More Development, Less Public Space......

Today, we the urban travellers are taking you through a a bit of a deliberation.....How many communication networks, roads and infrastructure are being developed in our cities? With that question answered, how much of our public space is being eradicated for these expansions to occur?

 Image illustrating a section of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, Trinidad

The most recent example of this issue facing Trinidad and Tobago is the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, particularly the phase extending from Debe to Mon Desir. Should the construction of the highway be completed, it will significantly increase economic activities within the southern parts of the country, promote trade and the movement of commercial goods throughout the country and increase job opportunities for many people [1]. However, this development is going to come at a cost, literally and figuratively as thousands of acres of agricultural land will be lost, over 10 communities will be split as well as the construction that will occur within the direct path of a lagoon [2]. Many have argued that the public space and land around the site should not be compensated to accommodate an increase in road networks and connectivity as there are alternative ways to approach this issue that would not only reduce the cost of construction, but reduce the impact that this procedure will have on the environment as well as reduce the number of communities that are to be uprooted from their homes. An alternative way being the “Highway Re-Route” movement that many citizens have supported; this approach would have avoided constructing throughout the swampland completely and constructing around the area instead. As of now, it looks as though the development of this road infrastructure is going to happen and this equates to the loss of a vast amount of valuable public space.

This case can be linked to Roger Trancik's work on The Theories of Urban Design where he refers to parks, the countryside and rural areas as “soft space.” He stated that, “rural space, although architecturally unenclosed, is not lost space. Enclosure of rural space is derived from natural features of topography and land form, water, vegetation in the form forests, and plantations, as well as man-made enclosures of fences and stone walls. Therefore the natural landscape can also be defined as positive, structured space accommodating patterns of settlement and human activities” [3]. Is he right? Roger Trancik, in this excerpt, explains that rural areas do not need to be completely lost as activities can occur within those areas; development of infrastructure and communication networks can occur in the name of progress, however, it does not have to involve eradicating the activities and liveliness of areas that are less urbanised or less developed.

What do you think? Where do you stand regarding this issue? Does more development equate to the loss of more public space, in your opinion?

Until next time,

The Urban Travellers

References:

[1] http://nidco.co.tt/new/index.php/our-projects/ongoing-projects/78-san-fernando-to-point-fortin-highway.html 

[2] http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2014-10-05/remember-issue-accountability

[3] https://buildingcommunities.nd.edu/news/11213-urban-classics-4-finding-lost-space/

The Black Carpet

 

Today’s urban travellers will be taking you on a journey on the ‘Black Carpet’. Many of you may feel a bit confused by today’s topic as it may seem that we will be travelling on a carpet like Aladdin did. Unfortunately, that is not the case, this Black Carpet which we speak of is the highways of Trinidad. Many of you are familiar with how a highway looks and have travelled via the highway. But, what is a highway, what is its purpose? Simply put, a highway is somewhat similar to a main road or a pathway that connects towns and cities. In Trinidad, there are six highways. Each of the highways are located and built to facilitate access to and from different locations. 

 

First, there is the Uriah Butler Highway, constructed in 1958 and initially named The Princess Margaret Highway, is a major highway which connects North-South bounds of Trinidad. The highway route begins from Cham Fleur to Chaguanas and continues until it meets Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and crosses the Churchill Roosevelt highway in Valsayn. After several years the highway was then renamed after one of our Nation’s Historical icon, Tubal Uriah Butler in 1988.

Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler (1897-1977)

Image Source- www.nalis.gov.tt

Then we have the Churchill Roosevelt Highway which connects between the east-west of Trinidad. Built in 1941, the Churchill Roosevelt Highway begins at Barataria in Western Trinidad and joins with the Beetham Highway and continues through Wallerfield in the east until the former US Army base in Fort Read. Thirdly, there is the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway. The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway is a four-lane highway which was constructed in the early 1970’s. the highway connects from Chaguanas to San Fernando where is meets the Uriah Butler Highway. The forth highway of Trinidad is the Beetham Highway. The Beetham highway is known as one of the most major highways of Trinidad, extending from Barataria and into down town Port Of Spain. The highway was first constructed in 1955. Lastly there is the Audrey Jeffers Highway. The highway was named after another one of our nation’s icons who was a social worker and the first female member of the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago. The Audrey Jeffers Highway begins from west Port Of Spain to Cocorite and the Western Main Road in St. James. 

