Week 10/14 Transportation Tools and Strategies

I decided to focus my tools and strategies for transportation on Pittsburgh, PA where I plan to return to when I complete my degree. My overall strategy was to break down the plan into phases, beginning with small changes that can immediately be implemented to make a large difference and ending with large-budget projects that would entail significant funding and planning.
Phase I: Renovations to Current Modes: Buses, Bikes, and Cars
1. The current bus system in Pittsburgh uses a series of busways combined with regular street use, busways and dedicated lanes already exist to deliver passengers to their destinations quickly. The biggest drawback to the busway is that it is isolated from the commercial and residential streets and often creates barriers between communities. Instead of adding any additional busway routes, a sensory system should be set up, such as the one in Zurich, so that buses do not wait at red lights. This addition to the system would allow for less wait time and give priority to buses, encouraging ridership. Fares should be reduced if possible, or they should be reduced for a time period to incentivize people to ride.
2. Bikes should be given greater priority on the road, with the addition of bike lanes and paths and increased signage making drivers aware that they are sharing the road. If the city invests in small safety measures at once, bicycle riders will increase and the increase in visibility should lead to increased riders as well as greater sensitivity on the part of drivers.
3. Car traffic in neighborhoods should be reduced using traffic calming measures. Overall speed limits should be raised to increase safety. Instead of penalizing drivers monetarily, giving buses priority at intersections, and implying the danger of the automobile by raising speed limits will hopefully induce people to try out the bus system.
Phase II: Rehabilitation of Current Modes
1. Buses should be energy efficient, electric or hybrid. Pedestrian bridges should be built over busways at more frequent intervals to increase connectivity between neighborhoods. Busway stops should be better integrated with surrounding neighborhoods through transit oriented development. Bus stops should include shelters that are dynamic spaces and contain maps, schedules, and other relevant information as well as digital updates on when the next bus will arrive. Shared taxis and car shares should be investigated as ways of linking the busways with the larger community.
2. Pittsburgh has two unique features that should be investigated for public transit: inclines and waterways. There are two inclines ("hill trams") still in existence in Pittsburgh, however historically there were more, many connecting neighborhoods to food sources and transportation hubs. These have largely been replaced by highways, which now cut through the neighborhoods and further isolate them. In particular, this has happened to the largely black community living in the Hill District. Pittsburgh should consider replacing some of its inclines, and give special priority to low income communities who need increased access to resources as well as transit.
3. Pittsburgh has attempted to implement a water taxi service that has existed as a trial and has largely served as a tourist attraction. Instead of linking almost solely recreation centers better attention should be paid in linking business centers.
Phase III: New Construction
1. Pittsburgh's small light rail system should be extended, with special attention to establishing connectivity between its surrounding suburbs. City government should consider an incentive based system for developers to build around any new planned transit corridors.
2. Downtown Pittsburgh is relatively isolated because it is surrounded by rivers. Currently there are no tolls to cross bridges into the city. Although it would be wildly unpopular, AFTER new and effective transit has been developed, or at least after Phase II is complete the city should heavily penalize traffic into the city monetarily.