What do you do if you want to assess the impact of public transportation systems as an urban planner?

As an urban planner, I would assess the impact of public transportation systems by gathering data on ridership patterns, infrastructure conditions, and service quality. This would be complemented by engaging stakeholders to understand diverse perspectives and priorities. I would then utilize performance metrics and impact analyses to evaluate the system's effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion, reducing travel time, improving air quality, and promoting social equity. Through comparative analysis and scenario planning, I would identify opportunities for enhancement and formulate evidence-based recommendations to optimize public transportation systems for sustainable urban development and enhanced quality of life.

It is important to observe social patterns, time, number of people, etc, for example parents bringing sons to school and collect them, public administration schedule (flexible or not for starting or ending work, work at home?) Patterns of tourist tours (some cities received thousands per day), traffic flow according with the size/capacity of the street, walking circuits use and the influence of weather (rain), pedestrian crossing and street lights in network cloud or not. Accidents speed response and traffic clearance. Buildings population density and MRT network location. Traffic behavior and control can benefit from AI and video/satellite control systems, but politics and policies are critical in order to have a flexible system.

To assess the impact of public transportation systems, an urban planner collects and analyzes key data, including ridership statistics, service frequency, and route efficiency. Surveys and community engagement provide insights into how transportation meets the needs of vulnerable groups like low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities. Economic evaluations gauge the system's impact on local businesses and employment, while environmental assessments consider emission reductions and congestion relief. GIS mapping visualizes accessibility and connectivity, revealing service gaps. Comparisons to benchmarks and peer cities ensure alignment with broader goals, guiding adjustments and future expansions for effective transit.

The analysis is a tricky part. Computer’s software can provide accurate analysis, and management on a daily basis, but the policies for the future, quality of life, pollution reduction, bicycle and pedestrian green lane, depend of political and administrative power. Many “smart cities” are not taken because of red tape and the lack of “smart” mangers, silos of departments not communicating, etc. The ones doing the analysis have to propose solutions that are attractive to all stakeholders, also showing practical ways how to implement them (make the homework for the managers to implement solutions). Also should be shown different positive and negative scenarios for long term periods.

Among all professions involved in projects starting with the planning process to completion of development not taking into account the views and needs of those to be affected by the planning effort is often missed. While data collection and analysis is a core requirement to launch a planning effort, often times it does not reflect a complete picture on the impact of public transit. The one primary gap with data is that it provides info about current and past use of public transportation but it does not answer the "what if" question as in what if public transportation operated longer hours or expanded routes or offered more inducements how would that affect use. Direct community engagement is the only real way to answer that question.

Public transportation systems assist cities in responding to the climate crisis while addressing social sustainability issues. Scenario planning for transportation systems need to account for the different climate change impacts that the city might face in the future and to what extent having efficient reliable and sustainable urban mobility systems would contribute to the city ability to respond and adapt to these impacts . Shifting to Electric mobility or increasing the reliance on renewable energy to power transportation systems could prove detrimental in times of climate events while also contributing for a more sustainable future adressing air quality and reduction of green house emissions

In Urban Planning , policies for green and equitable Transit Oriented Developments contribute to sustainable urban development and encourage investment through public private partnerships . As transit elements and critieria differs from city to city, pilot developments around transit would be a way to apply the green and equitable TOD policy to unravel any of its barriers and challenges and also identify any opportunities to enhance the policy in question