Tehran METRO Company

METROS: BACKBONE OF DYNAMIC SOCIETIES AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES

MOHAMMAD MONTAZERI, PH.D., Director of Coordination Office of the International Association of Public Transport in I.R. of Iran (UITP)

In the beginning, metro systems were designed to respond to huge trip volumes in populated cities. However, later these systems could show their attractiveness to politicians, working groups and citizens.

Metro systems could prove their extra ordinary ability to mobilize increasing urban population with minimum negative effects on the environment. Moreover, metros have contributed greatly to urban  economy and better quality of life. Metros are one of the effective long time investment necessities to realize sustainable, smart and resilient cities.

In 2017, metro systems carried about 53 billion passengers in 178 cities of the world. This tremendous capacity for carrying passengers, provides important economic and social impacts. Considering 1.3 passengers per car, metros eliminate 115 million cars per day in cities. In general, metro systems are safe, comfortable and environment friendly. 

On the other hand, construction of metro networks is complicated, needs great investments and long range planning.

 The conclusion is that the development of metro systems has been very successful in the past 30 years. Development, construction and operation of traditional and automated urban metro systems will continue in the future.∎