Urban Transportation Policy Evolution (1944-present)

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Urban Transportation Policies Evolution (1944 – Present)

Sanya Niumpradit
Ph.D. Student
Urban Transportation Center (MC 357)
University of Illinois at Chicago
412 S. Peoria St. Suite 340
Chicago, IL 60607
(Telephone) 312-996-4820
(Fax) 312-413-0006
(E-mail) [e-mail]

Abstract
The evolution of transportation policy has been marked by periods of continuity and change. In some periods, some certain transportation policies emerged at the top of the agenda. At other times, they were eclipsed by other needs, but still floated around and waited to be put on the agenda again.
In addition to competing with other public needs, there has been tension between different aspects of transportation policy. The competition between policy aspects has resulted in constant changes in the policy area. While there was some agreement during the periods when transportation policy remained constant, there were also some disagreements emerging from time to time whether some changes should take place. This paper will discuss how different transportation policies emerged, how they evolved, and how they changed overtime.
There are two kinds of agendas discussed in the paper: a government agenda and a decision agenda. The factors that contribute to an agenda setting are described. All these factors will explain how and why an agenda is set in the way it is.
The discussion of transportation policies will focus on two broad and competing policies. One of them aims to address the supply side of transportation problems. It is called a supply management policy.
Another policy is the policy, which focuses on addressing the demand side of the problems. It is also referred to a demand management policy.
To analyze the agenda setting for transportation policy and its evolution, this paper will present a framework which categorizes transportation evolution into three stages (between 1944 and present): an initial condition, a period of disturbances, and a period

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