New Rapid Transit System bus to have nice artistic touch – KOTA Territory News

Report on Public Transportation Enhancement in Rapid City in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Rapid City is advancing its commitment to creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments through a recent public transportation initiative. This project directly addresses key targets within SDG 11.

• Sustainable Transport Systems: The Rapid Transit System has been engaged in a two-year process to procure a new fleet of buses. This investment enhances the city’s public transport infrastructure, providing residents with access to a more sustainable and modern transit option.
• Inclusive and Participatory Urban Planning: To foster community engagement and a sense of local ownership, an art contest was held to design the exterior of one of the new buses. This initiative promotes a participatory approach to urban development, integrating culture and creativity into public spaces.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The acquisition of the new bus fleet is a direct investment in building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation, which are central tenets of SDG 9.

• Infrastructure Upgrade: The introduction of new Gillig buses, noted as being a different style from the current fleet, represents a significant upgrade to the city’s public infrastructure. This modernization is crucial for developing reliable and sustainable transportation networks.
• Promoting Creativity: The art contest serves as an innovative method to enhance public infrastructure, demonstrating how creative solutions can be integrated into municipal projects to improve community assets.

Project Implementation and Outcomes

The Community Art Contest

1. Initiation: Megan Gould, manager of the public transport system, launched an art contest for the new buses, inspired by a similar program conducted by the city’s streets division for its snowplows.
2. Participation: Four artists participated, submitting creative designs for consideration.
3. Winning Design: The selected artwork was created by Jaxxen Cheney. The design creatively depicts the “faces” of the buses on the rock formations of Mount Rushmore, aligning with the presidential naming convention of the city’s bus routes.

Deployment and Further Recognition

• The new bus featuring the winning design is scheduled to enter service within the next month.
• The artworks that received second and third place in the contest will be displayed on the interior of the new bus, providing further recognition for local artistic talent and enhancing the passenger experience.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. The core topic is the improvement of public transportation in Rapid City through the acquisition of a “new fleet of buses.” Enhancing the “Rapid Transit System” directly contributes to making the city more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive for its residents.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article discusses an investment in public infrastructure. The purchase of “new buses” for the “Rapid City Transportation Center” is a clear example of developing quality and reliable infrastructure, which is a key component of this goal. The mention of the buses being a “different style then the current fleet” also points towards modernization and innovation in the city’s transport infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all

   The article’s focus on the “Rapid Transit System” buying and preparing to launch a “new fleet of buses” directly aligns with this target. This action is a tangible step towards expanding and improving public transport services for the citizens of Rapid City.

2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure

   The initiative to buy and put new buses into service is a direct contribution to this target. It represents an upgrade and development of the city’s public transport infrastructure, aiming to improve its quality and reliability for commuters.

3. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

   This target is addressed through the community art contest. By commissioning a local artist, Jaxxen Cheney, to create a design for a bus that incorporates a local landmark (“Mount Rushmore”) and history (“routes are named after actual presidents”), the city is using public infrastructure to promote and celebrate local culture and heritage.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.2:

  The article does not state the official UN indicator (11.2.1 – Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport). However, it implies a practical indicator for measuring progress: the number of new public transport vehicles put into service. The “new fleet of buses” directly represents an increase in or modernization of the city’s public transport capacity.

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.1:

  Progress towards developing quality infrastructure can be measured by the investment in new assets. The article implies a qualitative indicator: the modernization of the public transport fleet. The fact that the city is “buying new buses” of a “different style” indicates an upgrade from the old fleet, thus improving the quality of the infrastructure.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.4:

  The article mentions that the winning design “will be shown on the exterior of the new Gillig bus” and other designs will be “shown inside.” This suggests an indicator for measuring efforts to promote culture: the number of public assets (e.g., buses) used to display local art and heritage.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kotatv.com