Soru

Read the following passage carefully:

Urban transport planning in rapidly growing secondary cities has historically prioritized expanding road networks to accommodate private motor vehicles. However, recent empirical evaluations demonstrate that continuously augmenting vehicular capacity fails to alleviate long-term traffic congestion, a phenomenon known as induced demand. Consequently, municipal authorities are increasingly shifting toward integrating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems with dedicated non-motorized transport corridors. While this transition requires substantial upfront capital expenditure and restructuring of existing transit routes, its primary objective extends beyond mere congestion reduction. By establishing reliable, low-cost public transit networks, municipal policy aims to enhance socio-economic accessibility for low-income suburban populations while simultaneously lowering urban carbon emissions. Critics often argue that prioritizing public transit over private vehicle infrastructure restricts vehicular freedom or diverts funds from road maintenance. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that multi-modal urban transport frameworks yield significantly higher net social and environmental returns over multi-decade horizons. Therefore, modern municipal transport strategy must view transit investment not as an isolated engineering project, but as a foundational instrument for equitable urban development.

Which of the following statements best expresses the central theme of the passage?