The Civil Engineer And Urban Transportation

The growing transportation problem in urban areas is clearly evident in the historical trends and in the projections of every measureable element of the urban transportation system. The principal problems which stand in the way of the more rapid expansion of transportation facilities in urban areas are no longer those of a technological nature, but rather are related to the need for adequate financing. The civil engineer, charged with the ultimate responsibility for the satisfactory performance of transportation facilities, must establish himself in a role of leadership in the conception, design, financing, construction, and operation of transportation facilities. As a leader in the solution of the transportation problems of the future, the civil engineer must improve the technology associated with transportation planning, and learn more about financing and how to motivate the general public. He must work for an improvement in the stature of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) as a recognized medium of expression of advanced thinking and research findings, and give serious thought to the role of courses in transportation and urban planning in the civil engineering curriculum and the importance such courses play in training the civil engineer in the creation and accomplishment of urban transportation facilities.