Urban Landscape Histories: Sustainability in Transit Development

Keywords: public transit systems, personal experience, urban landscape, urban, cultural, transportation, qualitative methods
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Transportation systems are integral pieces of urban planning and development, as the spatial and temporal movement of people is a crucial aspect of human activity in urban areas. The urban landscape is often defined by how people move throughout the city, further influencing the placement of businesses, workplaces, services, public spaces, and living spaces within an urban area. Designed urban landscapes and transit systems are influenced by the historical settlement and development of a given area, with different regions following different patterns of development. Through auto-method and transportation network analysis, this presentation will give an overview of how settlement histories of urban areas influence urban planning and development of transit systems across various United States cities. Using cities such as Detroit and Chicago as case studies, this presentation offers insight into which communities transit systems are designed to serve, as well as their current ability to serve ever-changing urban landscapes. I emphasize the emergence of transit-oriented development for urban design, as well as links to development concerns such as gentrification. Ultimately, I would like to convey the importance of informed urban planning in developing effective, equitable, and sustainable city transit systems.