Introduction to Transportation (Introduction to Urban Transportation Planning)

Objectives and Scope

Transportation decisions impact many aspects of urban life. Young and old alike are affected by the viability and relative ease of traveling to destinations on foot, by bike, transit, or reliance on private vehicles. Transportation investments are arguably the single largest shaper of urban spaces and of development patterns. The safety, speed, and comfort for a particular mode of travel are a function of the investments that have been made in specific types of travel options. Regions, and parts of regions, vary considerably in terms of their supportiveness of traveling in ways that are health promoting (active) and environmentally sustainable.

Transportation planning is experiencing a re‐awakening. The connections between transportation, land use, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, physical activity, and obesity are becoming better understood. Considerable media attention in recent years has been devoted to the impacts of the built environment on climate change and the environment. Attention has also been focused on the economic impacts of transportation investments and more recently on how transportation impacts physical activity and health. Many are concerned about the impacts of urban sprawl on overall sustainability and on how transportation investments can create or help to reduce sprawl. These and other issues provide some context and backdrop for this class.

Set within the Vancouver region, we are fortunate to have many forward thinking experts on creating a livable region and the role of transportation within this context. We will learn from the perspectives of a variety of experts in our region who are engaged in making transportation planning decisions. Metro Vancouver currently has several rail projects being planned and implemented, the Olympics are coming, a major highway expansion is planned; and considerable investments are proposed and underway in non‐motorized infrastructure.

The course introduces students to the fundamentals of urban transportation planning and the types of skills and knowledge that transportation planners need. It further familiarizes students with contemporary transportation planning issues and methods of analysis. The course is highly relevant regardless if students intend to focus on transportation itself, or other aspects of urban planning. The course can be taken stand alone, or as the first in a sequence of courses in SCARP’s Urban Design and Transportation Concentration.

Newly evolving theories and approaches to addressing emerging transportation problems will be central to the class. Relationships between transportation and urban land use systems and new tools to address environmental and quality of life impacts of transportation are presented. Transportation investment decisions (or lack thereof) have been held accountable for increased economic prosperity or spiraling economic decline. Transportation infrastructure (roads, rail lines, etc.) is extremely costly even when compared with other services which are capital intensive (sewers, storm‐water drainage, etc.). Therefore, transportation decisions made today can impact a region for generations to come.

Transportation investment decisions affect our travel choices which in turn have dramatic impacts on our environment and our health. Transportation is about providing access to locations and impacts social equity, and the benefits or burdens felt by different segments of the population. Transportation networks are often the single most important determinant of a community, and the most distinct physical feature that characterizes a place.

Course requirements

Essay Paper I: 25% ‐ Essay focusing on the needs of a specific population (eldery, youth, poor, female, etc) and how specific transportation decisions helps or hinders their access to opportunities.

Take Home Exam: 30% ‐ Open Book Review of Basic Transportation Planning Concepts

Final Project : 35% ‐ Group Project To Be Announced

This course requires no prior work in transportation. Some knowledge of basic statistical concepts and analytical methods is recommended.