本课程旨在介绍“都会区运输规划”，采用可评估选择方案及结果的分析工具，进行全面性的研究：从地点审视开始，到该地历史及流行趋势，以适当架构包含相关人物、机构、扮演角色及利害关系等问题。选择方案的设计与评估，除了兴建、营运、维修之外，亦需考量上述问题的复杂性。而包含回馈机制的决策与执行过程，亦强调建立支持者与同盟的需求。

课程主题包括都市运输史、公路财务、环境与规划法规、空气品质、形式特征、土地使用与运输的相互影响及运输规划使用的新兴资讯科技。欢迎对运输有兴趣的学生选修本课程。

基于地缘关系及波士顿市对美国交通政策的强大影响力，课程将以大波士顿都会区作为主要讨论案例。另外，课堂中的案例还包括其他国家面临的运输挑战，并参观几个波士顿的交通枢纽。

This class is an introduction to planning transportation in metropolitan areas. The approach, while rooted on the analytical tools which estimate outcomes and alternatives, is holistic. This means starting from a scan of the site, its history and its current trends, in order to frame properly the problem, including the relevant actors, institutions, roles and interests. The design and evaluation of alternatives considers this complexity, in addition to construction, operation and maintenance issues. The decision-making and implementation process, including the needed feedback mechanisms, focuses as well on the need to build constituencies and alliances.

The course topics include the history of urban transportation, highway finance, environmental and planning regulations, air quality, modal characteristics, land use and transportation interaction and emerging information technologies for transportation planning. Students either with a primary or peripheral interest in transportation are equally welcome.

The course uses examples from the Boston metropolitan area extensively, both because of its proximity and the strong influence Boston has had on US transport policy. In parallel, examples from other countries describe the challenges faced elsewhere, as well as lessons learned. There will be walking tours of several transportation sites in Boston.