The Impact of Local Transport Systems on Green Infrastructure – Policy Versus Reality. The Case of Poznan, Poland

Abstract

The main objective of the study was (1) to assess the level of negative impact of the road transport sector on the green infrastructure; (2) to compare the policy on green infrastructure with the actual direction of changes in transport systems; (3) to assess plans for transport development and some predictions on future impact. The research was carried out in the Poznan Metropolitan Area with the use of kernel density estimation (GIS). The analyses show that the key problem is the fragmentation of valuable natural areas and the routing of high traffic intensity roads through and nearby these areas which cause conflicts. The most negative transportation influence occurs in the agglomeration centre, where the quality of the environment is already low. At the same time existing land-use and transport strategies propose solutions neutralizing these negative impacts. Nevertheless current trends and especially new transport investment seem to negate official strategies and intensify the negative impacts on the green infrastructure.

Keywords

• green infrastructure
• transport systems
• roads impact
• road ecology
• GIS
• Poznan