Because of its geographical location, accessibility and the rate of industrialization, the population of Bursa has increased considerably since 1960's, passing 1.5 million in 2000. It has one of the highest rates of migration in the country. Since the city of Bursa is bound in a narrow region, because of the mount Uluda_ at the South and the fertile agricultural land at the North, the growth is taking place in the East - West direction, spreading around an axis of 40 km in length. This situation results in longer driving routes between different regions of the city, some passing through the city center, with old roadway networks, which besides being narrow, are also very steep. However the development creates the opportunity for establishment of secondary regional centers, which may decrease the need for traveling through long distances. All this development requires a high quality transportation planning, which besides connecting various centers, should also integrate different modes of traveling. In view of these developments, the city has considered to implement a long term Urban Transportation Planning, which would not only look for solutions within the city, but also consider the connections to the nearby towns (like Mudanya and Gemlik), which are almost becoming a neighborhood of the city. The Light Rail Transport System is chosen within the frame of the new transportation planning resolutions, since it is a system that can work in co-operation with the existing transit systems.
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