Speaker
Description
In recent years, terms such as "stock-oriented development" (存量发展, development based on existing assets) and "high-quality development" (高质量发展, development emphasizing sustainability, equity, and efficiency) have become increasingly prevalent in government documents and scholarly papers on urban planning in China. After four decades of rapid urbanization involving an unprecedented scale of population migration (approximately 770 million people), major cities and developed regions in China have begun to exhibit characteristics of entering a post-urbanization phase, particularly in terms of population growth, economic restructuring and spatial expansion. This specific context, while sharing certain commonalities with the experiences of other countries, also presents unique characteristics rooted in China's rapid urbanization process. As a result, in China, the strategic framework of "beyond growth" has been adapted and enriched, and is more commonly referred to as "high-quality development." Within this framework, public transportation, as a quasi-public good, is regarded as a critical system supporting high-quality development. In particular, rail transit systems have proven effective in alleviating some of the challenges faced by major cities by facilitating the flow of production factors and providing mobility opportunities. Moreover, analyses indicate that optimizing rail transit systems in China's major cities is an urgent priority at the current stage, given their role in addressing urban challenges and supporting sustainable development.
Through comparative case studies based on multi-source data and China's planning practices, this study addresses three key questions: (1) What are the contextual roots of 'beyond growth' in China? How has its reinterpretation shaped distinct strategic priorities or implementation strategies compared to other countries? (2) What challenges and requirements does high-quality development create for rail transit systems? (3) What is an effective strategic framework for the coordinated optimization of rail transit systems and regional spatial structures to alleviate challenges in major cities?
The analysis reveals that these differences stem from several factors. China's policy-driven urbanization has been faster, larger in scale, and more spatially extensive than in other countries. Additionally, the dominance of automobile-oriented motorization during urbanization has exacerbated transportation-related challenges. The explanatory framework highlights that policy-driven rapid urbanization has resulted in significant regional imbalances. These imbalances concentrate on economic opportunities in major cities, sustaining population migration even as these cities enter the post-urbanization phase. Moreover, despite resource shortages and social tensions, major cities remain integral to national strategies such as city-cluster development and infrastructure interconnectivity. Automobile-oriented motorization has shaped urban expansion, while rail transit development has lagged behind, exacerbating spatial and mobility challenges in the post-urbanization phase. As a result, the "beyond growth" framework in China must address not only the dilemmas of growth dependency and the pursuit of equity and sustainability but also the legacy issues of rapid urbanization. In this context, government-led planning remains crucial, but greater grassroots participation is needed for balanced development.
Based on the analysis, this study identifies several challenges facing rail transit systems in China's major cities, including limited space for new rail corridors, diminishing marginal benefits of new projects, and complex governance structures declining marginal benefits of new rail transit projects. Drawing on planning practices and addressing the "development dilemma under growth constraints," the study proposes a strategic framework for the coordinated optimization of rail transit systems and regional spatial structures, with goals such as regional integration, urban spatial structure optimization, rail network improvement, and meeting resident mobility needs. This framework focuses on optimizing regional rail corridors and nodes, structural rail networks in metropolitan areas, and intensive metro networks within cities. It also clarifies the mechanisms for cross-administrative collaboration and operational support for rail transit networks at different levels.
| Keywords | Cities beyond growth; Rail transit network; Regional integration; Spatial structure |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