 

A vast majority of Trinidad is dependent on automobiles, thus stemming from the previous post, infrastructure and the management of transport systems and routes are indeed important. If these factors are not taken seriously it can lead to several problems such as road accidents, traffic congestion and even pollution.

The highway is one of the most active transport routes in Trinidad however there have been two alarming issues faced by our citizens.

Safety

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, in the previous year, 2015 there have been a total of 143 fatal road accidents. The highway has claimed the lives of so many people over the past few years. The reason for so many highway accidents stems from various factors such as drinking and driving, distractions such as the use of cellular or technological devices while driving, speeding, aggressive driving and even to a greater extent weather conditions. Of all these factors, both drinking and driving have accounted for the majority of the loss of lives. 

The issues of highway accidents have become such a grave issue in Trinidad that many companies and other organizations such as Arrive Alive are urging citizens to pay attention while driving and to cease drinking while driving. These organization have even tried reaching out to drivers on the highway with the use of billboards as a reminder as they are on the nation’s roads. Road accidents have always been a crucial issue in Trinidad as in previous times it has claimed the lives of many citizens including some of our important icons such as Onika Bostic- Soca Artist (2004) and Giselle Salandy- Boxer (2009) and even the lives of twins, Khertima and Khadijah( 2013) and Kafiya Gill (2013) and many more. Given this, there have been many attempts and management strategies to reduce the number of road accidents.

Congestion

The issue of congestion have always been a problem in Trinidad especially on the highways. However, there have been trends in the location of congestion on highways. Many can attest to the fact that the majority of highway congestion occurs either between the hours of 7 A.M and 9 A M and in the evening between the hours of 3 P.M and 5 P.M. the reason for this is due to the mobility of citizens at these hours either going to and from work or school. Much have been done to remedy this issue, for example, the Priority Bus Route. But, unfortunately we are still faced with the congestion issue. Imagine the frustration of trying to get home before it is dark or trying to reach for an appointment and stuck in traffic. UGH!

The video below, as you can see in the evening, traffic flow is extremely slow and can be even worse in other areas.

                      Video showing evening traffic congestion on the Uriah Butler Highway

Building more roads would not exactly solve the problem because here we have a large group of people leaving their jobs or schools at the same time, moving towards same destinations which are indeed a recipe for disaster. Cites are supposed to be for citizens, not avoided by them. Therefore, much focus should be on the planning of cities rather than just away in which Trinidad can be developed. If we really critically look at cities in Trinidad and the issues faced as we develop, as a consequent result we face even more issues.

Links-

1. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-12-25/new-trend-road-deaths
2. http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Biographies/BiographiesAC/tabid/100/Default.aspx?PageContentID=259

Transportation Infrastructure in Cities

    When we speak of transportation infrastructures we think of the framework of our transport systems. We then take into consideration how roads are structured for multiple purposes. Since cities are known to have such an important role in several countries including ours as they are the location of jobs factories and businesses , due to this transport infrastructure contributes to the overall functioning of the city. The best cities are known to have the best transport infrastructures which support their cities. But, what is transport infrastructure and why is it necessary. According to European Commission, transport infrastructure means all the routed and fixed installations of the 3 modes of transport. In each country, transportation infrastructure differs greatly from one another. Given this, todays following blog will be mainly focused on road transportation infrastructure in Trinidad.

   By now we should understand that have a large population growth, along with this, public transport systems are ageing and becoming inefficient and unable to provide the transport needs of the people and their daily rapid mobility. Transport plays a key role in increasing economic activities especially in cities thereby increasing and improving their productivity and connectivity also by extension, reducing travelling time. Major urban areas such as Port of Spain, San Fernando and Chaguanas are known for their high and intensive economic activities. Therefore proper transportation infrastructures can indeed facilitate the transportation of goods and people. However, over recent and present times transport infrastructures have been neglected which have led to several crisis.

But, why and what are the reasons for the occurrence of transport crisis? Could it be that local government have been making terrible planning decisions? If this is the case what can be some solutions?

