transport planning - Transport Futures Institute

What is transport demand?

The demand for transport is a derived demand, an economic term, which refers to demand for one good or service in one sector occurring as a result of demand from another. Users of transport are primarily consuming the service not because of its direct benefits, but because they wish to access other services. Transport demand … Read more

Monitoring and modelling travel time reliability

by Phil Charles

The use of reliability of trip arrival times does not normally form part of network performance monitoring and modelling. Reasons to monitor and model reliability of trip times include:
(a) monitoring the performance of road network;
(b) monitoring the performance of public transport networks and services; and
(c) evaluating future options.

Although some national guidelines point the way regarding reliability valuations (UK, New Zealand and Australia), current practice is somewhat lagging behind recommended approaches. There is considerable evidence from stated preference survey results related to demand estimation for toll roads and public transport projects, that traveller’s willingness to pay, extends to reliability of travel time, especially for time-sensitive trips.

US Report identifies travel demand modelling shortcomings

by Phil Charles

The US Transportation Research Board has recently conducted a major study into the state-of-practice of travel demand forecasting theory and application in that country.

TRB Special Report 288, Metropolitan Travel Forecasting: Current Practice and Future Direction, examines metropolitan travel forecasting models that provide public officials with information to inform decisions on major transportation system investments and policies.

Reducing transport carbon emissions

by Phil Charles

Stern in his 2006 report concluded that the economic, social and environmental cost of doing nothing is much higher than reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide is a hot topic for transport policy professionals.

Australia’s transport contributes about 14% of all greenhouse gas and can be expected to grow in line with travel growth predictions.

The Role of Transport Models in Evaluation

by Phil Charles

The use of transport models to estimate demand for travel in urban transport networks is well established.

Models simulate travel demand between each each origin and destination zone (the study area is divided into analysis zones) and assigns those trips to the road and transit transport networks.

Urban transport models used to predict changes in travel demand resulting from transport system and demographic changes are based on the concept of perceived generalised travel costs.

Why is traffic congestion a problem?

by Phil Charles

Problems associated with the predicted levels of future traffic congestion and their proposed solutions have been extensively debated.

Political parties at State and Local levels, be they in government or in opposition, have laid out their ‘fix it’ proposals. So too have other interested groups such as the motorist associations.

Most transport professionals can agree on what is needed. We need to achieve long-term outcomes in terms of economically efficient and safe transport networks, which will provide access and mobility, equitably and which will cause minimum damage to the environment.