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DESCRIPTION

This course focuses on public transportation strategy, with an emphasis on how land uses can be leveraged to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transit service. The course is divided into four sections: Introduction to transit planning,  short and medium-term planning and analysis, emphasis on land use as a long-term strategic alternative, and transit-oriented land uses. The first two sections of the course cover the historical development of transit, ridership trends, performance measures, forecasting methodologies, and current debates. The second half of the course examines: a) the transit impacts of different land use patterns and land use management measures, and b) the land use impacts of transit.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course will provide expertise in three core areas: measurement and analysis of transit performance, the travel behavior impacts of urban form at the micro and macro levels, and linking transit service and land use policy. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify the main forces influencing the provision of public transportation services in North America
• Assess the performance of public transportation systems using different methodological approaches
• Forecast the short-term effects of transit service expansions on transit ridership and revenue
• Predict the influence of various settlement patterns on transit service performance
• Develop a working typology of transit-oriented area
• Examine and critique research tools used to examine the connection between land use and travel behavior at the micro level

FORMAT

This course combines lectures and discussions. Enrollment has been limited to 20 students to ensure active student participation. Students taking this class should expect to develop original work (a review or a research paper) on a transit-related issue.

MEETING TIMES

T and T. 3:30-4:45, New East, Room 102