From patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com Mon Apr 16 13:54:08 2018 From: patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:24:08 +0530 Subject: [sustran] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dark side of Metro Rail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Message-ID: The Death and Life of Great Metro Cities While many are mesmerised by the coming of the Metro Rail and its promises of clean, safe, fast and green mode of Public Transport, we need to see with open eyes the devastation being caused by the construction work of the Metro and the callousness with which it is being bulldozed. It's a pity that it has become necessary to take critical look a mode of Public Transport in this manner but there is more to mobility than just size and speed. A city's unique character, its natural and built heritage, its public spaces and the plight of the most basic modes like walking and cycling are equally important while planning and executing a public transport project - particularly when it involves prohibitively high cost that ultimately will fall on all the citizens. Please read this article from our website ... and do share your views. The Death and Life of Great Metro Cities http://www.parisar.org/resources-list/42-news/199-the-death-and-life-of-great-metro-cities *With around 600 kms of Metro line projects under construction in 12 cities and over 500 km projects under consideration, it is of utmost significance and urgency to point out the highly unsustainable ways in which the so-called sustainable Metro projects are being implemented. Why should metro rail be established at the cost of other modes, especially the non-motorized modes of cycling and walking, and then profess the idea of multi-modal integration? Why are cities continually investing and compromising towards one grand idea as the sole solution to traffic problem rather than small constructive ideas weaved together? And can any futuristic planning be so bereft of and violent to a city?s past and present?* Thank you, -- Sujit -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Parisar*? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parisar: www.parisar.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 17934 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20180416/0fe129fa/ParisarLogo_Green_Sm.jpg From paulbarter at reinventingtransport.org Wed Apr 18 17:05:24 2018 From: paulbarter at reinventingtransport.org (Paul Barter) Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:05:24 +0800 Subject: [sustran] New international podcast on urban mobility issues Message-ID: I am embarking on a new project that may be of interest to sustran-discussers. Next month I will be launching a podcast called the *Reinventing Transport show*. I will be interviewing various people (including some sustran-discuss members) with the aim of providing practical help and encouragement on change-making in urban mobility for a wide international audience. *You can get more information at https://www.reinventingtransport.org/2018/04/new-international-podcast-on-urban.html * All the best Paul Barter From litman at vtpi.org Thu Apr 26 09:37:22 2018 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Litman) Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:37:22 -0700 Subject: [sustran] VTPI News - Spring 2018 Message-ID: <07c701d3dcf6$d02ef440$708cdcc0$@vtpi.org> ----------- VTPI NEWS ----------- Victoria Transport Policy Institute "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" ------------------------------------- Spring 2018 Vol. 18, No. 2 ----------------------------------- The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The VTPI website (www.vtpi.org ) has many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW VTPI REPORTS =================== "True Affordability: Critiquing the International Housing Affordability Survey" (http://www.vtpi.org/ihasc.pdf ). Most lower- and moderate-income households spend more on housing and transportation than considered affordable. This harms families and communities. As a result, there is considerable interest in methods for understanding unaffordability problems and evaluate potential solutions. The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey (IHAS) rates regional housing affordability using Median Multiples (the ratio of median house prices to wages), and uses the results to advocate for urban expansion. It is heavily promoted and receives significant media attention. This study critically evaluates the IHAS methods and recommendations. It identifies significant problems. The Survey's analysis methods exaggerate the affordability of urban-fringe housing, and the unaffordability of compact urban infill. It blames housing unaffordability on urban containment regulations although they are uncommon and less costly than regulations limiting affordable infill. It ignores many sprawl costs and Smart Growth benefits. The IHAS fails to reflect professional standards: its analysis methods do not reflect current best practices; it misrepresents key research, is not transparent, and lacks peer review. This critique indicates that the IHAS is propaganda, intended to support a political agenda rather than provide objective guidance. Although the IHAS information may be useful, it is important that users understand its biases. This report received considerable media coverage: "Affordability is Not a Zero-sum Game: A new report offers a vision for optimal urban growth for affordability and livability" (https://bit.ly/2HJU64b ), Public Square, Congress for New Urbanism. "True Affordability: Critiquing the International Housing Affordability Survey" (http://ow.ly/Jpju30jgyOb ), The World Resources Institute's "City Fix." "Urban Sprawl Is Not More Affordable: Influential Housing Report Supporting Suburban Expansion is Little More than Propaganda" (https://bit.ly/2G0lzyx ), The Tyee Magazine. "Sprawl vs. Density Showdown: What's Better for Cities? The Media Goes Wild for Demographia's Annual Housing Affordability Survey, but Critics Abound" (https://bit.ly/2Fh5SxA ), Star Metro Vancouver. "Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance in BC Backgrounder" (http://vtpi.org/PAYD_BC_Backgrounder ). Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) pricing is the best transportation policy reform that you've probably never heard of! * * * * * PUBLISHED & PRESENTED ELSEWHERE ================================ "Mobility and Innovation. The New Transportation Paradigm" (http://bit.ly/2Dravbo ). Todd Litman contributed this chapter to this beautiful and inspiring new book, "S.M.A.R.T. - Paths to Sustainability" (bit.ly/2mUs2iG ), in which 34 authors and photographers from five continents give their views on aspects of sustainable development. "A New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (https://bit.ly/2HPxoax ). This article for the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals ( http://www.carsp.ca ) summarizes our research (www.vtpi.org/ntsp ) concerning how transportation and land use planning decisions affect traffic risks, and how this information can be applied to create safer communities. "A New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (https://bit.ly/2Febrwx ), Transportation Talk (the Journal of the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers). "Automated Vehicles: The Coming of the Next Disruptive Technology" (https://bit.ly/2dkBzMa ) by the Conference Board of Canada cites our report, "Autonomous Vehicle Implementation Projections" (http://www.vtpi.org/avip ). It states, "For those who argue that the switch over to AVs from the existing human-driven fleet will take many decades, it is worth noting that it took about a dozen years for New York to switch from 'horse power to horsepower'". In response we added Exhibit 10, which shows U.S. per capita vehicle ownership trends during the last century. Although mass automobile production started in 1908, only after the 1960s did most potential drivers own a personal vehicle, and only after 1980 did ownership approach saturation. This indicates that, although a new transport technology can be introduced quickly in a few locations, broad deployment generally takes decades and saturation more than a half-century. "Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle" (http://bit.ly/2GwHvO2 ), by the Canadian Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, provides comprehensive and objective analysis of autonomous vehicle benefits and costs, based, in part, on our research. Also see, "When Will Autonomous Vehicles Become a Reality and How Will They Really Be Used?" (http://bit.ly/2E70L7t ) in the automotive magazine Torque News. "3 Policy Fixes That Could Dramatically Reduce Transportation Emissions" (https://bit.ly/2B6MK7v ) by Angie Schmitt, and "The Clean Power Plan is on Life Support, but Screw it, Let's Create One for Transportation" (https://bit.ly/2HS1TNh ) by Tim Kovach. These columns are based on the report "Comparing Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Legal Implementation Possibilities for Pay-to-Save Transportation Price-shifting Strategies and EPA's Clean Power Plan" (http://www.vtpi.org/G&E_GHG.pdf ), by Allen Greenberg and John (Jay) Evans, which investigates the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction impacts and benefits of a set of innovative, revenue-neutral transportation pricing reforms including pay-as-you-drive-and-you-save vehicle insurance, parking cash out, and the conversion of fixed state and local vehicle sales taxes into mileage-based taxes. These would give travelers significant financial incentives to reduce their annual mileage and provide various benefits. This report identifies practical ways to implement these strategies. "Surge Pricing Can Help Traffic, But Paying Can be Painful" (https://bit.ly/2Kh3pHc ). This Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) SPARK radio program interview concerns toll road "surge pricing" (i.e. "congestion pricing"). As Todd Litman describes, 'You're either paying with money, or with time,' when it comes to travelling to an urban destination. Paying with money through congestion pricing is appropriate when you are in a hurry, paying with time, by sitting in congestion or using public transit is appropriate when you are not. To maximize efficiency, both options should be available. Rational drivers should be protesting at city hall in support of congestion pricing and public transit investments. Also see Wired Magazine's, "Virginia's $40 Toll Road Better Be the Future of Driving" (https://bit.ly/2Kf9e86 ), which also quotes Todd Litman concerning congestion pricing merits. "If Americans Paid for the Parking We Consume, We'd Drive 500 Billion Fewer Miles Each Year" (https://bit.ly/2HuXj4e ). This column by Angie Schmitt summarizes Todd Litman's report, "Socially Optimal Transport Prices and Markets" (http://www.vtpi.org/sotpm.pdf ) which models the impacts of efficient transport pricing and planning. Recent Planetizen Blogs (www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ): "Autonomous Vehicle Reality" (https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/97927 ). Planners must be realistic. Autonomous vehicles will probably provide smaller net benefits, including safety benefits, than optimists predict. "True Affordability: Critiquing the International Housing Affordability