Transportation For Urban Design Protocol For Australian Cities

Description of Houten Transport System

Discuss about the Transportation for Urban Design Protocol for Australian Cities.

The efficient transportation system has been influencing the modern civilization in a significant way. According to Vergnes, Kerbiriou and Clergeau (2013), the economic development of the country is exclusively depending on the adequate and efficient transportation system.  It is notable that the countries are unable to build the prosperity if the there is the lack of well-developed transport or communication system. Hence, it can be inferred that the developed and improved transport system of a country contributes to the economic development parameter. It is noticed that the transport system helps in increasing land values, making more labor mobile, focusing on equalizing prices, and determining the geographic industry distribution (Crane et al. 2016). The study would develop the considerable description of Houten Transport and the Harrington Grove transport of Sydney. The comparison between these transport systems would initiate ideas about the significant use of the effective transport system. Furthermore, the study would provide the set of recommendation preferable for ensuring the sustainable transport development process.

Houten, a city of Netherlands, has built the entire transportation system by prioritizing the pedestrian and cyclist. It is indeed considered as the Greenfield development with high quality bicycle infrastructure, proper transit access, and application of the effective educational programs for promoting cycling. In the year of 1968, the city council approved such unique ideas for developing the environmental welfare (Eltis.org 2017). This transport system is focusing on developing the green environment by reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing the amount of pollutant materials. The core design feature of this city transport involves the application of the measuring techniques of the traffic calms, narrow roads and separating the bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The city layout includes two train stations and a ring road surrounds each of the station. The simple design and planning process is environmental friendly. The two town centers are connected with the other destinations via a 135 km of red asphalt bicycle facilities (Krizek 2017). Any intersection between the auto-through traffic ad cycling facilities is modified with proper concentration and grade-separated treatments. It is to be noted that the traffic light concept is not present in this system. The unique process of maintaining the green development and developing the city transport system are much appreciable.

Harrington Grove is another most significant urbanized transport system in Sydney. The report reflects that the Government of NSW has undertaken the decision of constructing the New South West Rail Link to connect the underground south of the Oran Park. The NSW Minister of Transportation undertook such decisions to improve the urbanized transportation system (Camden.nsw.gov.au 2017). The ministry confirmed that the major aim of making such proposal is to save the Harrington Forest. It is also confirmed that the application of such initiation would not require resumption of the houses. This underground option is quite feasible for the citizens since it would not create any environmental hazards. Harrington Estates, the developer of the Harrington Grove supported such objectives ensured by the state government. The Harrington Transport System has paid attention towards the requirements of improving the urban residents. However, the major concern of the residents that their property or lands would be affected due to the connected roadways (Harringtongrove.com.au 2017). It is assumed that this transportation service would create the significant impact on the residents at Harrington Grove. It is generally focusing on the improvement of the public transport in Sydney.

Description of Harrington Transport System in Sydney

The bike centric culture and design is extensively embraced and admirable. The Houten City consists of over 129 kilometers of cycle paths colored in red and black (Hatfield and Boufous 2016). The path is completely separated from the car traffics. This unique design is contributing to the environment welfare purposes. In fact, the infrastructure costs are not too much high in compare to other transport ways in Netherlands. The focus of such unique design is to promote the safer and convenient cycling transport in Houten. However, there is one challenge can be foreseen due to the lack of sufficient places of parking the bicycles.

Houten Transport system is mainly focusing on the development of the urban designs. It is notable that the focus on the urban design is the key to achieve the transport sustainability. However, it is even argued that the location of the housing and road layouts have the high chances of affecting the travel behaviour of the local residents. They would be prioritizing the cyclist priority instead of paying attention to their private cars. Another unique feature is added to the street layout and design (Kenna, Goodman and Stevenson 2017). The network of the streets in Houten connects the north and south ring roads. Each of these layouts is of about one kilometer. In general perspective, it has been noticed that there is the lack of direct connection between the neighborhoods by car. People need to use the ring road in order to get the access to the other neighborhoods. The cyclists receive the major priorities among the residential lives as well.

The unique ideas and urbanized transport planning applied to the Houten Transport System is much effective for the environment. The cycling ride throughout the cities is reducing the environmental pollution. In fact, these cycling areas are not connected to the car traffic areas. Hence, the risks of the accidental hazards are quite less. In compare to the Houten Transport System, it has been observed that the transport system in Harrington Grove has been creating much impact on the resident house (Howden-Chapman et al. 2015). Even though the initiative was undertaken for developing the residential housing and the lives of the people. However, multiple representations of the concerned issues are presented to the council on behalf of the property owners and developers. The lesser involvement of the target stakeholders is one of the major reasons behind such disagreements (Abc.net.au 2017). The core design feature of this city transport involves the application of the measuring techniques of the traffic calms, narrow roads and separating the bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The affected property owners have their concerns regarding the proposal of the underground rail corridor (Harringtongrove.com.au 2017). The challenges in these two transport systems are quite recognizable. It was implied that prioritizing the cycling rides throughout Houten is creating the impact on the use of cars. Moreover, the lack of sufficient space for cycle parking is also one of the most significant issues faced by the residents of Houten. However, this transport system is focusing on developing the green environment by reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing the amount of pollutant materials. On the other side, the Harrington Transport System has paid attention towards the requirements of improving the urban residents (Mulley and Tsai 2016). However, the major concern of the residents that their property or lands would be affected due to the connected roadways. Hence, the issues with the resident perspectives are different in these different transport based initiatives.

