Transportation PoliciesTransportation PoliciesWhy is public transit in Zurich the way it is today?
•1970s- Vehicular traffic and congestion ruled.
•1973- Proposal for Underground
•Why was this voted down? Was cost the only issue?
•The People’s Initiative for the Promotion of Public Transportation
Transportation Master PlansTransportation Master Plans
• 1974– Limit vehicular traffic, improve public transit
• 1987– Reduce traffic in residential areas, restrict
parking, encourage use of public transit
• 2001– Optimize and integrate system, look for new
innovations, implementation of public transit in new road construction
Zurich Versus ConnecticutZurich Versus Connecticut
• 5 out of 9 of ConnDOT’s guiding principles refer to the business operations of the DOT
• Their mobility principle is very vague and provides no real guidelines for improvement
• Focus is still on the car and how to move more individual vehicles
•Promoting a fast and attractive public transport•Reduction of motor vehicle transport•Traffic calming in residential areas•Reduction of private car parking space•Policies for environmentally friendly modes
Sustainable Transportation ApproachSustainable Transportation Approach
Evaluation of Zurich’s SystemEvaluation of Zurich’s System
Zurich (2002) – 31.5km Switzerland (2000) – 48km
Average daily distance traveled by each person over 6 years old:
Evaluation of HartfordEvaluation of HartfordMode of Transportation to Work:
• Hartford • Connecticut (2002)
ComparisonComparisonZurich - 371,000 (2007) Hartford - 124,000 (2006)
$56,000 GDP per Capita $26,000
383.57 million Annual Passenger Miles
62.28 million
6 per 100,000 people Traffic Fatalities for 2007
9 per 100,000 people
9 t/yr (for Switzerland)
(Long-term objective= 1t/yr)
Average CO2 Emissions per capita
≈12 t/yr (for CT)
PRIORITY OF CHEAPER, CLEANER, AND MORE PRIORITY OF CHEAPER, CLEANER, AND MORE EFFICIENT MODESEFFICIENT MODES
HARTFORD: NO transit priority program.
Implementing one can improve:
speed of transit service
frequency of arrivals
reliability of service
cost of trips
FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT • Frequent intervals • Reliable• Fast • Clean and not too crowded• Safe• Network is very large • Inexpensive and discount
ticket programs for frequent users
DISINCENTIVE FOR DRIVING• Lack of parking• High parking fees• Roadway congestion and delays
Commuting from a nearby suburb of Zurich to downtown Zurich can be 61% more expensive by car than public transportation
Preference for Walkers & BikersPreference for Walkers & Bikers
Neighborhoods are adapting to suit pedestrians and bikers by: -Widening sidewalks
-Creating friendlier avenues-Allowing bikes access to bus lanes
-Limiting private vehicles in city-Stops are close together
Inter-City TrainsInter-City TrainsHartford:
• 1 Main Station
• 1 Set of Tracks
• 2 Train Routes
• 14 Daily Arrivals and Departures
Zurich:
• 1 Main Station
• 16 Sets of Tracks
• 30+ Train Routes
• 884 Daily Arrivals and Departures
Intra-City TrainsIntra-City TrainsHartford:
• None
Zurich:
• S-Bahn
• 26 Routes
• 171 Stops
BusesBusesHartford:
• 30 Routes
• 12 Express Routes
• 15 Min Average Wait Time
Zurich:
• 33 Routes
• 7 Min Average Wait Time
TramsTramsHartford:
• None
Zurich:
• 13 Tram Routes
• 70 Miles of Tracks
• Half a Million Passengers per Day
Walking and BikingWalking and BikingHartford:
• Limited Bike Lanes
• Little Pedestrian Amenities
Zurich:
• 4ft Wide Bike Lanes
• Wide Attractive Sidewalks
Ferry Service on Lake ZurichFerry Service on Lake Zurich• Added Bonus for Zurich
• Multiple ports
Access and MobilityAccess and Mobility
Toggle Roads Toggle Roads
Hartford, CT Zürich, Switzerland
Car Foot Transit TotalParadeplatz (Parade Plaza)
Point 1 - 2.3km 6 1 6 7 Helvetiaplatz
Point 2 - 2.6km 6 0 9 9 Feldeggstrasse
Point 3 - 3km 8 1 10 11 Limmatplatz
Point 4 - 3.2km 7 1 10 11 Billoweg
Point 5 - 4 km 10 1 15 16 Siemens
Point 6 - 4km 8 1 14 15 Kinkelstrasse
Car Foot Transit Total State House Square
Point 1 - 2.3km 5 4 17 21 Colt Park
Point 2 - 2.6km 6 4 17 21 Naval Reserve (Near Brainard Airport)
Point 3 - 3km 4 12 6 18 Prospect Street
Point 4 - 3.2km 7 4 5 9 Trinity College
Point 5 - 4 km 8 5 22 27 Keney Park
Point 6 - 4km 8 24 10 34 Elizabeth Park (Near UConn)
Hartford has 84, 91, 44, and route 6
Zurich
Hartford
minutes
minutes
Average Human Walking Speed: 2.5mph
Car times from Google MapsTransit times from ZVV and CT-Transit Websites
Best City in the WorldBest City in the World
“In (Zurich), the urge to own a car and avoid sharing a bus or train with stranger loses some of the urgency it may have in Los Angeles or London, thanks to Zurich's superlative tram network - clean, safe, warm and edifying in its punctuality and technical prowess. There is little reason to travel alone when, for only a few francs, an efficient, stately tramway will transport one across the city at a level of comfort an emperor would have envied." - Alain de Botton
ConclusionsConclusions
Lessons Learned Hartford Zurich
1. Quality of Life
2. Policy goals for the future
3. Walkable infrastructure
4. Efficient options
5. Diversity of transportation
6. Public approval
7. Potential for change