Transportation and Telecommunications Networks: Planning Urban Infrastructure for the 21st Century

The availability, quality and use of telecommunications and transportation systems are keys to socio-economic development throughout the world over the next century, but the extent and diversity of use of these systems hinge crucially on the ease and quality of access to local networks by a diversity of users. Since commonly-used, these networks require public attention both to sustain an optimal level and to ensure the smooth integration of a variety of distances, modes and services. While for economic efficiency and technological development purposes it may be important to have private providers of individual components, the efficient planning, co-ordination and method of recovery of common network costs for the entire system require public oversight. Furthermore, the transportation and telecommunications systems interact, sometimes as substitutes, sometimes as complements, having long-run ramifications for the spatial configuration of economic activity and the long-term use of this infrastructure.