264 The Barcelona Region’s land mosaic
vehiculartrafficgrowth:(1) reduce commuter traffic by strengthening the nice pat-
ternof many municipalities that have light and medium industry on the edge
of town, easily accessible for employees by walking and biking; (2) create walk-
able/bikable municipality and neighborhood people-parks on the edges of and
near towns; (3) invest in public transport systems, such as light rail, small-bus sys-
tems, or modular-bus rapid transit, in the region. Attractive stations within walk-
ing distance of residential areas and with ample parking should reduce traffic.Rail, trucking, highways, and wildlife
In a preceding section, seven areas in the GBRegion were targeted as
especially promising for future growth (El Vendrell, Igualada, Manresa, Vic,
Mataro/Argentona, Llobregat West, and the Lower Anoia) (Color Figure44). If
significant growth occurs in these areas, it is important to establish appropri-
ate rail and highway infrastructure early, both for long distance and for public
transport plus highway access to serve local residential, commercial, and indus-
trial areas. A specific transportation plan that fits within, and is consistent with,
theGBRegion land-mosaic plan is a priority.
Atruck distribution centeror hub on the outskirts of major cities permits
long-distance trucks to load and unload goods, then taken by smaller vehicles
on streets throughout the city. Also farmers deliver products to the trucking
center, which are transported long distance or into the city. It may be useful to
develop a trucking hub in the Lower Anoia for convenient access to the western
side of Barcelona and the municipalities near the Llobregat (Color Figure 44)
(Forman 2004a).
Busy highway corridors across the land are effectively wide strips of concen-
trated ecological impacts (Rosell Pages and Velasco Rivas1999,Formanet al.
2003,Iuellet al.2003,Trocmeel al.2003). Moreover, highway corridors function
as major barriers that subdivide the land both for people and wildlife. Land-
scape connectivity for larger animals and for people to cross highways requires
wildlife underpasses or overpasses. (Seven massive overpasses [false tunnels] were
observed in the GBRegion.) If designed properly, such wildlife overpasses (and
underpasses) are quite effective for crossing by boar, badger, geneta, roe deer,
larger deer species, as well as people (Rosell Pages and Velasco Rivas1999). Twelve
locations are pinpointed as especially strategic for new highway crossings for
wildlife and people (Color Figure 41 ). Where a green corridor connecting emer-
alds crosses a busy highway, a minimum of two underpasses or overpasses is
appropriate to provide flexibility. Effective, even innovative, designs of wildlife
passages over or under a highway require the combined expertise of animal
behavior and engineering.