‘Swift Rail’—funding local rail transit through smarter growth

Abstract

Many medium-size cities suffer from severe traffic congestion and poor accessibility, limiting their potential to improve their economy, environment, and social equity. These problems could be addressed by creating high-quality transit linking such cities with suburban and other catchment areas through use of existing rail lines and abandoned former railway alignments. This concept, termed ‘Swift Rail’, would call for an innovative approach to local railway and transport development.

Keywords:

• Development land
• funding infrastructure
• housing
• railways
• tackling congestion

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reg Harman

Reg Harman is a consultant in public transport development, especially rail systems and the potential lessons from continental Europe.

Nicholas Falk

Nicholas Falk founded research and consultancy company URBED in 1976. He won the 2014 Wolfson Economics Prize for showing how to build viable and visionary new garden cities.