Statement of Research Topic

Most cities in Canada such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Ontario use vehicles and trains as the primary transit. The overdependence on rail and road is due to lack of complimentary avenues that can promote alternative transport systems such as cycling tracks. Besides, the public transport system has failed to improve the transport interchange facilities in urban areas. Consequently, Canadians using public transport in most cities experience frustration frequently. The challenges of failures and overdependence on train and vehicle transportation can be addressed through proper planning the transportation networks in the Canadian urban areas. Previous research has tried to highlight some of the urban planning strategies used to improve transport. The current study seeks to build on previous literature by identifying the strategies that can be incorporated in urban planning to improve transportation and improve the experience of locals and visitors to such area. The following section will summarize and analyse the relevant articles that will be incorporated into the study.

Annotated Bibliography

Manaugh, Kevin, Madhav G. Badami, and Ahmed M. El-Geneidy. “Integrating social equity into urban transportation planning: A critical evaluation of equity objectives and measures in transportation plans in North America.” Transport Policy 37 (2015): 167-176.

This article addresses the impact of urban transportation plans on sustainability by focussing on the strategies that can be adapted to promote equity, environmental conservation, and economic development. The article states that balancing the three concepts has been a challenge for urban planners over the years (168). According to Manaugh, Madhav, and Ahmed, proper transportation planning leads to tangible outcomes such as reduced greenhouse gas emissionand reduced traffic congestion. Besides, it leads to social and economic equity due to the development of the areas with closer proximity to transit systems (168). The authors argue that planners should diversify their goals and integrate a proper value system in making transportation decisions to promote social equity. Besides, they urge policymakers to develop policies that consider the disadvantaged individuals in the community during the planning and development of transport infrastructure in urban areas (174). This article is essential for current research because it provides the necessary knowledge required to promote equity when planning and to develop municipal transport system. Consequently, it integrates three essential elements such as environment, economy, and human that are necessary for the sustainability of the transport system in urban Canada. I believe that the information acquired from this article will develop the basis of the current research.

Mitra, Raktim, Raymond A. Ziemba, and Paul M. Hess. “Mode substitution effect of urban cycle tracks a Case study of a downtown street in Toronto, Canada.” International Journal of Sustainable Transportation11.4 (2017): 248-256.

This article explores the effects of transport mode substitution using bicycles in urban areas. Besides, it focusses on the impacts of cycling tracks in Canadian cities such as Toronto. The article incorporated acase study the SherbourneStreet in Toronto that pioneered cycling tracks (5). A survey was then conducted where the cyclist was asked nine questions that focussed on the travel behaviour. Mitra, Raymond, and Paul argue that cycling tracks should be added in most highways in the Canadian to minimise the number of individuals using private and public transit thus reducing traffic congestion (10). However, they argue that planners should not separate cycling tracks from the transport systems. On the contrary, they suggest that the government should encourage the use of cycling tracks on the main roads within the city (10). This study is essential for the current research topic because it provides a solution to the problem that the researcher seeks to address. Travelling through cycling improves the transport system within the Canadian cities by reducing congestion both in rail and road transit. Besides, the case study used was realistic, and the results can easily be implemented. The current research will build on this knowledge to investigate other strategies for improving urban transport.

Grube-Cavers, Annelise, and Zachary Patterson. “Urban rapid rail transit and gentrification in Canadian urban centres: A survival analysis approach.” Urban Studies 52.1 (2015): 178-194.

This article discusses the impact of transit on the renovation of main Canadian cities. According to the article, accessible and equitable transportation leads to the development of the surrounding communities. The authors concentrated on three primary cities that include Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Grube-Cavers and Zachary found a positive correlation between gentrification and proximity to transit line in two towns that are Toronto and Montreal. However, the trend was not the same in Vancouver (14). The authors argue that proper policies on rail network investment in urban areas should be developed to promote gentrification of the urban areas. Besides, the authors propose alternative modes of transport such as Bus Rapid Transit to complement rail transit (15). According to Grube-Cavers and Zachary, a proper understanding of public investment in transportation is necessary to decrease harmful effects such as displacement conflict and increased cost of living among residents and the surrounding communities (15). Additionally, they argue that planners should involve the neighbourhood in their plans because such developments should benefit the surrounding populations. This article is essential for the current study because it discusses the importance of considering and involving the local community when developing a transport system in urban areas.

Farber, Steven, and Maria Grandez Marino. “Transit accessibility, land development and socioeconomic priority: A typology of planned station catchment areas in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.” (2017).

This article discusses the impact of the transit lines that have been proposed in the greater Toronto and Hamiltonian Area GTHA. The article focusses on four main aspects of the proposed lines that will cover about one hundred and forty stations. The first aspect is the impact of the tracks on the accessibility of the stations and how the redevelopment of the areas. Secondly, it focusses on the possibility of redeveloping the available land around the new stations. The article also analyses the socioeconomic characteristics of the individuals around the new stations by emphasizing on the low socioeconomic class. The authors made three main observations regarding the aim of the study. Firstly, the most accessible stations had low socioeconomic status. According to Farber and Maria, the low socioeconomic status in the most accessible stations means that the lines are not directed to the most relevant populations (84). The second observation was that most of the available stations are not constructed on developable land. The authors argue that the proposed lines will be built in urban centres, which have high economic status and the possibility of developing the lands around them (84). This article is essential for the current study because it creates an insight into how urban transport system should be developed to promote land use and socioeconomic development.

Hernandez, Sara, and Andres Monzon. “Key factors for defining an efficient urban transport interchange: Users’ perceptions.” Cities 50,(2016): 158-167.

This article seeksto investigate psychological and functional factors that should be incorporated in public transport systems in urban areas to improve interchange experience among passengers who use more than one mode of transport to reach their destination. According to the article, the intermodal transfer points within cities are essential because apart from being transport network nodes, they are also meeting points. Hernandez and Andres argue that the old conditions and improper positioning of the multimodal facilities frustrate travellers by negatively affecting their decision-making capabilities. The experience discourages travellers from using public transport (159). Hernandez and Andres propose proper planning to improve the management, operation, and design of the transport interchange in urban areas. The proposals include two main categories. The first category is the interchange as a node for transport. Under this category, Hernandez and Andres propose the reduction of waiting time and including relevant transport information through signposts to reduce passenger stress (164). The second category is viewing the interchange as a place. The authors propose improving the design and environment to improve travellers comfort. Additionally, they propose improving time utility through the installation of Wi-Fi and telephone signal (164). This article is essential for the current research because it highlights planning strategies that can be used to improve travellers experience in urban transport.

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