METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND LARGE CENTRAL CITIES: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Transportation systems in large American central cities are in general sub-optimal. The political and institutional context in the United States does not favor successful urban transportation policy. However, as a result of recent federal transportation legislation, and initiatives lead by large central cities some improvements have been made. The purpose of this paper is to examine what actions have taken place to improve this situation, particularly as it relates to the metropolitan planning process, and what lessons might be derived that are relevant to the transportation systems in large cities in the developing world.