The impact of new urban public transport systems: will the expectations be met?

There is increasing concern about dependence on the car and the need to improve the environment in many cities. One approach is to construct new public transport systems. Many of these are being planned and constructed in cities around the world. This paper is concerned with the way in which decisions are made about such systems, in particular the rationale underlying the decision-making process and the implications for the city in terms of travel demand, urban development and the environment. The analysis is based upon a worldwide survey carried out as part of a project to investigate the decision-making process involving the selection of the most appropriate technology for an urban transport system.