Will Metropolises Take Will Metropolises Take Over the World?Over the World?

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What exactly is a city?What exactly is a city? In simple words, it is an area with a high concentration of In simple words, it is an area with a high concentration of

people and activities.people and activities.

What is a metropolis?What is a metropolis? It is a major city; the chief city of a region.It is a major city; the chief city of a region. People in the surrounding region are drawn to it.People in the surrounding region are drawn to it. It is a powerful urban centre with a high concentration of It is a powerful urban centre with a high concentration of

activities, services and major head offices.activities, services and major head offices. It is a densely populated urban area.It is a densely populated urban area. It has greater economic and decision-making power.It has greater economic and decision-making power.

New York City is a metropolis.New York City is a metropolis. New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the symbol of financial New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the symbol of financial

power in NYC.power in NYC.

What kind of activities occur at the NYSE and TSX?What kind of activities occur at the NYSE and TSX? Shares worth billions of dollars are bought and sold everyday Shares worth billions of dollars are bought and sold everyday

by investors!by investors!

Is Sherbrooke or Trois-Rivieres a metropolis?Is Sherbrooke or Trois-Rivieres a metropolis? They both have far less economic and decision-making They both have far less economic and decision-making

power than a metropolis like Montreal, Toronto or NYC.power than a metropolis like Montreal, Toronto or NYC.

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a metropolis:metropolis:1.1. Downtown coreDowntown core

2.2. Residential neighbourhoodsResidential neighbourhoods

3.3. Public parksPublic parks

4.4. Public squaresPublic squares

5.5. Industrial parksIndustrial parks

6.6. InterchangesInterchanges

7.7. SuburbsSuburbs

8.8. Tall office buildings and apartment towersTall office buildings and apartment towers

Public squaresPublic squares

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MONTREAL (QUEBEC), CANADA

PHILIPS SQUARE

Suburbs (Residential areas around a Suburbs (Residential areas around a major city) major city)

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Metropolises have recognizable Metropolises have recognizable features:features:Metropolises have:Metropolises have: Historical and modern landmarksHistorical and modern landmarks Landmarks can either be natural or man-made.Landmarks can either be natural or man-made. I.e. The Empire State Building in NYC, Champlain Bridge I.e. The Empire State Building in NYC, Champlain Bridge

in Montreal are man-made landmarks.in Montreal are man-made landmarks. Mount-Royal, the island of Montreal and the St. Mount-Royal, the island of Montreal and the St.

Lawrence River are Physical features. Lawrence River are Physical features.

Metropolises all around the world: 8 out of 10 metropolises with the highest population

(most populous) are in developing nations.

Developing Nation:Developing Nation: A country with a low standard of living, A country with a low standard of living,

severe poverty, low income and severe poverty, low income and education levels, high birth rate, and education levels, high birth rate, and poorly developed social, economic, and poorly developed social, economic, and technological infrastructure. technological infrastructure.

I.e. Most countries in Africa, Asia (except I.e. Most countries in Africa, Asia (except Japan), Latin America, and Oceania Japan), Latin America, and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand)(except Australia and New Zealand)

Developed or Industrialized Developed or Industrialized Nation:Nation: A country with a relatively high standard A country with a relatively high standard

of living, highof living, high income and education levels, income and education levels, lower birth rate, and well-developed social, lower birth rate, and well-developed social, economic, and technological infrastructure. economic, and technological infrastructure.

I.e. European nations, Russia, U.S.A, I.e. European nations, Russia, U.S.A, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand Zealand

Why are the populations in developing countries constantly growing?

1. The Birth rate is higher.

2. People are living longer because of better health care.

3. More people are moving to these cities hoping to get better jobs.

Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere: Most countries in the Northern

Hemisphere are developed - wealthy! Most countries in the Southern

Hemisphere are developing countries – really poor

Unequal power among metropolises:

Economically powerful metropolises are found in the United States, Western Europe and Asia.

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DevelopedDeveloped and and DevelopingDeveloping CountriesCountries

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Megalopolis: It’s a stretch of several metropolises and big cities

in the same area.

A region made up of several large cities and their region made up of several large cities and their surrounding areas in close enough proximity to be surrounding areas in close enough proximity to be considered a single urban complex.considered a single urban complex.

