ABSTRACT
The casual observations of American travelers reflect the fact that, with respect to livability and physical and social conditions, most US cities are inferior to the cities in its peer countries. Within most metropolitan areas, there are significant differences among cities, townships, and counties in their taxation rates, employment opportunities, income levels, school quality, safety, and other elements that constitute their overall livability. A number of elements comprising livability of an area depend, directly or indirectly, on the type and quality of its transportation system. As a system, however, the automobile-truck-highway transportation system led to the progressive dispersal of cities and to excessive vehicular travel volumes, which created negative impacts on the urban environment, both natural and man-made. The national government of Australia has a “Better Cities Program” which incorporates a set of policies coordinating urban form and intermodal transportation systems.
