A Research on Establishing a Sustainable Transport System

A city that wants to grow has to put into consideration some ideas, which are helpful in promoting its well-being. Considerably, urban transport is an essential part of the success of any city in the world. The research aims at providing key policies, which can be used to promote sustainable urban transport system. New York is one city in the United States, which has a lot of traffic and there is an urgent need to come up with the right policies. Sustainable urban transport is a necessity to every major city in the world for some reasons. Public policies, on the other hand, play an essential part as they determine how organized the city can be at times. For instance, congestion is one problem that has been noted in the city. Various stakeholders that are responsible for ensuring conformity with the set urban rules and regulations of urban transport should come up with strong policies which ensure sustainability. The research aims at establishing a sustainable urban transport system by proposing some key policies, which are helpful.

Urban Transport Sustainability

The Objective of the Study

The main objective of the study is to provide a policy brief that can ensure a sustainable transport system. New York is a metropolitan town with the ai5lity to host may people and there is need to adopt a policy program, which can enable sustainable growth (Pojani and Stead, 2015). The policy adopted should be metropolitan related, with an objective of promoting growth and development. With many people in the town driving cars, there is a need to use a strategy that takes into account the effects on the environment.

Background Information

Transport systems in various cities form an essential part of the lives of people who stay there. This necessitates for a sustainable transport system for the town. New York as a city has had policies, which have so far improved operations in the town. However, there is an urgent need to deal with the high levels of degradation being experienced. Emissions from cars form a larger share of what can be termed as global warming (Focas, 2016). Such happenings risk the environment in the town, and there is a need for responsible authorities to take action. To fix the deteriorating transport structure in the city of New York, measures that are strategic need to replace the old ones. There is much more that is required to be done to attain a balanced transport system in the town. A policy geared towards the change of travel behavior in people can help create a sustainable and balanced urban system. Sustainability means that creating shorter trips and encouraging use of modes that consume lower levels of energy. This is aimed at conserving the environment and reducing expenses of maintaining equilibrium within the surrounding.

There are quite some policies, which can improve the transport system in the city. The policies can include mitigating harmful effects associated with massive car use, improving and promoting transport systems used by the public, creating a conducive environment for walking and cycling, use of sustainable land tenures, reduce rural-urban migration and decentralization. Additionally, implementation of the various policies should be reinforced to ensure that the desired target has been achieved. Moreover, most of the major cities in the world are struggling to maintain a balanced system that can sustain the development of their city.

Controlling the Negative Effects of Car Use

There is a lot that can be achieved if the government of the metropolitan city decides to reduce the effects of increased car use. However, there are policies, which when implemented, can help mitigate harmful effects of car use. Harmful effects that are associated with car use include congestion, pollution and worse, decreased public safety. The first reform that the town’s authority should put in place is to increase costs associated with car use. The measure will help reduce the use of cars, which consequently leads to a decreased effect on the environment and the town. In regions where car-use associated costs are high, congestion is reduced to the extent of maintaining a clean and environmentally friendly atmosphere.

Second, a measure to ensure a high level of vehicle technology in the city is necessary. High technology in the motor industry encourages the purchase of cars that are energy efficient, which reduces emissions to the environment. Such policies will see the authority easily controlling the city's infrastructure. Further policies that can be put in place to ensure harmful effects of car use are reduced may include, high costs of purchasing cars, severe bottlenecks that discourage license-issuing by the government, speed limits in the city, regulation of emission in the city and application of a fuel-efficient policy. Additionally, the authority should encourage the use of fuel-efficient cars to help conserve the environment. Higher taxes for people who own cars is a good measure that can spearhead the success and implementation of this particular policy. Car related harmful effects should be dealt with by use of the strategies that have been listed under this policy.

The general public should be provided with an integrated system that recognizes the importance of reducing congestion, which ensures that people reach their destinations within a short while. Increased congestion in the city will only cause delays, which can prove costly at times. Various measures can be put in place to ensure that public transport systems have been improved. Integration of the different existent modes of transport in the city is vital to help make coordination more comfortable in a bid to improve service delivery to people in New York town. Fares within the metropolitan areas, transit services, and schedules are essential in ensuring a sustainable transport system within the city (Okraszewska et al., 2018). Additionally, the policy aims at achieving improved transport services for its people. Regional integration of transit services and financing is a strategy that can be used in the process of implementing the policy. A city with an integrated transit service is characterized by regional transit authority presence.

Multi-modal coordination is also an essential strategy in ensuring that the city’s public transport system has been improved and integrated. Further, fare integration and discounts in the city are important in reducing congestion at times, depending on the time of the day. Information that people have about the transport system should be uniform across the town. To reduce congestion, service lanes for buses that can carry over 80 people should be used. Additionally, traffic signals within the city should be given a priority, and that will see the city improving safety for its motorists and those walking. Public transport in the city can become sustainable if such policies are put in place. Major cities in the world are adopting policies, which have reduced congestion and promoted use of energy efficient means. For instance, if New York focuses on providing subsidies, better service-related policies and reduced prices, then the transport system can be sustainable.

