Urban transportation systems viewed as social services delivery systems

Abstract

The recognition of urban transportation systems as social services delivery systems represents a major change in urban transportation planning. This recognition emerged incrementally over the last 50 years and it is founded in the size of modern metropolitan areas, in the nature of the technology of urban transportation systems, and in the socioeconomic, demographic, and psychosomatic characteristics of urban populations. The acceptance of urban transportation systems — in both their highway and mass transit components — as social services delivery systems (SSDS) implies major changes in urban transportation planning requirements and in the evaluation of such systems. Six such major requirements are identified and discussed in this paper (universal availability, public determination of the level of service, universal funding, local planning and accountability in management, public determination of priorities, efficiency and effectiveness in committing and dispensing public funds). In addition a more comprehensive framework of a social evaluation of the urban transportation systems is presented and discussed.