Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 7.23
Urban motorways. Some of the urban motorways can also be removed. There is no need for
fast highway access into the city centre - this is to be provided by public transport and cycling,
and the severance and environmental impacts can be much reduced.
accidents are occuring. In the longer term, the potential is to reduce traffic accidents altogether,
or at least significantly, as virtually all human error can be removed from the system. Perhaps
these vehicles may contribute more to suburban sprawl, with the longer distance commute
becoming more bearable as the driver no longer has to drive and can work or be otherwise
active on the way (
The Economist
, 2012). Ironically, the automated car becomes more similar
to public transport - where the driving function is replaced - hence perhaps there will be
some merging of the modes in future years.
There is an interesting and critical decision that now needs to be made for Auckland. This
is similar to an earlier juncture in policy-making, namely the Gooseman master plan decision
of 1955. This decision concerns whether the 'North American model' is followed, and private
car mobility is still encouraged, but with clean technologies, or whether the 'European model'
is pursued, with a much broader range of policy measures, including higher levels of public
transport investment, traffic demand management and urban structure changes. From the policy
documentation being developed, it seems there is some support for a range of policy measures,
and some acceptance that relying solely on vehicle technologies can only reduce emissions
by so much, with many of the gains offset by the subsequent increases in traffic volumes.
But, of course, this remains largely at the level of conjecture, or at best, at the level of strategy
development. There still needs to be a great deal of effort in persuading the politicians and
public that much greater use of public transport, walking and cycling is an attractive future
for travel in Auckland, and for investment priorities in transport planning to change markedly
