Urban Transit Challenges

Economics activity of certain cities is influenced by their complex structure of transport system. Transportation system comes with five modes which are road, rail, water, air and pipeline. The larger the cities, the larger the transportation complexity. The most important transit challenges are related to urban cities when their transport system cannot fulfil or satisfy the requirement of urban transportation activity. The most difficult challenges in facing urban transits are :

Decentralization.

Public transit systems are not designed to service low density and scattered urban areas that are increasingly dominating the landscape. The greater the decentralization of urban activities, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to serve urban areas with public transit. Additionally, decentralization promotes long distance trips on transit systems causing higher operating costs and revenue issues for flat fare transit systems.

Fixity.

The infrastructures of several public transit systems, notably rail and subway systems are fixed, while cities are dynamical entities, even if the pace of change can take decades. This implies that travel patterns tend to change and that a transit system built for servicing a specific pattern may eventually face "spatial obsolescence".

Connectivity.

 Public transit systems are often independent from other modes and terminals. It is consequently difficult to transfer passengers from one system to the other. This leads to a paradox between the preference of riders to have direct connections and the need to provide a cost efficient service network that involves transfers.

Competition.

 In view of cheap and ubiquitous road transport systems, public transit faced strong competition and loss rider-ship in relative terms and in some cases in absolute terms. The higher the level of auto-mobile dependency, the more inappropriate the public transit level of service. The public service being offered is simply outpaced by the convenience of the auto-mobile. However, changes in energy prices are likely to impose a new equilibrium in this relationship.