Promoting Cycling and Walking

Walking and cycling are common in every part of the world. Notably, New York has people who work in the offices, and they have to walk in the streets sometimes. This makes it necessary for the authorities to ensure safety and convenience while using the streets. Cycling can reduce jam in towns, which means making it easier and convenient can help establish a sustainable urban transport system. Roads and pavements that are well-built can help reduce possible congestion and increase safety for all cyclists and those walking (Chen, Chen and Ewing, 2014). Accidents that arise due to motorist cycling can be minimized by the introduction of specific lanes that can be used by motorists. Additionally, routes that people use to walk should be tarmacked and should have street lights in a bid to improve safety.

The first strategy that can be applied under the policy is ensuring that people who walk are well equipped with knowledge on the use of traffic lights. Any city in the world currently uses traffic lights to reduce congestion and maintain an easy flow of operations. Increased use of cars in the town has led to congestion, and there is need to encourage cycling and walking. Another crucial aspect associated with cycling and walking is the fact that it does not cause or increase environmental pollution. Emissions from cycling cannot be compared to those from cars. Car emissions consist of poisonous gases, which increase the levels of global warming in the atmosphere. Transport sustainability is not easily achieved, especially when the town has a busy schedule. Safety, education, and enforcement can include implementation of cyclists' rights, educating them on the use of various traffic signs and importantly, application of federal subsidy policies.

Use of Proper Land Tenure

Application of the right strategies in use of the existing land is a crucial step, which can help achieve sustainability in the transport system. For instance, more mixed land use can be beneficial as it can encourage shorter trips along the transport systems maintained by the town. Authorities responsible should embrace measures that can encourage diversified land use, especially within the suburbs of the town. Equally, there is a need for authorities to encourage less suburban sprawl in a bid to improve diversity. Higher population densities in the city make it possible for them to enjoy economies associated with the use of the public transport system. The fact has seemed helpful in establishing a sustainable transport network that integrates all modes of transport.

Coordination of land usage is a collective responsibility of the society including all levels of government and the judiciary. Once the land is used in a diversified manner, rural-urban migration can be reduced. Additionally, decentralizing manufacturing companies is important as many will be able to work from where they are, a move, which can imply sustainable transport systems. Measures that the authorities in the US can use include an inclusive planning process, property rights, zoning regulations and local government financing.

The most important policy that can see the city attaining a sustainable urban transport system is coordination of the set strategies in a bid to assess the effectiveness. Taking account of the effect caused by the set regulations is crucial to establish whether the policies are helpful or not. Additionally, there is a need to evaluate every single step that is taken to establish the validity and viability of the moves. Coordination and evaluation of the strategies in place forms a significant part of the success of the policy brief. Some challenges are associated with regulating car use in such a big city. For instance, regulating car use can be difficult unless there is an alternative and more feasible program. This has made it difficult to reduce the harmful effects of car use. However, strict measures can help restrict massive car use in various towns.

Benefits of a Sustainable Urban Transport System

The benefits attained are not only limited to mitigating traffic congestion and reducing the harmful effects of car use but rather ensures a reduction in poverty. A sustainable transport system in a city of New York stature has advantages that are associated. Equally, a sustainable system is important as it reduces pollution effects on the surrounding. Decreased use of cars reduces emissions to the environment, which is key in protecting the atmosphere and controlling the effects of global warming. Second, sustainable transport system encourages growth and development as people do not spend much time moving from one place to another.

Another benefit associated with a sustainable transport system is reduced risk of walking and increased security for all motorists. Sustainable transport in the city can help increase safety in the paths for those walking and cycling. Transport systems should be integrated well in a bid to ensure sustainability and efficiency. Additionally, reduced costs of rehabilitating environment that has been degraded due to increased car use is an advantage of a susstainable transport system. The costs can prove enormous, especially when the damage is notably uncontrollable.

Conclusion and Recommendations

New York has potential to sustain its transport system given that they adopt the necessary policies. Moreover, sustainability in the transport system is essential to promote safety, efficiency and reduce poverty levels. Some policies can be used to control congestion and restore a sustainable transport system. They include managing the harmful effects of car use, improving and integrating public transport systems, promoting cycling and walking, controlled use of mixed land systems and coordination of the policies that have been put in place. A sustainable system in the town has benefits that are attached including reduced pollution, less congestion, increased safety in the streets and a consequential reduction in the poverty levels in New York. Implementing all the measures that have been included in the policy brief can see the city doing better than where it has reached.