Presentation on income disparity in gta

Running Head: INCOME DISPARITY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA

INCOME DISPARITY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA 2

Atul Upadhyay

University of Texas at Arlington

Student ID: 1002111800

Student Email: [email protected]

Course Details: Plan 5327/4395

Green Cities & Transportation

Prof. Ariadna Reyes-Sanchez (She/Her)

Research Project Proposal

Feb 24, 2023

Income Disparity and Public Transportation in the Greater Toronto Area

Research Objectives

General Objective 

This research explores the relationship between income disparity and public transportation in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This research examines how income inequality affects people's ability to access reliable and affordable public transportation, an essential aspect of social and economic mobility. The study will examine the factors contributing to income inequality in Toronto and how they affect public transportation use, such as housing affordability, job opportunities, and city planning policies. The research will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence public transportation use and how this can be improved to create more equitable and sustainable transportation systems by examining this relationship.

Specific Case Study

The specific case study for this project is the GTA, a highly diverse region home to nearly 7 million people. Despite its economic success, the region struggles with high levels of income inequality, which can significantly impact access to public transportation. The study will analyze how income inequality affects access to public transportation in the city and its impact on economic and social outcomes. The study will specifically investigate how income levels affect public transportation use, including factors such as frequency of use, mode of transportation, and travel time. The study will also examine how public transportation infrastructure, such as bus and subway routes, is distributed throughout the city and how this affects access for low-income residents. This study’s findings will help address income disparities and improve public transportation in Toronto, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and sustainable urban environment.

Research Question: How can the GTA's public transportation be improved to reduce income inequality and better serve low-income communities?

Literature Sources/References

1. Relevant sources to explore what we know about income disparity and public transportation:

Barri, E. Y., Farber, S., Kramer, A., Jahanshahi, H., Allen, J., & Beyazit, E. (2021). Can transit investments in low-income neighbourhoods increase transit use? Exploring the nexus of income, car-ownership, and transit accessibility in Toronto.  Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment,  95, 102849.

Buliung, R. N., Mitra, R., & Faulkner, G. (2009). Active school transportation in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada: an exploration of trends in space and time (1986–2006).  Preventive medicine,  48(6), 507-512.

Foth, N., Manaugh, K., & El-Geneidy, A. M. (2013). Towards equitable transit: examining transit accessibility and social need in Toronto, Canada, 1996–2006.  Journal of transport geography,  29, 1-10.

Hulchanski, J. D. (2010). The three cities within Toronto.  Toronto: Cities Centre.

Young, M., Allen, J., & Farber, S. (2020). Measuring when Uber behaves as a substitute or supplement to transit: An examination of travel-time differences in Toronto.  Journal of Transport Geography,  82, 102629.

2. Relevant sources to explore examples of sustainable transport initiatives in other contexts:

Balaban, O., & Puppim de Oliveira, J. A. (2022). Finding sustainable mobility solutions for shrinking cities: the case of Toyama and Kanazawa.  Journal of Place Management and Development,  15(1), 20-39.

Banister, D., & Hickman, R. (2013). Transport futures: Thinking the unthinkable.  Transport Policy,  29, 283-293.

Gudmundsson, H., Hall, R. P., Marsden, G., & Zietsman, J. (2016). Sustainable transportation.  Heidelberg, Germany and Frederiksberg, Denmark, Spreinger-Verlag and Samfundslitteratur.

Yusoff, I., Ng, B. K., & Azizan, S. A. (2021). Towards sustainable transport policy framework: A rail-based transit system in Klang Valley, Malaysia.  PloS one,  16(3), e0248519.