Setting Sights on the SDGs: Establishing Rapid Transit Targets for Sustainable Development

For cities to grow sustainably, they need long term planning, and in most cases, support from their national government.  Although transportation needs are often identified on a city level, they are dependent on national funding.  Setting rapid transit infrastructure targets is crucial to engaging national governments in the mission to improve transit in their cities. Clear metrics can help national governments set policies to secure necessary political support and funding. This paper dives into the methodology and use of a metric that can help governments set these policies- the rapid transit to urban resident ratio (RTR).