Public Engagement in Public Transportation Projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 2537 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Casello ◽  
Will Towns ◽  
Julie Bélanger ◽  
Sanathan Kassiedass
Keyword(s):  
Public Engagement ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Planning ◽  
Public Investments ◽  
Direct Benefits ◽  
In Transit

Public participation for transit projects faces a number of unique challenges compared with many other similar public investments. For example, a smaller subset of the community uses transit on a daily basis as compared with highways; moreover, public transit is seen to be limited—both spatially and demographically—in its appeal. Combined, these factors can limit the widespread engagement of the public in the development and evaluation of transit projects. Further, given the lack of direct benefits from transit, it is often more difficult to garner public support for public transport projects. Specific considerations and techniques are demonstrated that can be undertaken by planners and policy makers to actively engage the community beyond those strongly in favor of or opposed to a transit project. Strategies employed in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in the context of public engagement before the introduction of light-rail transit are explored. In light of these strategies and the experiences of planners in Waterloo and in conjunction with evidence from the literature, a number of conclusions are drawn regarding an effective framework for engaging a wide spectrum of community members in transit planning.

Guest is God

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew Thomases
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Sacred Space ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Northwestern India ◽  
Gathering Place ◽  
Short Time ◽  
The Town

This book is based on ethnographic fieldwork in Pushkar, a Hindu pilgrimage site in northwestern India whose population of 20,000 sees an influx of two million visitors each year. Since the 1970s, the town has also received considerable attention from international tourists, a group with distinctly hippie beginnings but that now includes visitors from a wide spectrum of social positions and religious affiliations. To locals, though, Pushkar is more than just a gathering place for pilgrims and tourists: it is where Brahma, the creator god, made his home; it is where pilgrims feel blessed to stay, if only for a short time; and it is where Hindus would feel lucky to be reborn, if only as an insect. In short, it is their paradise. But even paradise needs upkeep. Thus, on a daily basis the town’s locals, and especially those engaged in pilgrimage and tourism, work to make Pushkar paradise. The book explores this massive enterprise to build “heaven on earth,” paying particular attention to how the articulation of sacred space becomes entangled with economic changes brought on by globalization and tourism. As such, the author not only attends to how tourism affects everyday life in Pushkar but also to how Hindu ideas determine the nature of tourism there; the goal, then, is to show how religion and tourism can be mutually constitutive.

Beyond new roads and bridges

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-190
Author(s):  
Lenahan O’Connell ◽  
Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf ◽  
Khairul Azfi Anuar
Keyword(s):  
Factor Model ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Mass Transit ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Public Preferences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
Infrastructure Investments ◽  
Three Factor

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare public preferences for investment and spending on non-automobile infrastructures (mass transit and bicycling) to preferences for new roads and the repair of current highways. The study explores the factors that explain preferences for non-automobile infrastructure using a three-factor model including self-interest (personal transportation benefits), concern for community-wide benefits (political beliefs), and concern for the economic impact. The study uses a case study of the urban context of the Hampton Roads region of Southeastern Virginia (USA). Design/methodology/approach The analysis uses data from a 2013 telephone survey of urban residents in the Hampton Roads area. Survey respondents were asked to identify their two investment priorities from four options: repairing existing roads, bridges, and tunnels; constructing new or expanding roads, bridges, and tunnels; expanding mass transit; and expanding bicycle routes and improving bike safety. Findings Repairing existing highway infrastructure is the most popular spending priority (66 percent of residents). There is as much support (46 percent) for investing in non-automobile infrastructure as for investing in new roads, bridges, and tunnels. Significant predictors of support for non-automobile infrastructure, using the three-factor model, are: length of commute time, self-identification as liberal, use of light rail, and a belief that light rail contributes to economic development. Originality/value The study examines public preferences for both non-traditional and traditional transportation infrastructure investments. It highlights the factors that contribute to public support for different transportation spending options.

