Transportation PoliciesTransportation PoliciesWhy is public transit in Zurich the way it is today?

•1970s- Vehicular traffic and congestion ruled.

•1973- Proposal for Underground

•Why was this voted down? Was cost the only issue?

•The People’s Initiative for the Promotion of Public Transportation

Transportation Master PlansTransportation Master Plans• 1974

– Limit vehicular traffic, improve public transit• 1987

– Reduce traffic in residential areas, restrict parking, encourage use of public transit

• 2001– Optimize and integrate system, look for new

innovations, implementation of public transit in new road construction

Zurich Versus ConnecticutZurich Versus Connecticut• 5 out of 9 of ConnDOT’s guiding principles

refer to the business operations of the DOT

• Their mobility principle is very vague and provides no real guidelines for improvement

• Focus is still on the car and how to move more individual vehicles

•Promoting a fast and attractive public transport•Reduction of motor vehicle transport•Traffic calming in residential areas•Reduction of private car parking space•Policies for environmentally friendly modes

Sustainable Transportation ApproachSustainable Transportation Approach

Evaluation of Zurich’s SystemEvaluation of Zurich’s SystemZurich (2002) – 31.5km Switzerland (2000) – 48km

Average daily distance traveled by each person over 6 years old:

Evaluation of HartfordEvaluation of HartfordMode of Transportation to Work:

• Hartford • Connecticut (2002)

ComparisonComparisonZurich - 371,000 (2007) Hartford - 124,000 (2006)

$56,000 GDP per Capita $26,000383.57 million Annual Passenger

Miles62.28 million

6 per 100,000 people Traffic Fatalities for 2007

9 per 100,000 people

9 t/yr (for Switzerland)(Long-term objective= 1t/yr)

Average CO2 Emissions per capita

≈12 t/yr (for CT)

PRIORITY OF CHEAPER, CLEANER, AND MORE PRIORITY OF CHEAPER, CLEANER, AND MORE EFFICIENT MODESEFFICIENT MODES

HARTFORD: NO transit priority program.

Implementing one can improve:

speed of transit service

frequency of arrivals

reliability of service

cost of trips

FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT • Frequent intervals • Reliable• Fast • Clean and not too crowded• Safe• Network is very large • Inexpensive and discount

ticket programs for frequent users

DISINCENTIVE FOR DRIVING• Lack of parking• High parking fees• Roadway congestion and delays

Commuting from a nearby suburb of Zurich to downtown Zurich can be 61% more expensive by car than public transportation

Preference for Walkers & BikersPreference for Walkers & BikersNeighborhoods are adapting to suit pedestrians and bikers by:

-Widening sidewalks -Creating friendlier avenues

-Allowing bikes access to bus lanes-Limiting private vehicles in city

-Stops are close together

Inter-City TrainsInter-City TrainsHartford:

• 1 Main Station

• 1 Set of Tracks

• 2 Train Routes

• 14 Daily Arrivals and Departures

Zurich:

• 1 Main Station

• 16 Sets of Tracks

• 30+ Train Routes

• 884 Daily Arrivals and Departures

Intra-City TrainsIntra-City TrainsHartford:

• None

Zurich:

• S-Bahn

• 26 Routes

• 171 Stops

BusesBusesHartford:

• 30 Routes

• 12 Express Routes

• 15 Min Average Wait Time

Zurich:

• 33 Routes

• 7 Min Average Wait Time

TramsTramsHartford:

• None

Zurich:

• 13 Tram Routes

• 70 Miles of Tracks

• Half a Million Passengers per Day

Walking and BikingWalking and BikingHartford:

• Limited Bike Lanes

• Little Pedestrian Amenities

Zurich:

• 4ft Wide Bike Lanes

• Wide Attractive Sidewalks

Ferry Service on Lake ZurichFerry Service on Lake Zurich• Added Bonus for Zurich

• Multiple ports

Access and MobilityAccess and Mobility

Toggle Roads Toggle Roads

Hartford, CT Zürich, Switzerland

Car Foot Transit TotalParadeplatz (Parade Plaza)

Point 1 - 2.3km 6 1 6 7 Helvetiaplatz

Point 2 - 2.6km 6 0 9 9 Feldeggstrasse

Point 3 - 3km 8 1 10 11 Limmatplatz

Point 4 - 3.2km 7 1 10 11 Billoweg

Point 5 - 4 km 10 1 15 16 Siemens

Point 6 - 4km 8 1 14 15 Kinkelstrasse

Car Foot Transit Total State House Square

Point 1 - 2.3km 5 4 17 21 Colt Park

Point 2 - 2.6km 6 4 17 21 Naval Reserve (Near Brainard Airport)

Point 3 - 3km 4 12 6 18 Prospect Street

Point 4 - 3.2km 7 4 5 9 Trinity College

Point 5 - 4 km 8 5 22 27 Keney Park

Point 6 - 4km 8 24 10 34 Elizabeth Park (Near UConn)

Hartford has 84, 91, 44, and route 6

Zurich

Hartford

minutes

minutes

Average Human Walking Speed: 2.5mph

Car times from Google MapsTransit times from ZVV and CT-Transit Websites

Best City in the WorldBest City in the World“In (Zurich), the urge to own a car and avoid sharing a bus or train with stranger loses some of the urgency it may have in Los Angeles or London, thanks to Zurich's superlative tram network - clean, safe, warm and edifying in its punctuality and technical prowess. There is little reason to travel alone when, for only a few francs, an efficient, stately tramway will transport one across the city at a level of comfort an emperor would have envied." - Alain de Botton

ConclusionsConclusionsLessons Learned Hartford Zurich

1. Quality of Life2. Policy goals for the future3. Walkable infrastructure4. Efficient options5. Diversity of transportation6. Public approval7. Potential for change