Increasing calls for zero-carbon cities invite transformative solutions
for people and places within our cities around the world. Key to the transformation
is cities and regions shifting in mobility away from fossil-fuel based
car-oriented solutions. The paper investigates a range of case studies where “tram-based
boulevards” have been planned or implemented to provide such opportunities. The case
studies share a common broader policy objective: to transform the car-oriented
or car-saturated areas to an intensified urban template based on a critical
presence of dedicated mid-tier transit infrastructure and active transport. “Trams”, or
mid-tier, mid-capacity transit when combined with Transit oriented development
(TOD) along whole corridors can provide transformative pathways towards
zero-carbon outcomes as well as multiple, strong urban benefits. However, many
successful or instructive examples of this practice from non-English speaking
countries, particularly in Europe, are underdocumented in the international
literature. The paper addresses this gap by investigating opportunities and
challenges evident in a range of European case studies. These are explored for
insight towards policy learning particularly in New World cities seeking to
transform into a zero-carbon and more transit-oriented template: How can
decision-makers avoid repeating the identified pitfalls, and instead focus on
emulating the successful approaches and outcomes?
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