    Along with an increase in population as mentioned in a previous blog, more roads lead to more cars on the roads thus there will be more traffic congestion. Many have proposed that the construction of the rapid rail will and can address the transportation infrastructure and function issues in Trinidad. However, in a newspaper article entitled ‘Rail won’t solve congestion’,  Dr. Rae Furlonge, a traffic and transport engineer argued that solving a traffic problem with a transport solution is not a solution. He also argued that the rapid rail will be unreliable considering that it consumes a lot of energy in order to function. Now, know that Trinidad is the country of OIL and ENERGY but what if there’s it a power outage? What will be do? Also considering that the rapid rail will be functioning at peak hours of citizen activity throughout the city of Port of Spain there will unproductive days of businesses, firms and organization employees then as some would say ‘Crapo Smoke We Pipe’. So by this we can see why there is no rapid rail presently as many would have objected to the idea.

     However, what our transport system and infrastructure really needs is proper management. We do not need more roads and we do not need more systems to give us the belief that we are somewhat developing. We need to make our transport systems and infrastructures for attractive for our citizens to use. We need to find more incentives to lure them into utilizing the different transportation systems provided. We need to manage and improve our roads instead of constructing more. We need to find alternative in making the city and transportation within the city more comfortable for our citizens.

How do we plan and manage our transport infrastructures?

                                                               

                               

Use of GIS-

According to ESRI, ‘Being able to visualize your assets and the surrounding environment when you build, upgrade, or repair transportation infrastructure helps you prioritize your work and make the right decisions.’

    Now this may not be the only method by which we can manage our transportation infrastructure but it can solve the majority of our management issues. The extensive and proper use of GIS can facilitate the planning process of transport infrastructure. As a result, there can be more collection of data and information to aid in the decision making processes. This may have addressed what Dr. Rae Furlonge claims that there is a shortage of data collection of the mobility of people from different areas and improper mapping systems.

   Another way in which transport infrastructure can be addressed is by critically focusing on infrastructure for public transport, pedestrian facilities and urban systems infrastructures. Therefore there must be timely maintenance of the division of road ways for both large and small vehicles and there should be increased focus, management and security on transport routes which are supposed to facilitate transportation woes. Also the position, of road signs need to be properly managed and monitored for any form of destruction doe to it and its positioning for drivers to easily view them. Planners and transportation organization should therefore take into consideration the needs and comfort of citizens in order to facilitate the functioning of the city and by extension the entire country.

Links- http://www.esri.com/library/brochures/pdfs/transportation-infrastructure.pdf

          http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-08-07/rail-won%E2%80%99t-solve-congestion-0

Efficiency of Transportation in Cities

    Trinidad, a country whose main form of economic activities include industrialization and tourism, heavily depends on transportation especially within cities. Cities are known for their high population densities and heavy economic activities. With this in mind, in such cities as Port of Spain and San Fernando and towns such as Chaguanas, there must be a provision of reliable and efficient transportation systems that can be accessed by those in theses urban areas. Transportation and planning have evolved greatly over the years in order to make spaces more accessible and liveable for citizens.

   In the cities and towns of Trinidad there are several modes of transportation which include buses, maxis, taxis and water taxis. Today’s blog will further discuss the efficiency of these different modes of transportation available to our population.

 Buses- PTSC

The PTSC provides a vast variety of services to the population of Trinidad and Tobago. These services include:

·         1.   National bus transportation services

·        2.   Charter bus service

·        3. Contracted School Transport Service

·        4.  Advertising space for the public

·        5. Specialized Transport Services

·       6.  Rental of commercial space

·       7.  Engineering services to the Caribbean region 

           The PTSC operates on a ticket system by which ticket of several prices can be bought at any PTSC station location or even at grocery stores and it operates on a daily schedule.  The PTSC is known for its safety and efficiency provided to our citizens. The PTCS is also focused on providing services to their customers especially the employee driven population. Additionally they are known to provide services for the elderly population. The efficiency of the PTSC stems from its ability to provide transportation at the most suitable times at a low cost. In relation to the provision of transportation services to an employee driven population, travelling to cities where their jobs are located, the PTSC have been considered to be one of the most cost efficient and safe modes of transportation.

   The PTSC operates within certain hours on a daily basis. The hours at which they operate are considered to be efficient for the working class population and for students, when other modes of transportation fails to provide services either due to their cost and availability. The PTSC also provides comfortable transportation services. Imagine someone working from a time period of 9AM to 4PM in the bustling and noisy city, after a long day’s work that individual will be craving comfort and relaxation by which the PTSC provides with the use of air-conditioned, spacious and comfortable seats for passengers.

