Devising public transport systems for twenty-first century economically productive cities – the proposed Knowledge Ring for Perth

Abstract

This paper reviews the spatial and agglomeration characteristics of the internet and the knowledge economy and their potential impact on urban planning and public transport. This paper then considers Perth, Western Australia, as a case study looking at its spatial urban planning and public transport characteristics, which in many ways do not support the future development of a networked knowledge economy. The paper concludes by proposing a radial-orbital rail system for Perth, Western Australia (see Figure 1). The ‘Knowledge Ring’ rail line is proposed as part of a wider radial-orbital rail network and is named as such, as it would: • connect the Perth Central Business District (CBD) with several key tertiary and research institutions as part of a wider networked radial-orbital public transport system; • deliver an urban network of activity centres with a focus on knowledge and digital economic production better suited to the economic and environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.