When it comes to developing transportation infrastructure, most people think of roads and highways. In reality, the development of transportation infrastructure goes much further and is actually the beating heart of the urban economy. A well-functioning transportation system can support a city’s growth and contribute to economic development at both the national and regional levels.
This article provides an understanding of the relationship between transportation, the economy, the growth of modern cities, and considerations for environmental impact so that we may unite behind sustainable urban development.
Currently, over 57% of the world’s population or an estimated 4.4 billion people live in urban areas — a figure that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Cities will need to develop in order to accommodate growing urbanization, especially in terms of transportation and mobility.
The development of transportation infrastructure, from roads and public transport systems to seaports and international airports, is not just about transporting people and goods within the city but serving as a gateway to accommodating people and goods from around the world. Transportation infrastructure can facilitate a city’s access to broader markets and investment opportunities, supporting job creation, economic development, and tourism. Effective transportation can stimulate a city’s overall economic growth — a pivotal factor in an urban center becoming a Global City.
A clear example of how transportation development can contribute to a city’s economic growth is the economic revival of Taiwan. Implementing a high-speed rail system connecting key cities across the island has played a significant role in its continuous economic growth, promoting sectors such as industry, exports, and tourism while fostering economic decentralization. This has led to a remarkable 4.62% annual growth rate of Taiwan’s gross domestic product (GDP), which currently tops 774 billion U.S. dollars. The island has positioned itself as a developed nation and one of the Four Asian Tigers.
The Metropolis-Building Network
Well-designed urban infrastructure provides city dwellers with suitable transportation options for various activities, such as exercising in green spaces within walking or cycling distance. Providing convenient access to affordable public transportation encourages people to choose mass transit over private vehicles, which mitigates traffic congestion and environmental impact. Making it easier for people to commute from suburban residences to downtown offices also prevents the city from becoming too congested. Apart from making daily life more convenient, an effective logistics system facilitates the timely transportation of various goods such as agricultural and fishery products as well as consumer goods from various destinations. This would support economic activities to grow alongside a city and create new destinations that stimulate tourism — yet another by-product of an effective transportation system that generates significant economic benefit.
A comprehensive and convenient urban transportation network can elevate quality of life, propel social development, and support economic and tourism growth. Such a network contributes to a city’s development and expansion, supporting its growth and connectivity with neighboring cities and culminating in the establishment of a metropolis.
A global metropolis like Tokyo, Japan must accommodate tens of millions of people on a daily basis, both those residing in the city and commuters from nearby cities. The daily transportation of millions of people in Tokyo is made possible by its extensive railway system, with over 820 railways stations spanning the entire metropolitan area — including over 280 subway stations — and connecting with the surrounding prefectures. This has facilitated leaps in the growth of societal and economic activities, driving Tokyo’s development from city to metropolis and from metropolis to the region’s next central hub.
Transportation in Our City
The sustainable development of a city can start with understanding the context of the city in which we are living and the kinds of transportation that it currently supports.
Urban transportation can be categorized into three development paths:
Every city must contend with the challenges of transportation and logistics according to their unique context. However, there are common issues being faced by Global Cities worldwide. Traffic congestion, for example, is a shared problem due to economic activities outpacing urban infrastructure. Mass transit systems often fail to meet the growing demands of increasing urbanization, while the transportation systems themselves impact the environment due to their energy consumption. These issues have forced cities around the world to reconsider how to balance their expanding roadways with their diminishing green spaces.
All these issues require the collaboration of experts from various fields. Only through our collective solutions and innovations can we create and develop new infrastructure that will help our cities better meet the needs of their populations than ever before.
Source :
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/about/history/history03.html
https://www.un.org/sw/desa/68-world-population-projected-live-urban-areas-2050-says-un
https://hbs.unctad.org/total-and-urban-population/
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview#1
https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter3/transportation-and-economic-development/transport-infrastructure-economic-impacts/
https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter8/transportation-urban-form/urban-transport-development-paths/
https://www.market-prospects.com/articles/development-of-taiwan-smart-transportation
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ENGLISH/ABOUT/HISTORY/history02.htm#:~:text=Tokyo%20Metropolis%20is%20a%20metropolitan,and%201%20village%20(mura).
https://www.japanesetrains.com/tokyo-train-station.html
