There is ample evidence that the road transportation system is currently in crisis.
During peak periods both highways and urban arterials are congested; car ownership levels are high and car occupancy levels are low; public transportation systems are under-managed, disorganised and not user-friendly; parking in major urban areas is inadequate and uncontrolled and pedestrians and people with disabilities are frequently left to fend for themselves in using the roads and sidewalks.
Looking at the area of congestion, most planners would agree that having proper and appropriate mass transit systems instead of low-occupancy automobiles would be a more efficient way of moving people. That is not really being debated. What is being debated is what would be the most appropriate systems for what particular travel, corridor or urban or rural area. Mass transit vehicles include buses (mini, standard, articulated or double-decker), trams and trains. All of these move large numbers of people more efficiently than individual cars.
The issue of "trains" as a mean of solving our passenger transportation problems has recently been in the public domain with opinions being expressed both for and against by politicians and commentators. Unfortunately, much of the debate is uninformed and certainly not comprehensive. In an attempt to lend some clarity to the discussion, we would like to bring our perspective as technical consultants involved in traffic and transportation engineering and planning for over 30 years. We must first understand what is meant by a "train system."
A train system comprises a number of linked vehicles, usually, but not necessarily travelling on a fixed guide-way. Within the range of fixed guide-way vehicles are trams, guided buses, light rail, rapid rail and commuter trains. Linked buses can be considered a "train system" whether or not they operate on an exclusive carriageway or in mixed traffic. Each technology has its own characteristics, costs and operating efficiencies.
The best system to use in any given case will depend on many factors, and the only way to determine the most optimal mass transit system is by doing the necessary transportation planning study which should rightly precede the decision to embark on the detailed planning and design stage.
This study will include travel demand analysis to determine likely commuter behaviour given the expected travel times, out of pocket costs, safety and convenience of the proposed system, an analysis of the capital and recurrent costs of building and operating the system and a quantification of major user and non-user benefits and costs. This has not yet been done. The results of such a study would indicate if bus rapid transit, light rail or rapid rail is the best solution for a given travel demand scenario.
It should be emphasised that we are looking for the optimal solution. There may be many feasible alternatives of which one is optimal ie the best given all the circumstances and expected outcomes. For example the best solution for Arima to PoS corridor (with the existing Priority Bus Route) may not be best for San Fernando (with its hills). Other than the specific decision about what type of mass transit system is needed, there are some key land transportation policy issues that must also be addressed as a matter of urgency. These include, but are not limited to:-
(i) The institutional arrangements for the planning and management of public transportation;
(ii) The role of the state in the provision of public transportation services;
(iii) The role of private sector operators of public transportation services;
(iv) The role and effects of subsidies for automobile and public transportation users;
(v) The role of auto-disincentives to encourage more public transportation usage.
The fact is that we have no real transportation policy. We may ask if our policy makers do not themselves use public transportation. Maybe this is why it is so easy, anytime the highways are clogged, for the Priority Bus Route to be commandeered for use by private cars without giving consideration to the thousands of public transportation users who would be negatively affected.
We still seem to feel that building more roads is the answer, and even some of the people who push for mass transit do so in the expectation that other people will use it, so that they themselves can drive "in peace!" Transportation policy has to do more than that!
Trevor Townsend
Philbert Morris