A hub would see the road, tram and rail services interlocked in central place which would make it possible for people to access their preferred transport choice. Placing the modes together would mean more relief on the road sector as other people would opt to use either the trams or the rail services due to improved availability. Providing cheaper alternatives to the population would go a long way in reducing the use of personal car which many opt to rely on since they consider this more convenient. Example of experiences on city streets in Melbourne An aerial view of Melbourne city in the evening indicates a chain of personal cars jammed up in traffic. If each of these users were offered a better alternative, the issue of congestion would be reduced by about 40% within a period of two years (Aston, Currie and Pavkova, 2016, p. 85). Secondly, Currie (2016) in one of the pictures depicts an overcrowded city bus with some passengers standing due to less number of seats. The third strategy would involve the incorporation of more sophisticated technology in the rail services to enhance smart communication. One of the identified challenges is the aspect of weak signals or occasional total failures which has led to delays. This could be countered by incorporating more efficient communication devices and high performance boosters to enhance signal strength and ease communication between the terminals. Removing on street parking, creating wider paths and space for trees A case study on Melbournes transport system by Deborah (2016) indicates the high prevalence of on street parking as a means of space control in the city. This largely minimizes vehicle mobility and leads to time wastage as leaving the parking lots may involve long waits. These can be removed to create more space for outdoor dining or better still more space for the smart cars. Coming up with an organized transport system like modernized cars and a hub involves using less space to achieve more. Subsequently, the space created by this transition can be used for other productive ventures like planting trees which also assists in enhancing environmental conservation and reducing green house effect. Conclusion Melbourne city is considerably one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. Research equally projects a possible shoot in its population in the next ten years. Such developments need to be countered using the most effective measures especially in the transport industry in order to reduce the challenge of traffic congestion (Aston, Currie Pavkova, 2016). Transport directly affects a regions economy hence an effective transport industry enhances economic stability which is one of the citys core objectives. References Adam, C. (2013) The Age, Signal failures are causing chronic rail delays Journal of Transport Management, 2(1), pp. 2 Aston, L., Currie, Pavkova, K. (2016) Does Transit Mode Influence the Transit-Orientation of Urban Development? - An Empirical Study Journal of transport geography 55, pp83-91 Currie, G and Shalaby, A. (2007) Success and Challenges in Modernizing Streetcar Systems Experience in Melbourne and Toronto Transportation Research Record No 2006 Transportation Research Board Washington, 2(1), pp 31-39 2007 Currie, G. (2010) Quantifying spatial gaps in public transport supply based on social needs, Journal of transport geography 18(1), pp. 3141 Deborah, T. (2009)Melbourne: A city of stories. Victoria: Museum. Delbosc, A and Currie, G. (2011) Using Lorenz Curves to Assess Public Transport Equity Journal of transport geography 19(6), pp.1252-1259