Naga College Foundation

College of Engineering

Module for 50 Flex/Online Learning

Course Title: Principles of Transportation Engineering Module No. 2

Credit Unit 3 units (Lecture) Subject: CE 323 BSCE 3
Instructor: Engr. Francisco G. Naval Period: Preliminary

Urban Transportation Planning

Over the past years, transport issues have caught media attention. These have mainly
focused on the negative impacts of transportation, perceived to contribute largely to the rapidly
deteriorating condition of the environment. It has increased carbon footprints, which can have a
medium or long-term impact: worsening air quality and climate change.

Traffic congestion, road-based-accidents, including maritime and air mishaps, are

likewise attributed to transportation. Despite the problems mentioned, economists look at
transportation as a catalyst for development and a means for conveying people and
commodities. Planners view it as closely linked to land use and as such needs to be carefully
planned.

Issues in Transportation

The pressing concerns in transportation are mostly found in urban areas; thus, measures
being proposed are concentrated in those areas. The problem is the lack of proper understanding
of the total picture. Without appropriate approach and response, problems involving
transportation cannot be effectively addressed. A more realistic goal is NOT to totally solve
these problems but rather to minimize their negative impact on the riding public and the
environment.

Transportation is key to development and a tool for improving the people’s quality of
life. An efficient and seamless low carbon transportation system is crucial to economic growth,
and ensures smooth movement of people and commodities.

There are many issues associated with urban transportation. Addressing these issues is
not just the job of one discipline. Transportation problems should be understood from various
angles. Countries like Japan, the US, South Korea, among others, have inter-disciplinary
institutes or organizations that do research and studies on transportation.
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Looking at Metro Manila’s Transportation Situation

In understanding the state of Metro Manila’s transportation, one needs to look at the
impact of urbanization on the metropolis. The concentration of population is in Metro Manila
which is attributed to the influx of in-migration resulting to rapid urbanization.

Higher traffic densities are found in areas that attract or generate travel demand, which is
where economic activities are largely concentrated. The growth of traffic is largely attributed to
passenger cars. The resulting growth in traffic has significant impacts on the levels of services
of Metro Manila’s road network.

Growth and Road Accidents

The environmental impacts of worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila are more
evident with the following information. Evident in the PM (particulate matters) emission by
vehicle type is that trucks seem to be only third in diesel and second to the last, with
motorcycles and tricycles the highest combined. Cars and SUVs have significant emissions.
This implies that promoting low carbon transport system is a viable approach in promoting an
environmentally sustainable transport system.

The Trucking Industry

Another major transport issue that is overlooked and misunderstood is the trucking
industry. It is generally perceived that trucks are causing traffic congestion in major
thoroughfares. In Metro Manila, for instance, trucks are considered to delay the movement of
vehicles. In addressing the impacts of freight movements in Metro Manila, had recently
imposed a total truck ban.

While it had reduced traffic congestion in the city, the ban had significant economic
impact. The truck issue is a symptom of the overall problem associated with land use and
transport, non-responsive and reactive measures, inadequate landside infrastructure and lack of
integrated regional planning.
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In summary, the issues confronting Metro Manila’s transport system are as follows:
a) Worsening traffic congestion;
b) Rapid population growth and economic development;
c) Increasing volume of public transport;
d) Increasing carbon footprints;
e) Growing commercial developments, land use/transport friction; and
f) Lack of proper understanding of the impacts of freight movements.

Addressing Transport Issues in Metro Manila

To address the growing transport problems in the metropolis and its environs, the government has
instituted a number of mitigating measures:

a) Increasing infrastructure developments:

– road/highway developments
– introduction of new mass transit systems

b) Relocation of bus terminals

c) Imposition of traffic management schemes

– UVVRP (Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program)
– Truck Ban
– U-Turn slots
– Motorcycle lanes
– Lane segregation for HOVs (High Occupancy Vehicle)

d) Attempts to promote NMTs (Non-motorized Transport)

e) Introduction of ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems)

– traffic control system
– ERP (Electronic Road Pricing)
– traffic information system
– traffic accident information management
– bus operation and management

The private sector is also doing its part in addressing transport problems. Developers have
initiated land developments through proper planning in the context of mixed-use developments,
introducing TODs (transit-oriented developments/districts), through public- private partnerships
(PPPs), undertaking transport infrastructure projects within the government’s plans or through
unsolicited proposals.

The proposals presented in the study, dubbed as the dream plan for Metro Manila and its
environs, may just be such a dream. A concrete transport policy framework is being pushed to ensure
implementation of the plan.
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Proposed Transport Planning Framework

Apart from the proposed transport policy framework, there should be a supporting
transport planning framework that is both responsive and multi-disciplinary in initiatives and
strategies.

Economic principles such as:

BPP (beneficiary pay principle),
PPP (polluter pay principle), WTP
(willingness to pay), and CTP
(capacity to pay)

These principles will be useful in instituting economic measures, such as road pricing
schemes. Likewise, infrastructure developments should be supported by soft and institutional
measures, such as:

TDM (travel demand management),

City Logistics and Land Use-transport Interactions

- TODs (transit oriented development)
- NMTs (non-motorized transport systems)
-,LCTT (low carbon transport technologies)
- TIAs (traffic/transport impact assessment)

Responsive Transport Planning Framework

- ITS (intelligent transport systems)
- ICT (information and communications technology)