Joseph M. Sussman

The MCMA Transportation System: Mobility and Air Pollution

As discussed in previous chapters, the rapid growth of the MCMA’s population, motor vehicle fleet, and industrial activity over the latter half of the 20th Century combined with the city’s meteorological and topographical situation has produced extraordinary levels of air pollution. The MCMA is today one of the world’s five largest cities. Until recently, it also held the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most polluted cities, suffering from serious ozone and particulate pollution for much of the year.

SCENARIOS AND REGIONAL STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

The use of scenarios for regional strategic transportation planning is studied. Scenario methodology is related to central issues identified in three contexts that define the environment in which the development of scenarios for transportation systems is likely to take place: strategic planning, regional transportation, and public–private partnerships. Limitations and concerns that are common to many regional transportation plans and strategic-planning activities are presented. The concept of scenarios is introduced. Several functions that scenario planning can perform in the context of regional transportation are discussed. The way in which scenarios address the identified shortcomings in transportation and general planning are highlighted. The province of Mendoza, Argentina, is introduced, and a scenario exercise for its transportation system is outlined. The primary conclusion is that the scenario methodology is an approach that is responsive to the needs and characteristics of modern regional strategic planning.

Regional Architectures: Strengthening the Transportation Planning Process

The advent of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) has changed the transportation planning world in three ways. First, it has created an information-rich environment, providing transportation managers with a more informed view of the “state of the network.” Second, it has high-lighted the importance of operating and managing transportation systems through the introduction of transportation services. Third, it has enabled the management of transportation systems on a regional scale. These three factors reveal the need for a framework that can (a) guide the distribution of information and (b) govern the deployment of services on a regional scale. A proposed framework for achieving these tasks is a regional architecture, which is conceived as a new output of the transportation planning process. Inspired by the regional architectures in the ITS context, the definition goes beyond ITS, using this concept in planning for the entire regional intermodal transportation system. Five objectives are pursued. First, “regional architecture” is defined. Second, what a regional architecture might look like is illustrated. Third, a frame-work for integrating regional architectures into the transportation planning process is proposed. Fourth, how regional architectures can address shortcomings in existing transportation planning processes is discussed. Fifth, some basic steps that transportation planners can take toward the development of a regional architecture are outlined. In pursuing these objectives, an endeavor is made to advance the state of the art in regional strategic transportation planning.