Conclusion

Looking back on this blog, I find that I have managed to touch upon most of the issues that were raised in the introduction. My interests and perspectives obviously changed during the last two months, going from studying transit security to the impacts of the Canada Line, but the main idea still revolved around the operation of the transit system in the Lower Mainland and how it has and will impact the people and the city as a whole.

The wide array of articles and stories that I have come across throughout my research and readings has proven that public transit is a central component when studying cities and it goes to show the importance of proper urban governance, planning and implementation. Transit issues, whether they are decisions to install multi-million dollar security cameras or turnstiles, or whether they involve the long-term planning of a town centre or rapid transit line, require extensive research, strategies and discussions within both the public and private spheres before action can be taken. However, once action is taken, it is usually permanent, resulting in the spending of huge amounts of capital, thus emphasizing further the importance of good, sound planning.

The impact of a transit system on a city is definitely profound. A well designed system can greatly help with the functionality and efficiency of a city, whereas a poorly planned system can have adverse effects and can even impede a city’s development. With a good transit system, not only will a city’s economy thrive, but it will also spur the growth of various residential communities and neighbourhoods, the outward sprawl of a city (outlying suburbs and municipalities) as well as the development of more sustainable and ‘greener’ public spaces.

Also, better transit services could encourage more people to take public transit, thereby easing congestion on the road and reducing pollution and consumption of fossil fuels. This would in turn have a positive impact on the transit system, as more money would be spent to improve bus routes, expand the bus fleet and rapid transit lines, increase security and safety measures, build better bus shelters and so on.

Therefore, one must not overlook the importance and the immense challenges that come with creating a safe, efficient and sustainable transit system when studying and planning cities.