Survey" (https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/97706 ). The International Housing Affordability Survey is biased in ways that make urban-fringe housing seem more affordable and infill seem less affordable. Anybody who uses this analysis should be warned. "Fun Parking Facts" (https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/96957 ). Parking requirements are the dark matter of the urban universe: they affect transport and land use in mysterious ways. These fun facts illustrate the costs and impacts of economically excessive parking supply. "A New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/96324 ). Despite numerous traffic safety programs, traffic death rates have not declined in a decade and recently started to increase. We can do better! A new paradigm identifies additional safety strategies that reduce both crash rates and risk exposure. "Public Transportation Provides a Vital Mobility Link in Rural and Small Towns" (https://www.planetizen.com/news/2017/10/95487 ). A new report describes the important roles that public transit plays in rural communities and small towns, current demographic and economic trends that are increasing these demands, and examples of successful rural transit development programs. Let's be friends. Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/todd.litman ). Befriend him now! * * * * * UPCOMING EVENTS ======================= "Economics of Walkability. How improving walking conditions can help communities achieve their strategic development goals" (https://bit.ly/1ttJv24 ), Simon Fraser University Next-Generation Transportation Webinar Series. Improving walking conditions, increasing walking activity, and creating more compact, walkable communities can provide significant and diverse benefits to residents, businesses and communities. Many of these benefits tend to be overlooked or undervalued in conventional transport planning. This webinar will explore these impacts, and how to communicate walkability benefits to decision-makers and the general public. "Sustainable Aviation Symposium" (https://bit.ly/2KdXkek ), 11-12 May 2018, San Francisco. Todd Litman will discuss factors to consider when evaluating innovative transportation options such as electric air taxis. "Autonomous Vehicle Implementation Predictions - Implications for Transport Planning" (https://bit.ly/2HZdJmp ), keynote presentation, Transport Summit DTU, 31 May, Denmark. "The New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (https://bit.ly/2qYoEWd ), keynote presentation, at the Canadian Association of Traffic Safety Professionals Annual Meeting, June 11, Victoria. * * * * * BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ======================= "Planning for Autonomous Vehicles" (http://www.vtpi.org/AV_Litman_Presentation.pdf ), Victoria Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers, 24 January 2018, Victoria. * * * * * USEFUL RESOURCES ================= "The Economic Benefits of Vehicle Miles Traveled Reducing Placemaking: Synthesizing a New View" (https://bit.ly/2IIxePm ). This report analyzes evidence on the economic benefits of placemaking efforts that prioritize pedestrian and non-motorized access and help reduce vehicle travel. It finds evidence of economic benefits on commercial and residential property values, business activity and economic productivity. "Sustainable and Safe: A Vision and Guidance for Zero Road Deaths" (https://bit.ly/2D0mPzj ), by the World Resources Institute. This analysis of 53 countries found that those that apply "Safe System" approaches to transport and urban design achieve the lowest rates of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants and the greatest reduction in fatality rates during the past two decades. "Intersecting Residential and Transportation CO2 Emissions: Metropolitan Climate Change Programs in the Age of Trump" (https://bit.ly/2HZzAtH ), by John D. Landis, David Hsu and Erick Guerra. This Journal of Planning Education and Research article explores the potential for local policies to reduce carbon emissions in eleven representative US metropolitan areas. It estimates that residential energy conservation mandates could reduce 2030 home emissions by an average of 30% over 2010 levels, and policies that encourage compact development and mode shifts could reduce transport emissions by 25% during the same period. "Elements of Access: Transport Planning for Engineers, Transport Engineering for Planners" (https://bit.ly/2HxfB4U ). This new book by Professor David M. Levinson can help transport engineers and planners better understand the diverse aspects of accessibility, and communicate these concepts to the public. "Global Initiative for Child Health & Mobility" (www.childhealthinitiative.org ) is a partnership working to ensure that every child can enjoy a safe and healthy journey. It produced the report, "Every Journey. Every Child" (https://bit.ly/2HrSzA7 ). "Building Sustainable Mobility for Women" (https://bit.ly/2HPegth ) examines women's public transport experience in cities in South Africa, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. The associated 'Ella se mueve segura' ('Women move safely') (https://bit.ly/2FMlhHv ) project provides guidance for improving public transport personal security for women. "MaaS Maturity Index" (www.maaslab.org/maasindex ) assesses the readiness of metropolitan areas for the implementation of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), taking into account various characteristics which affect the likelihood of successful implementation. "San Francisco TDM Tool" (www.sftdmtool.org ) and "Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a TDM Plan" (https://bit.ly/2qXvVFG ), provide detailed guidance for transport planners and engineers, developers and building managers to encourage more efficient transportation in various conditions. "Commute Mode Diversity and Income Inequality: An Inter-Urban Analysis of 148 Midsize US Cities" (https://bit.ly/2HxzmJe ). This new article by Frederick and Gilderbloom finds that increased commute mode diversity (lower automobile mode share) is associated with more income equality, and with higher home property values and affordable rental markets compared to automobile dependent cities. "The Science Is In: The Healthiest Neighborhoods are both Walkable and Green" Placemakers (https://bit.ly/2Jr5Pli ), by Kaid Benfield. "The (New) Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide" (https://brtguide.itdp.org ) provides even more information on how to develop more efficient bus systems. "MobilityScore" (https://transitscreen.com/mobilityscore ) is an easy-to-use rating system that gives a score from 1-100 of a location's local mobility services, including public transit to carsharing, bikesharing, and hailed ridesharing. "Street Mobility Project" (www.ucl.ac.uk/street-mobility ) by the University College London, is a practical tools for measuring community severance and overcoming barriers to walking. "Implementing Context-Sensitive Design on Multimodal Corridors: A Practitioner's Handbook" (https://bit.ly/2JteKCP ). This handbook illustrates best practices for creating walkable mixed-use streets. "Pedestrians First, Tools For a Walkable City" (https://bit.ly/2HSbN1p ) provides guidance for evaluating walking conditions and improving urban walkability. "The Value of Slow Travel: An Econometric Method for Valuing the User Benefits of Active Transport Infrastructure" (https://bit.ly/2EkA0Ym ). This dissertation by Christopher Standen used economic modeling to evaluate the direct user benefits (welfare gains) from bicycle facility improvements that increase bicycling activity. He points out that, although walking and bicycling are often slower than driving, users who shift mode in response to facility improvements must benefit overall, reflecting lower travel time unit costs. "Landlords in Seattle Can't Force Renters to Pay for Parking Anymore" (https://bit.ly/2KcxyqW ) Street Blog. The Seattle City Council has approved a substantial package of parking reforms that aims to make housing more affordable and reduce dependence on driving, including a new rule that prevents landlords of buildings with more than 10 apartments from bundling parking (automatically including it with rent). "Ending the Search for Parking" (https://bit.ly/2q6uTWD ), by Angela DeLuca. Current travel trends, including more walking, bicycling, ridehailing, carsharing and public transit travel are reducing parking demand in many urban areas. "Automated Vehicles Can't Save Cities" (https://nyti.ms/2CqQSAb ) describes problems that autonomous vehicles may cause in urban areas. The "Shared Mobility Principles" (https://www.sharedmobilityprinciples.org ) describes ways to encourage efficient transport. * * * * * Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful. Sincerely, Todd Litman (litman@vtpi.org) Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) Office: 250-360-1560 | Mobile: 250-508-5150 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA Efficiency - Equity - Clarity From nikola.medimorec at slocatpartnership.org Mon Apr 30 15:53:56 2018 From: nikola.medimorec at slocatpartnership.org (Nikola Medimorec) Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:53:56 +0900 Subject: [sustran] SB48 Side Event: Mobilising Sustainable Transport for Global Climate Action - May 1st Message-ID: Dear climate-l readers, We invite you to the sustainable transport event at the Bonn Session: *May 1, 2018, 16:45 - 18:15* *Room: Bonn (181)* Organized By: - International Association of Public Transport (UITP) - International union of railways (UIC) - SLoCaT Partnership The event will highlight how the Global Climate Action (GCA) - Transport initiatives are delivering action on the ground and developing strategies that will help scale up national ambition which can help trigger widespread action to decarbonize land transport. Speakers will include representatives from transport initiatives and leading international organisations engaged on low carbon transport responsible for implementing activities in the transport sector. Draft Agenda: Moderator: Urda Eichhorst, Advisor Transport and Climate Change, German Development Cooperation (GIZ) 16:45 *Introduction and context - Transport in climate policy*, Urda Eichhorst, GIZ 16:55 *Reflections on the Marrakesh Partnership*, Tomasz Chruszczow, Special Envoy For Climate Change, High Level Champion, (TBC) 17:05 *Global Climate Action Agenda (GCAA) - Transport*, Mark Major, Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) 17:25 *Sustainable railway passenger transport: high speed rail and its challenges*, Carole Escolan-Zeno, Head of Sustainability Unit, UIC 17:35 *Roadmap for a sustainable public transport and Rail 2050 in the Netherlands*, Marie-Luz Philippe, Advisor for Sustainable Development, UIC 17:45 *Maximising the impact of Global Climate Action - Transport in the climate process*, Sander Chan, Senior Researcher, German Development Institute (TBC) 17:55 *General questions and debate* 18:10 *Close*, Urda Eichhorst, GIZ For more information, please visit this website: http://slocat.net/event/1935 Best regards, Nikola Medimorec Nikola Medimorec Senior Researcher Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) +82-10-8642-4453 (mobile) @ni_medi (twitter) @SLoCaTCornie (twitter) @SLoCatOfficial (facebook) nikolamedimorec (skype) www.slocat.net