Study On Coordinated Development Of The Rail Transit And New Towns In Metropolitan Areas Of China From Multi-center Perspective

Under the influence of economic globalization, regional integration, and rapidurbanization, many metropolitan areas in China are in face of great pressure broughtby continuous and excessive development. It is an irreversible trend for cities totransform from monocentric structure to multicenter structure, in which city functionscan be shared by different centers. At the same time, the establishment of an efficientand convenient transportation system is necessary to meet the development need ofthe metropolis.For urban regions with dense population,“new towns” are the indispensible unitsin the multicenter space structure. The new towns will carry certain functions of themetropolis as well as promote the optimization of city function and space structure.Rail transit is the first choice for transportation because of its obvious advantage–fast,punctual, safe and large capacity. Practice has proved that the development of railtransit and new town is the prerequisite for establishing multicenter city structure, andit is the necessary condition for effective space operation when urbanization hasreached an advanced stage.Focusing on the question “how to realize the coordinated development of railtransit and new town”, this dissertation thoroughly studies the theories, methods andpractices of rail transit and new town development in major metropolis worldwide. Bya deep analysis and comparative research under the guidance of general laws ofspacial development, the author teases out the condition and problems of rail transitand new town development in China, and concludes the key factors for thecoordinated development of rail transit and new town.The dissertation analyzes the construction condition of new towns, the timing andtypes of rail transit construction, and proposes countermeasures for the coordinationof transit and new town in terms of timing sequence. Before construction, we shouldensure its feasibility, select the desirable rail type, and enhance the joint developmentof the two. The timing sequence should be decided by scientific methods.The internal and external rail transit lines of main urban areas differ greatly infunctional orientation and technical features. Based on the preferential development ofnew town cluster, the dissertation discusses the target speed value of external rail linesand makes a comprehensive study of station types, station distance, and area ofcoverage. Then a systematic analysis, which deals with new town spacial structure, types of land use, development intensity, and value of land usage, was made.Corresponding exploration suggestions are proposed by the author.The development of transit-oriented new towns can be manifested in thefollowing two ways–first, promote the gradient transfer of city functions through theconstruction of industrial space; second, cultivate new functions which are deficient inthe city. Proceeding from the overall industrial structure and integration of themetropolis, the new town should actively take over the transferred industries andbreed new industrial space by virtue of the convenient rail transit. Gradually, the newtowns can upgrade from industrial economy to service industry.By clarifying the goal of coordinated development of rail transit and new town,this dissertation proposed corresponding target system and theoretical method fromfive perspectives–industry, innovation, ecology, culture, and health. Thedevelopment condition and procedure of the spacial system are analyzed so as toprovide the basis for revealing causes of contradiction as well as for analyzingcoordinated management. Finally, the dissertation puts forward the integrationstrategy and planning methods for promoting the development of rail transit and newtown on two levels–region and new town, which include a discussion of relevantinstitutional reform.