They form the heart of economic and global power – run the world!

•One of the three (3) most powerful megalopolises is located in the United States.

Major challenges for metropolises:1. Housing: Finding housing is a challenge for poor

people.

Apartments are too often expensive, in disrepair or poorly situated.

Government-subsidized housing is available to low-income families because they are way more affordable.

Transformed Space in the Transformed Space in the 2121stst Century Century

CASE STUDYCASE STUDY

From Miron’s Plant Site 1950’s to From Miron’s Plant Site 1950’s to 2010’s 2010’s Saint-Michel ‘s Environmental Saint-Michel ‘s Environmental

ComplexComplex

Miron's plant:Miron's plant: The site was a large open space where the The site was a large open space where the

quarry was found.quarry was found. Located along Jarry street, near Papineau street.Located along Jarry street, near Papineau street. It operated as a cement and asphalt plant.It operated as a cement and asphalt plant. Dusty, dirty and diesel fumes filled the air, noisy Dusty, dirty and diesel fumes filled the air, noisy

because of plant installations and continuous because of plant installations and continuous flow of trucks created traffic.flow of trucks created traffic.

Common to hear dynamite blasts used to rip rock Common to hear dynamite blasts used to rip rock bed in the quarry.bed in the quarry.

In 2010, most of the quarry has been In 2010, most of the quarry has been filled in because of continuous years of filled in because of continuous years of dumping and compacting garbage and dumping and compacting garbage and waste.waste.

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Saint-Michel Environmental Saint-Michel Environmental Complex:Complex: Montreal will share with the world its best practice Montreal will share with the world its best practice

of sustainable development by showcasing the of sustainable development by showcasing the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex.Saint-Michel Environmental Complex.

This complex was conceived by the City of This complex was conceived by the City of Montreal.Montreal.

It will ultimately be transformed into a family-It will ultimately be transformed into a family-friendly city park.friendly city park.

This ecological centre is also a recycling This ecological centre is also a recycling sorting plant and a micro-power station sorting plant and a micro-power station sharing space with Cirque du Soleil sharing space with Cirque du Soleil Headquarters and La TOHU, the City of Headquarters and La TOHU, the City of Circus Arts.Circus Arts.

It will become the city’s largest green It will become the city’s largest green space in 2020.space in 2020.

La TOHU's main Pavilion:La TOHU's main Pavilion: Visitors can explore the Environmental Complex Visitors can explore the Environmental Complex

by joining a "safari“ tourby joining a "safari“ tour Visitors discover environmental innovations like:Visitors discover environmental innovations like:

1.1.The sorting centre, which handles all of The sorting centre, which handles all of Montreal's recyclables.Montreal's recyclables.

2.2.A micro-power station that converts the biogas A micro-power station that converts the biogas produced by transforming landfill gas into produced by transforming landfill gas into electricity.electricity.

3.3.A composting and shredding facility.A composting and shredding facility.

Waste Management and Developing countries:

Garbage is piled up in open lots near residential areas.

Poor people spend hours salvaging usable goods and materials they can sell.

3. Transportation: Traffic jams are becoming more problematic as the

population in the Montreal Metropolitan Area increases.

More vehicles on our roads and ongoing road construction, due to aging infrastructure, cause traffic too.

Vehicles pollute, cause Greenhouse Gases and affect our health.

Commuting in the MMA:Commuting in the MMA:

1. Commuting by Car in the Montreal 1. Commuting by Car in the Montreal Metropolitan Area (MMA)Metropolitan Area (MMA)::

Hundreds of thousands of commuters use our roads, Hundreds of thousands of commuters use our roads, bridges and public transit on a daily basisbridges and public transit on a daily basis

The majority of us prefer to commute by car.The majority of us prefer to commute by car. Commuters must face hours of traffic to and from Commuters must face hours of traffic to and from

work on a daily basis.work on a daily basis.

Why is there so much traffic on our Why is there so much traffic on our metropolitan roadways?metropolitan roadways?

a) Montreal’s Roadways and bridges are a) Montreal’s Roadways and bridges are old and needs lots of repair.old and needs lots of repair. Our aging bridges, overpasses, highways, and roads need to be fixed. Our aging bridges, overpasses, highways, and roads need to be fixed.

