Welcome to Aalborg University

Mette Nielsenmetten@plan.aau.dk

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL AND LOCAL CONCEPTS OF LIGHT RAIL THROUGH NARRATIVES

Background

How can the effects of Light Rail in Middle-sized European cities be explained?

My Curiosity…

(Saxe, 1868)

The Liveable city

Struggle for space

Backbone for the public transport network

"Light-rail Factor"

Growth

Sustainability

Restriction of car access

Economical feasibility

Choice of technology

Global Discourses

From Global to Local

Figure developed with inspiration in (Tait & Jensen, 2007)

The Central Claim

Clear concepts steers light rail projects efficiently through the political process, and structures the expected outcome.

Bergen Light Rail

The most heavily discussed project in 15 years

(Hartmann, Lampe, Monsen, & Prestmo, 2006) (Rasmussen, 2011)

(Rasmussen, 2011)

Stories of Bergen Light Rail

- The Environmental project

- The Urban Project

- The non viable project (economically, and technically)

- The fairytale project

The end project

- a compromise

Local concepts

City Concept/Vision Initiatives

Bern WestSwitzerland

Mental regeneration and urban development

"The tram belongs to the future"

•Establishment of a new shopping centre•New housing areas•Regeneration

FreiburgGermany

Mobility, reduce individual motorised transport

"umsteigen, umdenken"

•Hubs• Car-free developments• Pedestrian zones• Park n' ride

AngersFrance

Urban regeneration

"My tramway"

• Mobile urban spaces• Identity • Shared space

NottinghamEngland

Accessibility

"Glide into Nottingham"

• Separated tracks• On existing rail infrastructure

BergenNorway

Life in the collective city • Transit oriented development• Combined journeys

Question for discussion

Which implications does 'global concepts' have for planning on the local level?

Thank you for your attention!Mette Nielsen, metten@plan.aau.dk