Transforming the Gardiner Expressway- A Vision for Personal Rapid Transit in 2015

ISBN-13: 9783836419673 / Angielski / Miękka / 2007 / 144 str.

Chloe Li

Opis

The proliferation of automobiles and urban expressways over the past half acentury has led to a greater fragmentation within cities and unprecedentedtraffic growth. Cities around the world are now confronted by the consequencesof urban expressways and must begin to rectify their situations. Theauthor documents one of the most congested highways in North America,the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto. Can elevated transportationstructures be re-integrated into the city and transformed into catalysts forurban revitalization? This book proposes a ten-year strategy to transform theGardiner into a responsive transit interface to stimulate new, integratedsystems of mobility. The project involves policy planning, urban transit coordination;includes the implementation of an innovative Personal RapidTransportation [PRT] technology and a 7.5 km elevated bicycle path. PRToffers a hybrid between the convenience of cars and the social and environmentaladvantages of public transport - being akin to a horizontal elevator.The new Gardiner becomes a highly traveled corridor, a popular attraction,and an urban destination. It is anticipated that the success of this revitalizedsystem will lead other cities to reassess the capabilities of their own urbaninfrastructures. This research and design proposal will captivate the builtenvironment professional as well as the daily commuter.