Formulating an Urban Passenger Transport Policy: A Re-Appraisal of Some Elements

The aim of this article is to consider the appropriateness of the dominant role of speed improvements and congestion reduction, with particular reference to the total urban system. An alternative operational principle, accessibility to opportunities (ato) is proposed as a preferred reflection of the primary economic objective of efficiency in resource allocation. The call for the alternative emphasis is reinforced by an accumulation of evidence that tends to question many of the assumptions used to justify the emphasis of earlier research. The prime assumptions under dispute are: (I) cross elasticities within the modal competition sub-sector, ceteris paribus, are greater than between transport sub-sectors and between a transport sub-sector and other sectors; (II) travel time in a mode choice context, defined in a linear dimension, is considered by planners as the most important variable in the overall transport decision; (III) human activities, such as employment and entertainment, within an urban area concentrate towards the centre. This critique introduces interrelationship of travel decisions (i.e. choices of frequency, destination, mode and route) and urban form, the management of congestion, the potential for multi-trip and multi-purpose journeys, and the constancy of the travel time and transport expenditure budgets. It is assumed that existing living densities will continue and are consistent with individual preferences. (TRRL)