Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit Systems as a means of achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Manila Gonzales, Faith Anna Guzman, Rose Mary Ann Ritual, Raven Siy, Goldwin SUSDEVT A51 INTRODUCTION Public Transport or Mass Transport includes all available and accessible modes or means of transport services such as buses, coaches, domestic air and rail transport systems including taxis and other private-hired vehicles (White, 2009). These are commonly provided by the states (national governments) and/or by private corporation or companies for the people or the general public (Glover, 2011). In the modern day society, the need for public transportation systems enable the people to continue on with their everyday tasks (i.e. for work or to attend school). In the perspective of sustainable development, public transportation systems goes beyond the delivery of people from one place to another. Its impact on the economy has also been widely recognized by local and international states along with its contribution to human welfare and effects on the environment (World Bank, 2014). Benefits or Advantages of Rail Transit Systems Internationally Most of the countries have experienced several economic problems when the global financial crisis began. Transportation itself has been greatly affected by the crisis resulting to people losing their jobs, operating costs are too high posing several economic difficulties and companies began to compete for survival as global trade starts to decrease affecting possible sources of financial means or income of most companies (Yildirim, 2009). For this reason, the option to establish transport systems which have low operating costs and can generate job opportunities for the people was taken into consideration. The economy of the country is often determined by the productivity of individuals contributing to the growth and development of the economy. In order for the economy to be sustainable, different factors are needed to achieve a sustainable development not only for the economy for the country as well. Rail Transit Systems (or transportation systems in general) plays an important role in the continuous cycle or processes within the economy. In our modern society, problems on road congestions and traffic are major issues faced by everyday motorists and its becoming worse each year because a lot of people are into buying private automobile transportations instead of using public transports. In recent studies, rail transit systems are seen as an effective solution to relieve congestion in cities, especially in areas where there are large population (Bombardier, 2014). One economic benefit of rail transit systems is reduction on average travel time. Less travel time for working individuals are considered as an advantage for them to have greater time for productivity because their time for travelling is reduced and therefore they have more time to work and produce either goods or services for the people. Time is considered as the most important factor to take note of because it measures the capability and efficiency of working individuals to provide or produce services and goods for the public (Vickerman, n.d) In the United States of America, transportation alone contributes to a large percentage on the country’s total gross domestic product. In their case, transportation-related goods and services accounted for more than 10 percent of the countries GDP (as of year 2002) and it continues to grow as transportation systems continually improves and become more and more modernized (OST-R et. al, n.d). Another economic benefit of having rail transit systems is generation of employment. Just like other forms of public transportation systems, rail transit systems need the use of human capital or labour for the system to function. Employment opportunities are given to the public when rail transit systems are established and usually the typical types of job given to the people are for management, maintenance, and operation of the system. Low costs or fares (rates) including operation costs are also considered as one of the economic benefits of rail transit systems (Cascajo, n.d). In the midst of several economic problems and how do rail systems contribute in providing solutions to these problems, the presence of social concerns or issues should also be taken into consideration when looking at sustainable development. One problem that needs to be resolved across different countries is the presence of “Mobility Gaps” or the difference on mobility within the population wherein the higher the income, the higher the mobility an individual receives and there are also concerns on “Gender Gaps” in mobility because women are given much lower incomes than men receives (Rodrigue, 2014). Rail Transit Systems have social impacts or changes in the society. One of the know social benefit of rail transit systems recognized by individuals working on sustainable development is the promotion of Social Equity. Our society is composed of individuals or groups that have different capacities or capabilities in terms of resources, not all people can afford to buy private automobile cars for their use that is why public transportation systems should be available for those who aren’t capable of having their own modes of transportation. With lower costs or rates, rail transit systems provide an alternative for the people (average to vulnerable groups of people) to use in order to travel from one place to another. It is not necessary for an individual to be wealthy or poor as long as he or she is able to pay the fixed rates or costs (which are practically affordable) set by the rail transit system (Cascajo, n.d). Rail transit systems also promote “Urban Regeneration” in which local redevelopment is integrated to the overall development of the city. It redevelops the cities’ current state wherein the presence of deprived areas are evident and provide an avenue for them to improve their access on physical, social and economic needs of the population although approaches or ways on how to achieve urban regeneration varies from one country to another (Eurocities, 2013). Aside from addressing issues on economic and social aspects, rail transit systems also contribute in providing solutions to lessen environmental problems that are currently present in this modern generation. One of the major problems we have today is the Global Climate Change. The gradual changes that have occurred in the global climate is caused by excessive emissions of carbon dioxides coming from combustion engines of our cars and other automobile goods. According to Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, “In most urban regions, about 50% of all air pollution emanates from automobile traffic” and because of this, a lot of cardiovascular diseases are evident in areas where air pollution is rampant. According to the UIC Rail Freight Reports, there have been massive changes to the present day environment situation in countries which have rail transit systems, especially those rail transit operators which already shifted in using magnetic levitation and electricity from using steam engines. One of the major environmental impact of rail transit systems is its contribution to climate change. Recent studies presented that traveling by rail had reduced carbon emissions (3 - 5 times less carbon emissions) than air and road transports. This radical contribution to climate change (less pollution) provided a positive perspective for countries to start investing in rail transit systems as primary mode of public transportation (UIC, 2009). Light Rail Transit Systems I. Japan’s Rail Transit System Japan’s railway system started in the 1970s to 1980s, it adapted quickly to the demand of the population of Japan and eventually the railway system became privatized. It started its official operation in April of 1987 when the Japan Railway Company separated from the Japanese National Railway (JNR). Over 27,000km is covered by the railroad system of Japan, the three main metros that connected the big cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka were the most successful in terms of the privatization of the railway system. While the other provinces outside of these major cities were still under the hold of the government and some were open for investment to different players of the transportation market. This transit system serves as the most effectively used transportation scheme by most of the people in Japan, in the year of 2006 it was used over 22 billion times which makes it one of the busiest train systems in the world. All in all, Japan has 174 railway operations and its main goal is to provide the best and most reliable service for the people of Japan. It also aims to support the most secure way of transportation and also promote community development for the country. Because of the effectiveness of connection all the cities in Japan, it makes information and business faster in the process that leads to the promotion of the economic state of the nation. Japanese government and the private sector handling the transportation system is continuously striving to improve the services of their country by making it more safe, more efficient, the most punctual with the least hassle for the population availing of the service. One example is through increasing the number of platforms and by enhancing the conventional lines, and by replacing the old stocks of the railroads. The railway system of Japan is said to help in their productivity. This makes everything faster for the citizens, especially those who work in far places, or for those who meet up with people for businesses, it definitely saves time for them. Japan’s railway transit is oftenly used by the people rather than using cars and other modes of transportation; this is because their railway transit ensures them a faster and a better service when going from one place to another. Their railway transit is said to have an average time of 1 minute delay, and just that.