Transport and Town Planning

In a context where climate change urgently requires us to alter our paradigms, this book explores the possibilities of cities that are both more energy efficient and more respectful of the environment. Based on the observation that urban planning has been detrimentally affected by the compartmentalization of knowledge and practices, this book is conceived as a dialog between transport and urban planning on the one hand, and between engineering and social science on the other. Systemic analysis and a historical approach, integrating the teachings of the last two centuries, constitute at the methodological level the framework in which this dialog unfolds. Based on examples of good practice, Transport and Town Planning identifies an effective set of levers of action and proposes an original method to guide and accompany urban transition with a large share of the initiative reserved for the actors concerned.

Autorentext

Jean Laterrasse worked for 15 years as a Professor at Paris Est University in France, where he directed the "Ville mobilité transport" laboratory and a Master's program for engineers and urban planners. He is currently scientific advisor at the Institut pour la transition energétique de la ville Efficacity.

Inhalt

Preface xi

Chapter 1. City and Complexity: How to Untangle the Skein? 1

1.1. Systemic thinking and its historical context 1

1.2. The system approach 3

1.3. Analytical and systemic methods are complementary rather than opposed 4

1.4. Transdisciplinarity of the concept of system and presentation of a typology of complexity 5

1.5. The concept of variety 10

1.6. Keys to analyzing a system: functions and structures 12

1.6.1. The concept of function 13

1.6.2. The concept of structure 15

1.7. From description to analysis and action: the example of flowcharts 16

1.8. Concept of model and systemic modeling 19

1.9. An application of systemic analysis: study of the relationships between transport networks and territory 21

1.10. Action as a method of knowledge 25

Chapter 2. Town Planning and Urban Pattern: the Emergence of Circulatory Function 29

2.1. The first urban fabrics: two founding patterns 29

2.2. Advent of circulatory function 31

2.2.1. Powerful changes implemented 31

2.2.2. Cerdà, the theoretician 32

2.2.3. Haussmann, the realist 33

2.3. The effects of the mechanization of modes of transport 35

2.3.1. The linear city of Arturo Soria y Mata 36

2.3.2. Garden cities 37

2.4. Urban transport: a chaotic development 39

2.4.1. A public interest service 39

2.4.2. Mechanization 40

2.5. Advent of electric traction and its success following the construction of the Paris subway 41

2.5.1. The accident founder of the Couronnes station 42

2.5.2. The first wave of automation 43

2.5.3. The triptych of innovation: technologies, organization and professions 44

2.6. The tramway: from its disappearance in France to its rebirth 45

2.6.1. The development period 46

2.6.2. Decline of the tramway 47

2.6.3. The rebirth 49

2.7. The automobile city 50

2.7.1. Progressive town planning and the functional specification of spaces 50

2.7.2. The convergence between functionalism and naturalism 52

2.8. Towards the public transport city? 54

2.8.1. The omnipresent automobile in question 54

2.8.2. Transport-oriented development 55

2.8.3. The end of utopias? 57

Chapter 3. Building of New Towns: an Attempt at Linking Transport Networks to Urban Planning 59

3.1. From imaginary new towns to their achievement 60

3.1.1. The initial project 60

3.1.2. A new territorial organization 65

3.1.3. The structuring role of big transportation infrastructures 66

3.1.4. A period rich in innovations 66

3.1.5. An undeniable success? 67

3.2. The case of Marne-la-Vallée 68

3.2.1. Marne-la-Vallée's entry into the regional space 68

3.2.2. The evolution of the overall administrative and institutional framework of new towns 72

3.2.3. The specific institutional organization of Marne-la-Vallée 74

3.3 A mixed report 77

3.3.1. Population growth stimulated by housing construction 77

3.3.2. Activities, employment and job/active population balance in new towns 80

3.3.3. The importance of areas reserved for activities. 82

3.3.4. Employment location areas and source of active population 83

3.3.5. Internal circulation in Marne-la-Vallée new town the most overlooked of urban planning 84

3.3.6. Motorization and servicing of the population by public transport 87

3.3.7. Gradual saturation of the main road network 88

3.3.8. What lessons can be drawn? 90

Chapter 4. Models and Definitions: Changing the Paradigm 93

4.1. The mobility model that was developed in France from the 1950s 95

4.1.1. Mobility and urban sprawl 96

4.1.2. Mobility and land market 98

4.1.3. Characteristics specific to France? 102

4.1.4. Planning formatted by the use of cars 104

4.2. A model whose coherence and sustainability are undermined 107 4.2.1. Lessons ...