WAYS TO IMPROVE
URBAN
TR A NSPOR TATION
AND REDUCE ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
O
Upgrading public transit in American
cities will not only improve the quality of
life for urban residents, it will also reduce
one of the largest sources of CO2 globally.
Here are the planning, financial and
administrative steps to modernize cities.
by Gonzalo A. Moyano
Cities need good public transportation systems to prosper and
grow. But in today’s world such systems must also be environmentally sustainable. That is especially true in developing countries, where rapid urbanization is
creating huge pressure on aging infrastructures. By adopting smart policies that
incorporate environmental needs, a city can improve the quality of life for residents while ensuring that its growth does not overtax its resources.
It’s easier to prescribe than achieve. As urban populations swell with the influx
of job-seekers from the impoverished countryside and high birthrates, many
developing countries are hard-pressed just to pay for the infrastructure needed to
provide basic services. The modernization of infrastructure—particularly transport—is crucial to development. Getting people to work safely and on time, and
ensuring the swift and reliable delivery of goods and services boosts economic activities and job opportunities. 1 Often, timing is crucial. Some studies have