Station facilities and noise assessment: A multilevel analysis on light rail train stations

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-372
Author(s):  
Yalcin Yildirim ◽  
Diane Jones Allen
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Message Boards ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Noise Assessment ◽  
Ticket Vending Machines

Noise is one of the most frequent consequences of traffic. Public transportation systems, such as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) authority provides various modes of transportation. Even though the availability of commuting service for the public is a boon to communities, mass transit systems are potential sources of excessive sound levels in daily urban life. This article examines the nexus between the transit station facilities of light rail train (LRT) stations and noise implications at both station and neighborhood scales by studying selected LRT stations. A multilevel linear analysis was conducted to understand the degree of train station amenities and neighborhood characteristics that affect sound levels. Using a type II sound pressure level (SPL)meter, sound measurements were obtained during the weekdays and weekends over several weeks. Upon examining the station amenities, and built environment and sociodemographic characteristics of the neighborhood, findings of this comprehensive research reveal significant implications for sound levels. Stations with ticket vending machines and informative message boards include a higher degree of significance on SPLs, while shelters, crew rooms, bike lockers, restrooms, and windshields are significantly and negatively associated with the noise levels. Additionally, neighborhoods with dense roads, higher speed limits, more neighborhood facilities, and a higher number of transit routes have an increased likelihood of noise levels. Recommendations include creating transformative policies for implementation, and approaches addressing noise for transit authorities, transportation engineers, and planners are presented. Planning and engineering aspects of comfort, aesthetics, safety, and public health, as train stations are daily use spaces for commuters and surrounding communities, should also be considered.

Light Rail Versus Guided Light Transit in Medium-Sized Cities: A Comparative Study for Ioannina, Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-274
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou ◽  
Eleni Vlahogianni ◽  
Nikolaos Giannoulis ◽  
Aristeidis G. Karlaftis
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Additional Advantage ◽  
Transportation Services ◽  
High Investment

Light rail transit systems (LRTs) are attractive options for modern communities as they offer high quality, sustainable public transportation services. However, investment costs often may make their application for medium-sized cities prohibitive, particularly if no significant social benefits are achieved. Guided light transit (GLT) has been introduced in the recent years, as a lower cost alternative to LRT, with the additional advantage of being suitable for urban environments with space limitations. In this study, a systematic comparison of LRT and GLT is offered, in the context of a mid-size city in Greece. Results indicate that high investment costs, coupled with low ridership can have a negative impact to the introduction of LRT in a medium-sized city. However, under certain conditions, GLT may be a viable alternative, while its nature and characteristics are not that different to those of LRT.

scholarly journals Mode choice analysis using discrete choice model from transport user (Case study: Jakarta LRT, Indonesia)

2018 ◽  
Vol 181 ◽  
pp. 03001
Author(s):  
Dwi Novi Wulansari ◽  
Milla Dwi Astari
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Mode Choice ◽  
Choice Models ◽  
Discrete Choice Models ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Choice Analysis ◽  
Mode Choice Model

Jakarta Light Rail Transit (Jakarta LRT) has been planned to be built as one of mass rail-based public transportation system in DKI Jakarta. The objective of this paper is to obtain a mode choice models that can explain the probability of choosing Jakarta LRT, and to estimate the sensitivity of mode choice if the attribute changes. Analysis of the research conducted by using discrete choice models approach to the behavior of individuals. Choice modes were observed between 1) Jakarta LRT and TransJakarta Bus, 2) Jakarta LRT and KRL-Commuter Jabodetabek. Mode choice model used is the Binomial Logit Model. The research data obtained through Stated Preference (SP) techniques. The model using the attribute influences such as tariff, travel time, headway and walking time. The models obtained are reliable and validated. Based on the results of the analysis shows that the most sensitive attributes affect the mode choice model is the tariff.

scholarly journals Leveraging insurance customer data to characterize socioeconomic indicators of Swiss municipalities

