How do you design green transit options?

Walk when you can, carpool bike and bus when you can’t. I grew up in a one car household in the 60s. Even had a skateboard and a scooter.

For mid/long term, focus on urban planning and reduce trip generation, trip distance and modal use. Plam transport as part of the utilities

I agree. Start with a comprehensive transportation planning process that considers the needs and preferences of the community, existing infrastructure, and future growth projections. Gather data on travel patterns, transit usage, and emissions to inform planning and decision-making. Establish key performance indicators to measure the success of green transit initiatives and make data-driven improvements.

Apart from existing parameters, it is important to have a vision on what your transport system should be. It should match a long term strategy plan and macro factors like sustainability and climate change. From there you can start discussions with stakeholders on key outcomes that we all need to work to.

Designing green transit options involves promoting eco-friendly transportation methods like public transit, cycling, and walking. It includes electrifying vehicles, using renewable energy, and fostering carpooling. Encouraging sustainable urban development and integrating technology are vital steps. Collaboration, monitoring progress, and educating the public play key roles in achieving environmentally friendly transit systems.

Integration of modes is essential, as is the blend of investment, ensuring that the needs, motivations and desire to maintain and continually improve what is developed. One of the challenges our current systems have, is an inability to be dynamic and agile in response to social and environmental demands. We need to intelligent, informed planning, investment and design.

Stakeholder feedback can play an important role here, providing invaluable insights and choices of how people travel. Simulation tools also play a key role in helping to produce insights from data, such as existing walking, cycling isochrones. This can be done with tools like PTV

I agree. Promote integration between different modes of transportation, such as buses, trams, bicycles, and walking, to create a seamless and efficient transit system. Plan for transit hubs and stations as focal points for mixed-use development to reduce car dependency and encourage public transit use. Advocate for policies that incentivize green transit options, such as tax incentives for electric vehicles, congestion pricing, and emissions reduction targets. Identify and secure funding sources, including government grants, private investments, and public-private partnerships, to finance green transit projects.

I agree. Use modeling and simulation to test each scenario's impact on factors like ridership, emissions, cost, and travel times. Assess the potential risks associated with each scenario, including technological advancements, funding, and regulatory changes. Understand how each scenario addresses long-term challenges such as population growth, climate change, and transportation trends. Review scenarios where the community plays a significant role in shaping transit options and ensuring equitable access. Analyze the impact of fare structures that prioritize affordability for low-income and marginalized communities. Analyze the feasibility of retrofitting existing infrastructure with green technologies, such as solar panels and green roofs.

Yes, agreed. For example, if we are comparing hydrogen fuel cells vs. battery electric vehicles (BEVs), then assess the use of hydrogen fuel cell-powered transit vehicles compared to BEVs in terms of emissions, refueling infrastructure, and energy efficiency. Or if we are comparing renewable natural gas (RNG) vs. biofuels, Explore the use of RNG and biofuels for public transit and their potential impact on emissions reduction and fuel supply. If we are comparing infrastructure investments in bus rapid transit (BRT) vs. light rail transit (LRT), analyze the feasibility and benefits of investing in a BRT system compared to an LRT system in terms of cost, ridership, and environmental impact.

Evaluation starts with an agreement of what ‘Green’ means and what success looks like. Statistics can lie and therefore agreeing the parameters first in public and expert consultation will allow us to move beyond political definitions and move to a system whereby the good of the community or society is the focus not the political capital of any given scheme or metric.

Policies and incentives (or penalties) play a crucial role here. For example, if we are assessing enforcing congestion pricing or road expansion, explore the impact of implementing congestion pricing policies to discourage car use versus investing in road expansion projects. Or if we are assessing active transportation, look at the effectiveness of policies and incentives to encourage walking and cycling, such as bike lanes, pedestrian zones, and safe crossings.