Unique designs of Houten Transport

The ideas obtained from the above study highlights the appreciable transport planning undertaken by Houten Transport systems. Considering such unique approaches and designs, it is essential to provide the suitable recommendation for the Australian transport systems as well. The Australian transport systems require concentrating on the following factors while designing and developing the urban areas.

• The NSW Transport can align with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. It would be helpful idea in gathering the adequate knowledge about the South West Growth Centre Structure Plan. The Transport Ministry would derive knowledge about the potential opportunities for transport planning and sustainability if the plan focuses on the environmental and residential welfare.
• It is important to structure the proper strategy for addressing the potential issues. For example, before the rail line is constructed, there is the significant issue with the higher level of development density. The strategy would determine the orderly rate of the development for mitigating the adverse outcomes of the urban planning.
• It is necessary to gather the fruitful ideas about the cost benefit process. The development of the structured cost benefit process is necessary prior to develop the transport system. The information is made to available publicly for maintaining the transparency in a significant way.
• The ideas gathered from the planning and design process of Houten, the Sydney transport Ministry also requires concentrating on the structured planning process. Hence, it is necessary to keep the focus on the environmental welfare process to ensure the sustainable future and efficient urban development.
• One of the major focuses of this transport planning system is the preservation of the corridor alignment. The council of transport administration in Sydney requires concentrating on the ‘Review of Environmental Factors’ for gathering the adequate information about the heritage-related matters.
• Following the sequential steps for structuring the master plan for the stations would be helpful for the council to propose the better transport systems. The urban life would be developed accordingly.

Conclusion

The study provides the idea about the innovative and unique transportation planning initiated by Houden Transport Systems in Netherland. The unique ideas of developing the cycling rides throughout the city are creating the effective impact on the environment. The focus of such unique design is to promote the safer and convenient cycling transport in Houten. It ensures the less pollution and decreasing the number of the accidental hazards. The core design feature of this city transport involves the application of the measuring techniques of the traffic calms, narrow roads and separating the bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The lack of sufficient space for cycle parking is also one of the most significant issues faced by the residents of Houten. However, this transport system is focusing on developing the green environment by reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing the amount of pollutant materials. On the other hand, the underground transportation system initiative proposed by the Harrington Grove council is much criticized by the land or property owners. In spite of the positive outcome to be assumed, the landowners are afraid of losing their properties. The study develops the comparison between the Sydney Transport System and the Houden Transport System. In compare to the Houten Transport System, it has been observed that the transport system in Harrington Grove has been creating much impact on the resident house. The Sydney Transport Council requires providing more focus on the urban and environmental development.

References

Abc.net.au, 2017. South-west Sydney residents and developers shocked by rail plan. [online] ABC News. Available at: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-16/south-west-sydney-residents-shocked-by-rail-plan/6549026> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Camden.nsw.gov.au, 2017. [online] Available at: <https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/assets/pdf/Council/PublicationsPlansAndPolicies/2016/15-221510-Letter-to-Camden-Council-Submission-to-South-West-Rail-Link-Extension-Public-Transport-Corridor-Preservation-2015.pdf> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Crane, M., Rissel, C., Greaves, S., Standen, C. and Wen, L.M., 2016. Neighbourhood expectations and engagement with new cycling infrastructure in Sydney, Australia: findings from a mixed method before-and-after study. Journal of Transport & Health, 3(1), pp.48-60.

Eltis.org, 2017. Promoting traffic safety and cycling through urban design in Houten (Netherlands) | Eltis. [online] Eltis.org. Available at: <https://www.eltis.org/discover/case-studies/promoting-traffic-safety-and-cycling-through-urban-design-houten-netherlands> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Harringtongrove.com.au, 2017. Location | Harrington Grove. [online] Harringtongrove.com.au. Available at: <https://www.harringtongrove.com.au/harrington-grove-nsw-location> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Harringtongrove.com.au, 2017. Proposed rail corridor and Harrington Grove. [online] Harringtongrove.com.au. Available at: <https://www.harringtongrove.com.au/news/entry/proposed-rail-corridor-and-harrington-grove> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Hatfield, J. and Boufous, S., 2016. The effect of non-recreational transport cycling on use of other transport modes: A cross-sectional on-line survey. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 92, pp.220-231.

Howden-Chapman, P., Keall, M.D., Conlon, F. and Chapman, R., 2015. Urban interventions: understanding health co-benefits. Urban Design and Planning.

Itdp.org, 2017. [online] Available at: <https://www.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/22.-092211_ITDP_NED_Desktop_Houten.pdf> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Kenna, T., Goodman, R. and Stevenson, D., 2017. Privatising the suburbs: examining the trends and implications of 20 years of private residential development in Sydney, Australia. Geographical Research.

Krizek, K., 2017. Houten (Holland): Heaven or Hollow?. [online] streets.mn. Available at: <https://streets.mn/2014/08/07/houten-holland-heaven-or-hollow/> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Mulley, C. and Tsai, C.H.P., 2016. When and how much does new transport infrastructure add to property values? Evidence from the bus rapid transit system in Sydney, Australia. Transport Policy, 51, pp.15-23.

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Vergnes, A., Kerbiriou, C. and Clergeau, P., 2013. Ecological corridors also operate in an urban matrix: a test case with garden shrews. Urban ecosystems, 16(3), pp.511-525.