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0246785
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Donadio ◽  
Rossano Schifanella ◽  
Claudia R. Binder ◽  
Emanuele Massaro
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Spatial Regression ◽  
User Profile ◽  
Location Based Services ◽  
Socioeconomic Indicators ◽  
Customer Data ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Socioeconomic Data ◽  
Global And Local

The availability of reliable socioeconomic data is critical for the design of urban policies and the implementation of location-based services; however, often, their temporal and geographical coverage remain scarce. We explore the potential for insurance customers data to predict socioeconomic indicators of Swiss municipalities. First, we define a features space by aggregating at city-level individual customer data along several behavioral and user profile dimensions. Second, we collect official statistics shared by the Swiss authorities on a wide spectrum of categories: Population, Transportation, Work, Space and Territory, Housing, and Economy. Third, we adopt two spatial regression models exploring both global and local geographical dependencies to investigate their predictability. Results show consistently a correlation between insurance customer characteristics and official socioeconomic indexes. Performance fluctuates depending on the category, with values of R2 > 0.6 for several target variables using a 5-fold cross validation. As a case study, we focus on predicting the percentage of the population using public transportation and we discuss the implications on a regional scope. We believe that this methodology can support official statistical offices and it could open up new opportunities for the characterization of socioeconomic traits at highly-granular spatial and temporal scales.

scholarly journals A NEW PASSENGER ORIENTED PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC RAIL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Sercan KESTEN ◽  
Kemal Selçuk Öğüt
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Performance Index ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Railway Systems ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Individual Index ◽  
Public Transportation Systems

This paper presents a practical approach for monitoring public transportation systems' performance by focusing on customer evaluations. Within the framework of the developed method, 22 indicators are aggregated for 6 different measures, which are time, cost, accessibility and transfer, comfort, safety – security and quality of service respectively. Passenger Oriented Performance IndeX (POPIX) has been developed and applied to the Istanbul Metro, Light Rail and Tram systems. The goal of this research is to propose a new customer oriented performance index for transportation systems, enabling a reliable and objective base for monitoring system performance by setting performance goals and identifying priorities. Meanwhile, the proposed methodology also allows for the investigation of the performance changes of a particular transportation system and for performance comparison of different systems directly from the customer point of view. The data of the index is attained by the Customer Satisfaction Survey of Istanbul Public Railways' 2005, 2006 and 2007. The POPIX methodology has been defined and the corresponding POPIX scores are calculated for the systems investigated. Furthermore, the % POPIX concept has been developed for the comparison of different systems. Lastly, the shifted POPIX concept has been proposed for more reliable comparison between different years. The framework has been implemented to the public railway systems and individual index scores are calculated for each indicator, measure and overall system. The measures of cost, accessibility and transfer and comfort have lower index scores. Metro index scores are superior in comparison to the Tram and Light Rail for all the years analyzed.

scholarly journals Light-Rail Investment in Seattle: Gentrification Pressures and Trends in Neighborhood Ethnoracial Composition

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris L. Hess
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Ethnic Composition ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Oriented Development ◽  
Transportation Investment ◽  
Urban Contexts ◽  
Demographic Trajectories

Research often finds a positive relationship between public transportation investment and gentrification in nearby neighborhoods. This dynamic is particularly important in urban contexts that plan for transit-oriented development and creating future “walkability.” In this study, I demonstrate a link between transit investment and changing neighborhood racial and ethnic composition, using a case study of the recent light-rail project in Seattle, Washington. Descriptive analyses and difference-in-difference models suggest that affected neighborhoods in Seattle experienced rising shares of non-Hispanic Whites following the start of light-rail construction, while neighborhoods at the suburban periphery of the line saw substantial growth in racial and ethnic diversity. These findings highlight the role of transit infrastructure in restructuring demographic trajectories of nearby neighborhoods and contribute evidence about shifting patterns of residential segregation in the area around the transit line.

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