Public transit systems and community planning: Reconnecting the city

Abstract

How do you get from point A to point B within a city? The most obvious answer would seem to be to get in your car and simply drive there. This works for many commuters and seems to do well enough. But what if you don’t have a car or traffic is a burden to navigate? You could go by walking, biking, bus or rail, depending on distance to the destination. However, these options rely on major urban planning in order for the systems to be an attractive option. Why does it matter that we rely on systems beyond cars? This essay will delve into the benefits of a well-integrated city transit plan as well as propose a new plan for a typical sprawled Midwest American city - in this case, Cincinnati, OH. Problems arise from the disconnection of communities and overreliance on cars. Neighborhoods become isolated and priorities are set for cars rather than people. This study looks to overcome these issues by researching the successes and failures of different city transit means as well as the community and city plan integration into the systems. Studies include American systems, such as the Chicago transit systems, as well as more creative answers, like the Medellin gondola system, the Metrocable. From these case studies and urban planning research, I will synthesize a community planning method that could be applied to update an existing one. I will then design specific community and transit plans for a portion of Cincinnati to show how the plan would work in action. With a revitalized transit and community plan ideology, Cincinnati could flourish equally for all its citizens, and this study could help get it there.