Dangerous potholes and huge cracks damage cars and slow down Dangerous potholes and huge cracks damage cars and slow down traffic. traffic.

Lane closures due to road repairs and accidents cause traffic too.Lane closures due to road repairs and accidents cause traffic too.

b) Montreal Metropolitan Area does not b) Montreal Metropolitan Area does not have beltway* for large-sized trucks.have beltway* for large-sized trucks.Beltway:Beltway: It isIt is a highway that encircles an urban area so that traffic a highway that encircles an urban area so that traffic

does not have to pass through the center.does not have to pass through the center. Heavy trucks damage concrete and asphalt, slow-down Heavy trucks damage concrete and asphalt, slow-down

traffic, and cause serious accidents.traffic, and cause serious accidents.

c) Some of the major highways, expressways and c) Some of the major highways, expressways and service roads in the MMA need more lanes.service roads in the MMA need more lanes.

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2. Public Transportation in the MMA:2. Public Transportation in the MMA:

Our current system includes buses, metros and commuter trains.Our current system includes buses, metros and commuter trains.

Although its cheaper and faster to take public transit, most people living in MMA still use cars. Why?Although its cheaper and faster to take public transit, most people living in MMA still use cars. Why?

a)a)Public transit is inadequatePublic transit is inadequate Buses do not pass frequently enough in some neighbourhoods. Buses do not pass frequently enough in some neighbourhoods. Metro lines or train lines do not extend to all corners of the island of Montreal. Metro lines or train lines do not extend to all corners of the island of Montreal.

b) The STM’s aging infrastructure b) The STM’s aging infrastructure cause frequent stalls cause frequent stalls Our aging metro system is over 40 years Our aging metro system is over 40 years

old.old.

Repairs are needed to fix cracks on Repairs are needed to fix cracks on ceilings, to stop water infiltration, and to ceilings, to stop water infiltration, and to replace old escalators. replace old escalators.

These constant renovations cause These constant renovations cause congestion and frustrate transit users. congestion and frustrate transit users.

Wiring along the tracks (installed in the 1960’s) often overheat and Wiring along the tracks (installed in the 1960’s) often overheat and catch on fire.catch on fire.

Automated metro doors often jam during rush hour.Automated metro doors often jam during rush hour.

c) Aging fleet of metro wagons and buses constantly stall during rush hour.c) Aging fleet of metro wagons and buses constantly stall during rush hour. Waves of new LFS buses have been purchased to replace our current aging Waves of new LFS buses have been purchased to replace our current aging

fleet. fleet. These new buses are more spacious, have better engines and run on bio-These new buses are more spacious, have better engines and run on bio-

diesel.diesel. The new The new Nova articulated LFS buses Nova articulated LFS buses allow for more users to fit into one allow for more users to fit into one

bus. bus.

d) Current metro wagons and older bus models are not spacious enough.d) Current metro wagons and older bus models are not spacious enough.

Some seats were strategically removed and others were rearranged to add more room in Some seats were strategically removed and others were rearranged to add more room in each wagon.each wagon.

Solutions to traffic-related problems:1.Restricting car traffic by installing tolls and making parking expensive.

2.Promoting the use of “cleaner” ways of traveling by (using bikes, public transit and bringing back electric streetcars.

1. Finding housing in 1. Finding housing in Montreal:Montreal: The following are factors that could make your The following are factors that could make your

apartment hunting successful or less successful:apartment hunting successful or less successful:

1.1.Your incomeYour income

2.2.Number of children (More bedrooms means higher rent)Number of children (More bedrooms means higher rent)

3.3.Proximity to metro (Closer to metro station is more Proximity to metro (Closer to metro station is more expensive)expensive)

4.4.The neighbourhoodThe neighbourhood (i.e. Le Plateau is more expensive)(i.e. Le Plateau is more expensive)

5. The environment (more $ if you wish to 5. The environment (more $ if you wish to live near a park, green space etc.)live near a park, green space etc.)

6. Many families have chosen to live in the 6. Many families have chosen to live in the suburbs because rent is lower (low-cost suburbs because rent is lower (low-cost housing)housing)