ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses transportation problems in metropolitan areas. It covers government transportation policies and the effect of those policies. It focuses on the public transportation and issues of mobility for low-income people. Some recommendations are made for improving mobility. The chapter explores holistic, regional approach to transportation is essential to coordinate and facilitate the movement of goods and people around the metropolis, and to achieve an acceptable quality of life. Traffic congestion and increased time spent in automobiles are considered major social costs of sprawl and negatively affect the quality of life as well as the environment. Although the major use of public transportation is for the commute to work, with 54 percent of riders using it for that purpose, the vast majority of workers do not use public transportation. Rising populations in metropolitan regions will mean more traffic congestion, urban sprawl, and pollution unless these regions can offer a high level of comprehensive and integrated public transportation services.
