Transportation's Key Role

Smart development focuses understanding the interrelationships between population, land use, transportation, economics, environment, and other factors. The goal is to develop policies that result in more sustainable urban environments that provide a high quality of life.

The role of transportation in urban sustainability is increasingly being recognized by cities. The Urban Environmental Management Research Initiative, which includes urban planning researchers from around the world, has created important guiding principles for public transportation. They include:

Limit sprawl and improve land use. Concentrate urban growth and provide for more mixed land use through urban structure and land use policies. This would reduce demand (especially for automobile trips) by moving origins and destinations closer together, enhancing mobility, and helping to reduce habitat destruction and loss of agricultural and recreational lands.

Incentivize lower impact transportation. Give priority to less polluting modes of transportation in the design of transportation systems and urban areas. Pedestrian and cycling paths should be provided as attractive and safe alternatives to cars.

Prioritize public transportation. Maintain and enhance the health and viability of urban public transit systems.

Integrate transport modes. Whether for passengers or goods, modes should be integrated in order to provide more efficient movement, and to increase the availability of lower impact transportation options such as public transit.

Consider historical significance and aesthetics. Protect historical sites and archaeological resources, reduce noise pollution, and consider aesthetics in the planning, design and construction of transportation systems.

Veolia Transport has been a partner in many cities where transportation has played a key role in improving quality of live and in urban renewal. We were partners in the transformation of Bordeaux, Nice, Bogota, and many other cities where elected officials committed to smart development and savvy urban design, and made public transportation a cornerstone of their strategy.

With 150 years of working in partnership with cities around the globe, we bring our clients the efficiency and innovation of the private sector, along with a mindset devoted to public service and intelligent urban design.