 Stemming from the accessibility of transportation services provided to the elderly population. Elderly citizens can access the PTSC bus services by simply presenting their national identification cards to the bus drivers. The PTSC also provides Transportation for students. The image below shows the PTSC bus at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine. The bus services are used by student on a daily basis because it a cheaper. Most student use the buses to return to their homes on weekends.

             Operation of the PTSC at the University of the West Indies.

Besides the provision of services to employees, student and the elderly, the PTSC can also be accessed by incapacitated citizens. These citizens do not travel on normal buses are the rest of the population would but there are specialized buses made specifically for incapacitated citizens. In all, the PTCS attempts to provide transportation for all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago within cities, towns and urban regions.

Link for PTSC Departure schedule and prices- http://www.ptsc.co.tt/Tickets_and_Travel_.html

http://www.ptsc.co.tt/City_Service_.html

 Maxis.....

Maxi taxi services are privately owner operated modes of transportation in Trinidad. Maxis are like mini buses that offer services to different routes of transportation across Trinidad. Unlike the PTSC buses instead of picking up passengers at bus stop, maxis operate by stopping and picking up passengers along the road and there are no designated bus top. The prices are almost as reasonable as the PTSC. Also, Unlike the PTSC, the maxi taxi service is not only available to the urban population but it reaches even to rural areas such as Moruga, Indian walk, Guayaguayare and Point Fortin in attempt to facilitate transportation from rural to urban areas.

    The maxi taxis operate in different areas in Trinidad, due to this each maxi taxi operating in several areas can be identified based on the colour of their bands. The Maxi taxis and their area identification is indicated below.
POS- Arima- Sangre Grande- Red Band
POS- Diego Martin- Yellow Band
POS- San Fernando- Curepe- Green Band
San Fernando- Princes Town- Mayaro- Black Band
South of San Fernando (Point Fortin, Cedros, Siparia)- Brown Band

                             San Fernando Maxi Stand in Princes Town.

Princes Town Maxi Stand for the Areas of New Grant, St. Mary’s, Moruga, Tableland and Rio Claro.

Chaguanas Maxi Stand in San Fernando

Taxis......

Taxis in Trinidad and Tobago have an extremely high efficiency and is one of the most used modes of transportation throughout the country. Taxis fall under private ownership and times of operation can change depending on the driver, but usually operate during the working hours or 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. This mode of transportation is in as much high demand as maxis and PTSC buses simply due to the fact that some individuals do not own personal cars and have no personal mode of transportation and so they require transportation to and from their journeys on a daily basis. Taxis operate throughout many streets in the country and collect passengers at any point or passengers would assemble at taxis stands and then be taken to their destinations.

                                              Rio Claro Taxi Stand in Princes Town.

Water Taxi.....

The Water Taxi is the most recent mode of transportation in Trinidad and was introduced by the Government in 2008. Want a fun and exciting way to get from one part of the country to another? I recommend the water taxi. This mode of transportation was introduced to alleviate traffic congestion and aid citizens travelling from the North to the South of Trinidad, specifically from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando. This mode of transportation is extremely efficient as its travel time between destinations is around 45 minutes. This aids citizens from the North-West of Trinidad or even along the East-West corridor who have jobs in the Southern parts of the country and vice versa. The Water taxi rate is $15.00 for a one-way ticket and a child below the age of one or an elder citizen over the age of 65 are allowed to travel for free on the Water Taxi and its earliest departure is at 6:00 am from San Fernando and its latest departure is at 5:30 pm from Port-of-Spain, while having other shifts throughout the day.

These forms of transportation allow people to live freely, wherever they choose, while having accessibility to the cities and towns where they may have jobs, families to visit or for something as simple as recreation. These modes of transportation mentioned above are fast, convenient and essential to citizens in their daily lives. Rachel Kyle (2016), the vice-president of sustainable development at the World Bank proposed that public transport is a huge benefit to people of the lower class as it would allow them more opportunities as opposed to settling for job opportunities nearer to where they reside (usually in walking distance) and provides them with more access to education, health and recreation. Some people may disagree as they prefer the comfort of their own vehicles but I would personally urge people to take public transport; it's faster, less pollution and you'll save gas money!

Public Transportation Works!

Links: http://www.global-briefing.org/2012/07/a-good-public-transport-system-must-be-easy-and-convenient-to-use-fast-safe-clean-and-affordable/